Two hearted ale thread revisited

[ray m]

I know that a thread was started on this several months ago, but I thought I'd try to start a new discussion on it, based on my inaugual tasting of it as I type this:

Strong hop aroma after I opened the bottle. Poured with a decent head that dissipated to a collar of foam that remained in the glass. Beautiful clear deep gold color.

This IPA is indeed hoppy! Wow! But it's a hop flavor that I don't believe I've ever tasted before. I've used both Centennial & Cascade in previous batches of pale ales that I've made, but this flavor is rather piney to me, along with hints of citrus-ness, like lemon-rind.

In the previous thread a few months back it semed there was a general agreement, via some of you that had a very reliable source, that it was brewed with strictly Centennial. OK. I guess I just don't recall Centennial having this kind of flavor before. More on the piney side, according to my taste buds. Also detected malty breadiness in the background, but the hops kind of scream at you in this brew!

This is definitely a good brew for hop-heads, although the initial taste, for some reason, caught me off-guard.

[Bruno_78]

I absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it, love, cherish and adore this beer. I think it might be my favoritest beer that I've ever tasted.

Any questions?

Dammit, now I want one! My mouth is starting to water, did someone ring a bell?

[BluesHarp]

hmmm...a name for my IPA: "Pavlov's Ale"

[Bruno_78]

Now that's funny

[Bruno_78]

I've just done something I said I'd never do. I drank my last two hearted. Now I am without. My life is as empty as my glass.

[chazwicke]

And Fret is not here to help.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
hmmm...a name for my IPA: "Pavlov's Ale"

I dunno, that sort of follows the whole "Moose Drool" connotation and aversion... ;)

S.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by Bruno_78
I absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it, love, cherish and adore this beer. I think it might be my favoritest beer that I've ever tasted.



I second the motion. It is one of my favorites as well.

While not as high in ABV as some of the other IPA's, (5.5% IIRC), the hop flavor is unique in itself. I rank it up there with Stone and Stoudt's IPA as one of my current faves.

I just wish it was more readily availiable in the Akron area. Currently, I have only been able to get a single bottle here and there from Primo's Deli. Never a full sixer to be found.

[kevin]

Last night while at the paint store I had to make a crucial decision. Bell's winter white or the two hearted. Since I never tried either one, and I'm right handed and the two hearted was on the right side of the shelf that is what I went with.

This is the bottle with the picture of the trout on the label. I got home and quickly retrieved a glass for this beer. It pours a nice golden color with a thick head that did trim back and lace the glass. Lots of hop flavor from my first sip and the aroma rising from the glass. From my experience it seem like strong Cascade with Centinnial. Once the beer warmed up the hop flavor seem to settle back and I got a nice sweet taste sorta like Pineapple with a Centinnial hop flavor in the background. I think this beer is more like a Koelsch gone IPA.

More experimenting will be required

[steveh]

Originally posted by kevin
From my experience it seem like strong Cascade with Centinnial. Once the beer warmed up the hop flavor seem to settle back and I got a nice sweet taste sorta like Pineapple with a Centinnial hop flavor in the background.

We debated this a while back and I e-mailed the brewery and received an answer from brewmaster Alec Mull - he confirmed that 2 hearted is hopped exclusively with Centennial.

My local - Bruno - had the 2 hearted on cask last week. Tasty, but I imagine it's history by now.

For Kevin: Bell's Winter White (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5151).

S.

[Bruno_78]

Originally posted by steveh


My local - Bruno - had the 2 hearted on cask last week. Tasty, but I imagine it's history by now.


S.

well NOW is a strange time to be telling me this!!!!

I have off december 25th until january 4th, so keep me posted if you see any more of it.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Bruno_78
well NOW is a strange time to be telling me this!!!!

Sorry - A: Didn't know myself until I wandered in there last week. B: Didn't know you were so enamored with the stuff. ;)

I have off december 25th until january 4th, so keep me posted if you see any more of it.

Call 'em - Firkin (http://firkinoflibertyville.com/). Or the Maproom - I've seen cask 2 Hearted around Chi a lot over the past year.

S.

[threecb]

I wish I had Bell's available around here. This sounds like a dynamite brew! And 3F, too! Why do they skip Jersey if they're in NYC and PA? (No, Smart A$$ answers, either, folks!).

[chazwicke]

Oh No I hope you did not get the Jersey jokes started.

[threecb]

You and me both!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
Sorry - A: Didn't know myself until I wandered in there last week. B: Didn't know you were so enamored with the stuff. ;)



Call 'em - Firkin (http://firkinoflibertyville.com/). Or the Maproom - I've seen cask 2 Hearted around Chi a lot over the past year.

S. My nephew is getting married in Evanston on New Years Eve (For tax reasons). The wedding was planned for next summer originally. I have toyed with the idea of traveling To Chi Town and still might. If I do I'll check in with you guys to see what is my best bet for good beer. I'll probably just head to the beach though. That was my original plan. And It sucks that The Real Ale fest was cancelled again because I definitely could have fit that one in this year seeing as my Costa Rica trip has shifted to April.