Two Hearted Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

benmiliron

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

My first Bell's pale ale. I never tried their regular pale ale just because I couldn't get past the stouts and porters, they were just too good to pass up! I'm glad I tried the two-hearted though. A good pouring beer, decent head that disappears in about a minute, leaving a nicely scented lace. The smell is fantastic, just like opening up that bag of whole leaf for the brewpot. The hops are the showcase here, and they tend to dominate the malt with little interplay between the two.

I like my IPA drinkable, more of a spring/summer drink than a cold winter night drink. (Except of course for Dogfish 90-minute!) This beer would be perfect for mowing the lawn or doing yard work. Nice and light (for Bell's anyway.) It's worth buying a six-pack if you're a hophead, because if you're like me, you would easily drink a lot of this beer. Have fun!

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2003 00:22:06 | More by benmiliron

GreenWBush

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Mmm, i've been eagerly awaiting my chance to try Bell's seasonal Two-hearted, and I was afforded that opportunity when my favorite pub finally got it on tap.

This Kalamazoo brew pours out to a cloudy bronze with the trademark Bell's yeast haze. This beer only had a tiny head, but I've noticed that a few of the bartenders can't pour properly so i'll attribute to that instead of blaming the beer.

A nice lacing appeared about 1/4 of the way down on the glass and decorated the pint 'til the bottom.

I was sort of expecting some ridiculously hopped entry, but this is something almost anyone would love. The initial taste is light and almost grainy, with a distinct resemblance to a lower-class wit beer. This sounds like a negative comment, but for some reason it works perfectly in this beer.

The malt balance is especially nice when you are used to drinking hop-monsters, but there are those hops in the background, rising like the sun to remind you that this is Bells. A great hop burp follows!

Larry Bell has crafted yet another winner in the Two-Hearted, a beer so aptly named its frightening. A perfect competition for hops and malt in the nose, and a beer that can be loved by both spectrums of beer drinkers. Hopefully next year's will be a bit stronger so it can be cellared, but overall a VERY enjoyable and equal-opportunity ale!

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2003 16:52:18 | More by GreenWBush

merlin48

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a few of these in my cellar, so after reading all the hype I just had to sample one. Pours a murky honey gold colour with an off-white head that wants to hang around for awhile. Laces all over the pint tumbler. Aroma is overpowering(I'm getting used to this), lavender, pine, and citrus. Mouthfeel is a good balance of carbonation, hops, and a malt background. This is good stuff working together here. Kinda burp producing after a couple of sips. As it warms up, several dark fruit flavours are catching my attention. This one reminds me of some of Dogfish Head's better offerings. I'm still getting used to the hop assault of some of the better USA brews, so I'm sure I'll update this review in a few weeks. This ale has a bitter finish that is very crisp and clean.

The hoppy American IPAs like this are certainly grabbing my attention, and this one is one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2003 00:04:57 | More by merlin48

Dantes

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Package: 12 oz. longneck, crowned bottle. Bottle-conditioned. Space for date/lot was blank. New color label, depicting two leaping (tiger?) trout. 6.0% ABV.

Cost: $30 case at Shangy’s

Presentation: Imperial pint glass at ~45º

Appearance: As noted by so many others, this is a lovely IPA, with a burnished amber body and a voluminous (2-3 finger), dry, white head which reached a self-sustaining ¾” layer. The body approaches the ruddiness of Celebration, but wasn’t as cloudy as I expected from previous descriptions. Perhaps the 7% version was cloudier. Active, fine bubbles.

Smell: Florally hoppy, with a cushion of rich malt. I find that most IPA’s fall into two categories: the harsh, medicinal ones, and the floral, fruity ones. Thankfully, this is one of the latter. I’m told it’s the Centennial that really marks this beer’s fresh aroma. Well, whatever it is, the hops palette plays beautifully off the malts.

Taste: One of the rare beers that lives up to its hype. The initial sensation is crisply hoppy, but as it rolls around your tongue, the more complex hop notes and malts make an appearance. I would characterize this as more herbaceously hoppy than citrusy hoppy. I always seem to fall back on this characteristic, but this beer is well-balanced. It is both refreshing and satisfying. The medium finish is very crisp and clean.

