Kathleen D.
Yelp
Even with my GPS on and a text from Mariella S. that read, "It's the big blue building," I still managed to drive right on by Double Nickel's Route 73 location. You see, you actually need to drive ONTO the exit ramp to access their lot.
Once finally finding the building and the correct parking lot entrance, I walked inside and was faced with a massive brewhouse. Holy space! It was a Saturday afternoon, so they were busy with a bunch of groups, but we were still able to score prime bar seats and spend time debating what four beers we wanted to split in the $6 flight.
We tried the IPA, Snow Way Out, Marbled Rye and Stout. For the most part, their beers are named just as they taste, which helps to emphasize and prioritize flavor notes over gimmicks.
From what I've heard thus far, they seem to put an emphasis on their IPA. Unfortunately, most IPAs started tasting the same to me months ago, so I can't give an accurate opinion on their creation at this time, but I can say that it wasn't overly bitter or harshly hoppy. It was easy to sip, but I personally wouldn't order a full glass.
My favorite of the bunch was probably the Snow Way Out. Obviously, this is a spiced winter warmer and I'd assume it's safe to say it won't be available much longer since we've now reached Spring and what-not. Nonetheless, this wasn't a heavy or crazy brew -- it was just nicely balanced with notes of cinnamon on the finish to make for a delightful taster.
The marbled rye had a strong smokey taste. If you like feeling like you're sitting by a bonfire on a cool night, this is probably a good choice for you. It's not my preferred style at all, but I did enjoy this sample.
As for the stout, I was a little disappointed. I'm a porters/stouts girl all the way, and this one was just lacking. I considered it a good "base" stout, in that I'd be curious to try variations of it, like bourbon barrel aged or infused with some fun flavor. It looked like a guy sitting near me had an aged bottle, so I'll need to stop back at some point and snag one of those too.
It seems like there's still plenty to explore from Double Nickel. I hear they even have an upstairs space! I think it'd be fun to take a look inside their ridiculously large brewing facility or even just hang out on their ramp-side outdoor patio.
FYI: They're dog-friendly!!
I'll be back at some point to see what else they conjure up as they grow.