Anniversary Triple IPA
Double Nickel Brewing Company

 

The celebration begins by cracking a pint can and emptying its contents into a clear glass liter mug. Nice hoppiness enters the air. The color is a golden-amber, toward the lighter side, but opaque. There's a modest and enduring head. Behind the hops which are sharply bitter, even for the nose, comes a little malt, yeast and alcohol. The taste starts sweet and citra hoppy. Then the cashmere hops take off and soften things out a bit. Everything is in good balance, even the alcohol, which is there at 11.2% ABV. There is alcohol to taste, but it doesn't adversely effect the taste nor mouthfeel. With a dry finish, it's easy to go back for another hit, maybe too easy. For a big ABV, this really does have a good taste, great balance, better mouthfeel than would be expected and even a little glass lacing. Look forward to celebrating their seventh anniversary.

Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a one pint can on November 10, 2019. Triple IPA double dry-hopped with Vic Secret, Citra and Amarillo. Good hop malt balance.

 

Double Nickel Brewing Co. "Anniversary Triple IPA"
16 fl. oz. can, coded "10/07/1914:13:22"
$3.99 @ Roger Wilco, Pennsauken, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: Upon pouring this I thought to myself 'perhaps this isn't the best choice for first beer of the day'. It's 10.5%! What was I thinking? Ah, yes, it's simply the next beer up in my que based on dating. I just wasn't thinking. Anyway, it's poured a very hazy deep amber colored body with golden highlights beneath an inch or so of creamy off-white foam. The aroma is clear but not that strong. It's malty, hoppy/fruity, and boozy. I'm not picking out any specific hop notes but it's tropical and a touch piney. On to the flavor then... there's a really nice maltiness there. It's sweetish but not exactly "sweet", and bready and biscuity, and even a touch toasty. It's grainy, this is a malty beer, but there are also a lot of hops so it doesn't come off as malty like a Scotch ale or barleywine. As to the fruity hop flavors going on I'm finding apple, apricot, pineapple, orange, passion fruit, guava, and nectarine. There's also some soft pine and mint, and a clear note of alcohol. The bitterness is moderate but the alcohol helps to dry it in the finish and it remains quite perfectly balanced from start to finish. In the mouth it's medium-full in body and quite smooth with a fine-bubbled median carbonation. So what to say about this? I think they've pretty much nailed the Triple IPA style, and I'm quite pleased with their choice of hops and the way that they've used them.
Review #6,914