Mouthfeel: Almost achieves the fine texture of cask-conditioned ale in a bottle, with more vigor. Carbonation is excellent, while the body is a touch on the watery side. I would guess the “old” 7% version was probably a bit better in this regard. I do find that many “regular” IPA’s (sub-Imperial level) tend to be brittle.

Drinkability: Comes close to defining drinkability. Only the best cask ales, Celebration, and Brutal Bitter top this for quaffability IMO.

Backwash: Probably my favorite “pure” American IPA. Excluding “Imperial IPA’s” and beers like Brutal Bitter and Celebration (once categorized as a Winter Seasonal) which are maltier and bit heartier, this really hits the bullseye. Definitely surpasses peers like HopDevil and 60 Minute IPA. All things great beer should be: complex, refreshing, satisfying and endlessly quaffable. Must be killer on draught.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2003 01:14:02 | More by Dantes

leeenglewood

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden with a slight yeast haze and the head is thick and stick around till you finish your glass. Smells like fresh hops with a citrus overtone. Initial taste of hop bitterness that is very perfumey followed along by a slight malt flavor although not sweet more grainy. Aftertaste is all hops very citrusy. Very perfumery hops flavor. Mouthful is rich and oily is rather drinkable. This beer has more dry hopped flavor then any beer ive ever had before.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2003 19:15:50 | More by leeenglewood

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Too me this epitomizes the US trend of going for the hop heads. I've had debates with a few over whether this one belongs in the so-called Imperial IPA class with Arrogant Bastard, Dogfish Head, etc.
That being said, this beer is great. Aroma is overpoweringly hoppy/floral. I need to ask Larry Bell how many different types of hops he uses. Definite grapefruit in the nose and maybe even some melon ? Has almost and orange tint to the golden hue as it pours. Taste is a real surprise given the aroma, very chewy malty taste that is then devoured by the hop backnote. For the me the balance works but both the front and the back are very aggressive and I can see how some don't like it. If you like this in bottles, seek it out on draught and you'll like it even more.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2003 02:48:40 | More by CRJMellor

beernbbq

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very similar to Sierra Nevada Celebration and Dogfish Head 90 minute. Biscuity malt with a strong and perfectly balanced tang of Cascades and I assume Chinooks or Centennials. Goes down easy with a good dry finish. Mine was a little warm as it had just been transported from PA to CT but at 45-50 degrees I am sure this is perfection. A great American-style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2003 15:27:22 | More by beernbbq

ithacabaron

California

3.6/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours lighter than most IPAs, with an off-white head.

Very clear, especially for a bottle conditioned ale. Aroma is muted grapefruit and pine, with some orange zest thrown in.

Mouthfeel is a bit thinner than I would have liked, more "hop-water" than balanced. Similar to other hop heavy ales (in particular, HopDevil), but the hops here seem "greener."

Finish is much drier than many IPAs, with a definate oak taste and maple wood after-smell in the nose.

Drinkable, but misses the pure juicyness of I've found in offerings from Southern Tier, Lagunitas, and Victory, for starters, and which I prefer in my IPAs. I'm sure for some, though, this is perfect.

This is worth purchasing a sixer here and there, but all in all, not something I'd leap at when I saw it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2003 07:57:42 | More by ithacabaron

ALESwhatCURESya

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured beautifully although I had quite a bit of sediment come from the bottle. Beautiful head that lasted for a while with lots of bottle bubbles. Overall, this is a great example of a good IPA. Bell's brewery in general has a great lineup of beers for all sorts of tastes in mind!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2003 00:07:52 | More by ALESwhatCURESya

tar

Bahamas

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy, light golden/orange color. The head is good sized (1+ fingers thick), white, somewhat foamy, and very persistent. The glass becomes nicely laced throughout drinking from the sticky head. A very good hoppy aroma. Tastes of fruity/citrus hops with some good bitterness, which leaves a very nice tingle on the tongue. Nice tasting malt flavors are present as well, but are dominated by the hops. One of my favorite beers and one which I look forward to reappearing each year.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2003 16:16:35 | More by tar

Realale

Missouri

4.88/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Crystal clear pale gold. Seems fractionally lighter than the bottled. Very fine white head stays at a robust 1" from a swan neck with no sparkler.

