Liquid Swords
Mirror Twin Brewing

Taking the senses to the land down under, the brewmance between Mirror Twin and Burl Brew lands them in New Zealand and all those Nelson, Motueka, Pacifica, and Rakau hops.

Slaying it with a richly textured golden-orange pour, Liquid Swords kicks off with a frothy eggshell foam stance before drawing in the nose with a host of tangy, tropic, vinous, herbal and green fruit scents. As its initial taste of dry cereal, honeysuckle and agave seem to rise from the malts, a roundness of vanilla and cream come to mind.

But anything sweet is short live as the hops slice and dice through the thirst with a green character of kiwi, papaya, under ripened oranges and mangos, pineapple and passionfruit. Hints of lemon, white grape, lime and apple fuel the fruity flavors before the herbal bitterness of green tea, sassafras, verbena and hemp balance the fruity hop impressions and the lingering grain sweetness.

Medium bodied and drinking lighter than its imperial status suggests, the collaboration beer finishes with an even-keel bitter-sweet balance and carrying a malty-dry mouthfeel into a refreshing finish and herbal aftertaste.