Metalhead Double IPA

Burlington’s Nickel Brook Brewing Co. makes some of Ontario’s premier IPAs—Wicked Awesome IPA lives pretty close to its brazen moniker and Headstock IPA is truly a gem (not to mention the excellent Naughty Neighbour APA, which is a Stout Man fridge staple)—so when I saw 473mL cans of Metalhead Double IPA, I couldn’t get it into my cart fast enough. Brewed with a trio of hops—Citra, Eukanot, and Simcoe—the beer contains a punishing 9% alcohol and 85 IBUs. The beer, made with flaked wheat, has a hazy dull-orange colour and pours with a fairly thin off-white head.

Metalhead has a bold citrus nose, with a sweet and boozy tropical subtext. The beer kicks off with a snare crack of West Coast-style grapefruit. Behind that, there is a sweet and sassy fruit medley, and a driving boozy bassline.

If I wanted to be picky, I’d suggest that Metalhead is a bit too sweet and I’d allege that the bitterness could be a bit more assertive. But that’s it for complaints, because otherwise, this is a pretty slammin’ double IPA. Big and loud, with great strength and compelling flavours, this is a damn fine ale that’ll knock your ass down if you let it.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.