Nose is fresh Centennial in all of its grapefruity/piney glory. Its beautiful, but the malt is completely over-whelmed.

A bit thinner than the bottled on the palate, but incredibly well balanced. The malt really shines in the mouth combining elegently with the hop flavor. Definitely more bitter than the bottled, particularly on the long finish, but its really well put together. I prefer the taste of this one to the bottle.

Mouthfeel is excellent soft carbonation that only cask-conditioning gives to a beer. The bartender thought this cask might have been broached a bit too early, but the carbonation was just right for me. Way too easy to drink a lot of this one. Simply outstanding stuff!

Serving type: cask

11-17-2003 16:28:43 | More by Realale

mikeys01

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bell's Two Hearted Ale is probably just about my favorite IPA in terms of most drinkable, most character, and just great taste. I just reacquainted myself with this beer when I picked up a 6 pack on a business trip this week. The Two Hearted pour into the glass a radiant honey gold color topped by a generous and fairly dense white head, that sticks around for most of the drinking. Aroma is mouthwatering floral hops and just a little bit of yeast. Taste is intitially agressively grapefruit/citrus hoppy but somehow soft at the same time, giving amazing hop flavor without being overly bitter. Flavor develops a little more malt character towards the end but finishes very crisp. This is a very easy drinking beer, surprisingly smooth and absolutely delicious.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2003 01:50:19 | More by mikeys01

Boilermaker88

California

4.58/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

First beer I had after making my first shopping stop in Indianapolis. Two Hearted was very near the top of my “have to find” list. Presented in a 12oz brown bottle, Two Hearted Ale had a hazy dark golden color and a firm, foamy off-white head that never really died down and generated a nice patchwork of lace.
The aromas of grapefruit, soft pine and floral hops along with a faintly yeasty smell came wafting from the glass. The taste had a lightly bready malt note initially which was promptly pushed aside by a strong grapefruit and lighter pine flavor that built through the finish and left a long bitter taste residing on the palate. The feel was medium-bodied and very smooth.
This offering from Kalamazoo Brewing is one of the best American IPA’s out there. Assertive in its hoppiness but not off-the-chart, Two Hearted Ale is one of the most well-crafted IPA’s I’ve had. I’m real glad I saved a couple to bring home to savor later.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 20:09:45 | More by Boilermaker88

nomad

Kansas

4.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a beautiful straw gold with a slight haze. Had a pocky head settling to frothy clumps, other times to a smooth sheen. Also had bulbous but inconsistent staining, and slick but nice lacing. Plenty of good miniscule carbonation rising quite quickly underneath helped support the efforts.

Smelled of grapefruit that tranquilize my nose with citric juice headiness, then tickled me with a textured pine scent, and occasionally threw me some hop leaf scents, too. All of these together tended to create a husky and peculiarly expressive combination. It opened to a depth of sweet apricot scents like putting your nose in grandma’s best marmalade. Settles into a glorious ambrosia of delights that is sometimes gilded by floral edges. Not bad, I guess, eh?

Taste was of a quite true grapefruit flavor followed by big floral hops. Had high-alpha bitterness but was soft and blended in impact, and supported by an easy pale sort of malt backbone. Unbelievably easy on the palette considering the complexity of hops. The finish was so tender, leaving some tart hop flavors and an ounce or two of dryness, but overall an easy load on the tongue. Burps up tasty grapefruit juice with spiky pine, for me a sign of a well-hopped beer. Highly drinkable, this beer’s session-like mouthfeel could use a touch more body and less carbonation.

