Review: Nickel Brook Metalhead Double IPA

There was a time when my go-to IPA was Nickel Brook's Head Stock IPA - it was a bitter, citrusy and affordable IPA that I just couldn't get enough of. Well, one day the MLCC suddenly upped the price of the beer from something like $3.00 per 473mL can to close to $5.00 per can, well.. that was the end of that and I moved on to numerous other IPAs that were much more affordable and less than six months later the beer disappeared from shelves completely.. I guess I was buying enough of it to keep it on shelves at the time, who knows. 

Today's review is their Metalhead Double IPA, which like Head Stock, has a bit of a music vibe to it. Metalhead is 9.0% ABV so it's going to be a strong one. 

From the label: We’ve been on a journey through Strawberry fields to a harder, unfiltered world. Metal Head will conquer your taste-buds with a hop ‘power-chord’ of Citra, Simcoe and Ekuanot. Exploding with notes of citrus, papaya, and fresh berries. We like our IPA just like we like our guitar tracks – doubled.

Appearance: Hazy juicy IPA with a deep orange body to it, light amount of carbonation in the body and a thick off-white head on top. The head diminishes a tad over time, leaving behind a lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Decently sweet with a hefty malt presence to it, floral hops, slight bitter, pretty much juicy. Notes of pineapple, lemon, orange zest. Slight peppery presence to it, not quite the freshest aroma but still enjoyable so far.

Taste: Tropical notes of pineapple, grapefruit, orange peel and lemon. Moderately bitter with a pine presence to it, tad soapy, a bit of a syrupy caramel sweetness to it. Heavier on the palate and stomach than I expected - sometimes these kind of beers are way too smooth. This is definitely a sipper.

Overall Thoughts: Not the freshest, but no surprise as the canning date was back in February, ah well. It's sweet, floral, heavy, moderately bitter but pretty much tropical. Still enjoyable but it could always be just a tad better.. and fresher.