When writing about beer it’s hard not be little prejudicial about a beer you are about to try. There is information on the label, there is a wealth of information about the brewery on the internet, and then when you finally get around to pouring the beer, there is color, the appearance of the head, and the nose. I try my hardest to put flavor at the forefront, but it practically impossible not to let some of these factors influence your first sip. When was the last time you went to see a movie without knowing what it was about or who was in it? For an IPA, the hardest prejudice for me to overcome is color. More often than not, when an IPA is more on the amber side of the color wheel than sunrise orange (maybe I missed my calling naming crayons) I am disappointed. Yes, it wasn’t my usual favored color for an IPA, but it did have a dense rocky head, so I once again reminded myself that the flavor is the main thing that matters. I also put aside my trepidation about the IBUs listed on the label being only 75. Usually, I expect a double IPA to be in the 80-100 range, IBU-wise. When I finally cleared my head, I tasted the Humulo Nimbus Double IPA from Sound Brewing in Poulsbo. Not only was I happy that I taught myself a lesson about judging beers too early, this beer is delicious. Loaded with tropical fruit like passion and guava up front, Humulo Nimbus delivers waves of hops and malt in balance in the middle, with a bitter finish that is assertive but not overbearing. In short, everything a good double IBU should be, color and IBUs be damned. I guess one of the reasons I liked this beer so much is that I need to be reminded from time to time that one of the best things about craft beer is that there are very few rules and the rules are meant to be bent, if not broken. Styles and standards are constantly changing, but if it tastes good drink it. Humulo Nimbus tastes good.