Large enough to show its bold stripes, subtle enough to blend them together, this is a highly complex (in a quiet way) yet highly drinkable beer. Surprising power and complexity for a low abv IPA, yet delicately so. The best of the pale sort of American IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 16:35:13 | More by nomad

budgood1

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours out a cloudy, glowing golden colour. thin white head and slight traces of lace. delicious fruit and floral hop aroma...maltiness abounds to make this quite appealing to the nose. upon tasting...the balance is striking. a complex IPA...fruity yeastiness...bitter hops...malty foundation...dry mouthfeel. i'm surprised by the dryness. it makes me want to keep sipping it and experience the odd cascade of different flavours and bitterness. extremely drinkable. very tasty. smooth. nice twist with the belgian yeast in an american IPA. best of both worlds i suppose. i detect no unseemingly sourness that has been otherwise noted is some reviews. a unique and balanced ale. quite deserving of its high regard and respect.

a huge thanks to feloniousmonk for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2003 00:46:33 | More by budgood1

scottum

Vermont

4.6/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Stoked to finally get to try a Bell's beer. Two Hearted is all I could have hoped for. Pours a deep amber with a nice white head. The hop profile is a beauty and takes control of this beer from sip one. The balance is very nice. Oh so smooth of a brew. I certainly hope this is not the last of the Two Hearted I sample. I love it. These better come east!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2003 02:26:44 | More by scottum

hotstuff

Indiana

3.28/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

When poured, this beer had a medium sized white frothy and creamy head with fine-medium sized bubbles that was mostly lasting. The body was cloudy and uncarbonated with a golden hue. The nose was hoppy, sweet, citrusy and fruity with a bitter and hoppy flavor. The mouthfeel was a bit tingly, smooth and dry and it was medium bodied. This beer had excellent lacing.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2003 23:48:40 | More by hotstuff

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I last tried the draught version of this a year ago, and after getting a sixer of it this year I don't know why I didn't give it a higher score. Pours a lightly hazy dark orange color with a medium off-white head. Thin lacing. The aroma is nicely floral, grapefruity and hoppy. Medium body with an excellent texture. It never goes overboard with hops, but retains a nice refined blend of hops, citrus, pine and a hint of malt. The finish is nicely bitter throughout. This is a top of the line IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2003 19:30:01 | More by Dogbrick

ManekiNeko

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served chilled at a Bell's tasting at the Brickskeller.

Appearance: Honey peach color with frothy white head. Great carbonation visible. Nice IPA style head retention and some Jet Li-kick ass lacing.

Smell: Prominent grapefruit, orange, lemon and strawberry aromas (in order of strength). Wow!

Taste: Fruity sweetness at first, giving way to a nice modest malt presence. Hoppy bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, nice and bubbly.

Drinkability: Give me more of this, please. I shall beat down doors and rip the tags of off matresses for this!

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2003 03:56:25 | More by ManekiNeko

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.68/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Is simply amazing glowing orange amber tone with an off white massive off white tinted orange cream color head that rises well above the rim of the glass holding together very nicely lacing is thick evenly spread wow what a great appearance, just absolutely perfect. Aroma: Piney with an edge of sweet peach juice malted like an extract form the hops hold dominance on all other competitive components, but citrus orange peel and flower cascades all come to play at this hop gathering. Even after getting the bottle as empty as I could, I smelled inside the bottle to be greated with a robust rush of hops, now that's what I call hop aroma. Flavor: Simply crisp bitterness blended with a malt backbone not as syrupy sweet compared to the likes of a barley wine esque Double IPA but this one holds it's ground as being one of the best IPAs I have ever tasted. Such a good IPA wish I had this one at my disposal, because this is a buy by the case beer all the way. The layers of different hops that harmonize here is uncanny I can literally pick out seperate hop components earthy tones, pine cone like, flowery, citrus zest it's all here this beer is amazing. Mouthfeel: Carbonation solid all the way through body is medium to light I wish there was just a tad more texture my only complaint. Drinkability: Dead on as can be yearning for a bigger supply than just one bottle I am really enjoying this beer it is christening the gameday as my first beer for the final meeting of the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Virginia Tech Hokies, go 'eers!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2003 18:50:40 | More by WVbeergeek

Ellbert

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

The apperance was wonderful. It is a nice burnt or orange straw color. It was clear till I swirled in the dregs from the bottle. The head is very nice. It is a nice creamy head that was huge and stucke to my glass like nothing else.

