Hoverbird
Double Nickel Brewing Company

Double Nickel Brewing Co. "Hoverbird"
16 fl. oz. can coded "05/10/21-11:59:11" and sampled on 09/06/2021
$

Notes via stream of consciousness: So what is this? I recall it has hibiscus in it or or something. Yes, it's an IPA with hibiscus and honeysickle. Ahh, and it's dry hopped with Barbe Rouge, a hop I've never even heard of. It's poured a clear amber body beneath a finger's width of white foam. The aroma offers grainy malt with a touch of biscuit and caramel, a berry-like fruitiness, some floral character, and a waft of soft tropical fruit. It's not that exciting but it's clean and nice. On to the flavor... well, that's odd, it tastes like the aroma. Well, I guess that's not odd at all as that happens all of the time and is genereally the norm, but I wasn't expecting it to come through so clearly in the flavor. I'm guessing the berry is at least partially coming from the hibiscus. It's quite refreshing. There's also some floral character, which I guess is obvious, and the malt has a honey-like sweetness. I wonder if they used honey malt. That would make sense if they're using honey suckle even if that's not going to give it a honey flavor, people would be expecting it so the malt would give them some. There's a little bit of orange to it as well, and that gives the malt a kind of orange marmalade note. It's sweet with that honey and biscuit malt upfront, and then the fruitiness cuts through followed by the bitterness at the swallow. It's hard to tell exactly how bitter it is but it's median, maybe 40. And on that note I'm not really sure what makes this an IPA. It's not that hoppy and it's not that bitter. How strong is it? 7.3%? Well that works I guess. I do get a little bit of the alcohol in the flavor but to be honest I think this could have just as easily been done as a pale ale and it would have turned out fine. People want IPAs though, so I guess it all makes sense. I don't know, I'm not quite sure, but I kind of feel as if I'm kind of in love with this beer right now. It doesn't really stretch any boundaries but it's fairly unique. Let me finish up... in the mouth it's medium bodied and dextrinous, bordering becoming full bodied. The carbonation seems pretty standard and lends it a nice crispness that helps to balance the maltiness. I'll recommend you try this beer just to see what it's like. It's probably not everyone's cup of tea, nor will it turn any heads, but it is charming and distinct.
Review #7,362