The smell was hops all the way, nothing but hops. Very floral.

The taste was very disappointing. It had hops but it was very thin and almost watery. There is very little malt in this beer and it makes it lose it's body. Could be a lot better.

Not a bad beer but not what I expected it to be.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2003 01:02:16 | More by Ellbert

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.45/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Another 12 ounce long neck brown bottle. The front label has a different design to some of the other Bell’s labels. The one on the Two Hearted Ale I had was even different to the one shown in the BA Database. A large cross profile of a fish head in black & white is set inside an orange border. No freshness date or strength listed.

Appearance: It has been in the fridge for 3 days and pours with an almost clear, but ever so slightly hazy looking golden body. Tangerine orange hints when back-lit. Nice off-white head sits atop the beer, but slowly rescinds to a thin collar – good carbonation & a swirl repair the head back to a smart looking smooth ¼” pillow look, which then had little problem maintaining its staying power. It looks exceptionally good to the eye.

Nose: Volatile floral hops, pine oils and fresh fleshy grapefruits. A veritable, Eau de Hummulus Luppulus.

Taste: Wow, even the frothy head has a crisp bitterness when sucked off of the top of the beer. It has a very perfume feel right from the off. The bitterness is offset by the strong Malts though, well at least at the start anyways. These eventually make way for a more pronounced fruity bitterness, with a sharp grapefruit feel that has hints of lemons at times. The malts always support the extreme bitterness though, lending a good balance to the overall beers taste profile. Finishes with a fantastic fresh floral hop-bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Solid bitterness abounds in the mouth, positively reminding every part of the tongue, regardless of its taste receptiveness – that this is a very hoppy & bitter India Pale Ale. Good carbonation lends vitality to beer in the mouth – almost feels creamy at times.

Drinkability: I enjoy IPA’s, which is a bonus, but I enjoyed this even more so. The floral perfume aspects and the malts as strong as they are, all balance out in the end to make for an excellent quaffable IPA.

Overall: This one is logged as a “must do again!” Thanks to Felonious for this cracker!

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2003 05:05:28 | More by TheLongBeachBum

xgrigorix

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Twelve ounce brown bottle. No dates.

Bright gold, slightly couldy, dense white head (looks sticky) Head retains to the last drop & leaves unbelievable lace on the glass!

Nose fills with scents of pine, grapefruit, & lemon zest. All incredibly fresh smelling, completely balanced, & very inviting.

Some sticky sweetness up front, explodes into fruit salad! Melons, citrus, apples - absolutely amazing. A well hopped finish with notes of pine & lemon brings it home. Incredibly hoppy without ever becoming bitter. Medium bodied, smooth, moderate carbonation. A sublime quaffing experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2003 17:05:31 | More by xgrigorix

winomark

Missouri

4.53/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Hazy honey color with a thick bubbly head and lots of streaming bubbles.

Aroma: Hops, citrus(grapefruit) and pinapple. Definately an IPA nose.

Taste: Wonderful balance of the hops and malt. Very well done.

Mouthfeel: Good bitterness makes this beer a great drink. Crisp, dry(but not too dry) and clean throughout.

Drinkability: Too bad this is a seasonal. I could easily maek this one of my house beers. Since it is only available for a short while, I will drink as much of this as I can get my hands on before it disappears.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2003 03:19:14 | More by winomark

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Copper hued golden in color with an off-white head that left lace.
Pleasing floral, piney hop aroma with malt scents buried under the hops.

Big floral, piney hop flavor is well balanced by a nice biscuity, toffee malt profile. Very smooth.

Good mouthfeel.
This is an everyday IPA. Plenty of flavor, but balanced and very drinkable. Left me wanting another.

Overall, a good IPA. Not one that blows me away, but one I'd be happy to drink anytime.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2003 03:54:09 | More by PhantomVodoo