Resistance IPA - Two Brothers Brewing Company

homebrew311

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Saw this at the store today... part of the new Two Brother's J Series. Aged in French Oak Foudres.

A: Pours a brilliant bright copper, crystal clear, dense white head with lots of lacing, good head retention

S: the nose starts with some aromatic hops..not huge on the hop aroma, but definitely there... not quite what I was expecting for a IPA with 70 IBUs. The hops on the front meld into a bready malt profile with a presence of oak. Lots of different notes come up in the aroma, but the malt and oak dominates the end.

T: the hops on the front are bitter and subdued, slightly piney, which then gives way to this strong malty backbone that integrates with the oak pretty nicely, the finish is nice and long with lingering notes of oak

mf: crisp and smooth body with low carbonation

D: this is an interesting brew, something about it isn't quite latching on for me. The oak and malt backbone is nice, but something about the hop profile isn't adding up for me. There is some bitterness, but not that nice fresh aromatic hop profile that you would expect a freshly bottled 70 IBU IPA to have.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 23:59:29 | More by homebrew311

GbVDave

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint.

Best by 8/13/10

A: Pours a crystal clear, orange-y gold color with two full fingers of sticky off-white head on top that retained for ages and left a lot of lace stuck to the glass. Decent amount of carbonation, too.

S: Not floored by the smell. Aromas of citrus, vanilla, a hint of pine, honey, dried flowers, and caramel.

T: Follows the smell closely. Didn't really notice any "oaky" flavors. Piney hops pop out a bit more as it comes up to temp.

M: Starts off pretty smooth and sweet and then the door swings the other way and this turns quite dry and bitter during the middle and long finish.

D: Very nice drinker, almost sessionable. Maybe the Bros. will tweak some batches in the future with more hops?

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 11:28:05 | More by GbVDave

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

New Beer Friday, Midwest Style!

Appearance - Pours into my sniffer with a relatively clear copper color. I obtain about a finger and a half of white head that dissipates slowly leaving moderate lacing.

Smell - A rush of bitter grapefruit, pine resin, hops, and a slight malt backbone. The more I smell the aroma the less bitter the grapefruit smell becomes and the more malty/passion fruit citrus aromas become present.

Taste - Somewhat a surprise from the nose. Malty up front with a definite hop kick right behind. Less citrus presence than I assumed there would be because of the nose. Despite there being some flavor, I'm not going to lie but i seriously get an almost "watery" characteristic to it. Seems the flavors separate about halfway through the sip and it becomes very bland.

Mouthfeel - Medium to light bodied. Decent carbonation.

Drinkability - I would say pretty drinkable but only because there is little body and not insane amounts of flavor that would make it suffer after a few beers (think bitter D/IPAs). Not bad, but not that "unique" to make me buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 20:52:37 | More by SpdKilz

paco1029384756

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden color with a small white head.

Scent of light oak, sweet, juicy hops, citrus, grass, and a hint of caramel. The oak character is nice and balanced here.

Taste of cereal, malts, light sweet sugars, honey, subtle hops, and sweet oak. The bitterness is nice, but the beer falls just shy of being great. It's a bit like eating Honey Combs with an IPA poured over them.

Mouthfeel is medium light bodied with a good, smooth carbonation.

If this is a sign of things to come, I cannot wait to drink more of the Two Brothers oak aged beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 22:36:59 | More by paco1029384756

copyguyadam

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Received via trade with jkblodge as an extra. Thanks!

A - Real nice gold and orange hue. Great looking 1" head with lacing.
S - I smell grapefruit and something else pleasant and sweet.
T & M - The oak is barely there, but still really nice. Great tasting IPA and lighter on the booze than most I've had lately.
D - Nice, easy drinking IPA. I wish I could buy this locally.

I look forward to trying more from this brewery. Great job on this IPA!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2010 00:54:41 | More by copyguyadam

schoolboy

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's hard for me to not like an IPA, so I like this one. But it is not at one I would seek out again. The taste is a tad dark, like a scottish ale or something. I am drinking it a bit warm, so that may color my opinion, but the smell is also undistinguished.

The brewery is new to me, so I wonder if all their brews are like this. I have a few of these to drink, so I also wonder if I will ike them better very cold.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 18:59:04 | More by schoolboy

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Two Brothers Resistance

12oz bottle. Pours a clear copper color. Aroma of pine and citrus. In the flavor, pine, grapefruit, and a touch of wood which is from the french oak. Mostly bitter, citrus rind with a mild malt sweetness to balance. Medium to light bodied feel. Overall, a nice ipa, smooth and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 18:16:05 | More by Stinkypuss

kshankar

District of Columbia

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Easily one of the most annoying pours of my life. Even the gentlest of pours yields a massive foam. Then I have to wait for it to recede a little so it won't overflow. I mean, once I finish pouring the thing about 2 hours later, it looks spectacular. But still. Really, though. This thing looks great. Sticky, rocky foam that just doesn't seem to go away, tons of lacing.

Aroma is slightly mild relative to other IPA's, but what is there is the fairly typical citrus and pine scent

Taste is pretty good, nothing spectacular. Solid offering. Notes of pine, citrus and hop bitterness with a slight malt backing which keeps it somewhat balanced.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, carbonation is okay, and the drinkability is moderate, but isn't really the purpose of an IPA anyways.

Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 04:35:09 | More by kshankar

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours nice golden with a thin swirly head. Smells somewhat grainy with a nice hit of sweet, citrusy hops. The taste is similar, with a bit of grain followed by a big but short hop profile that is leafy, piney, and a bit citrusy, but the hops fall off and it becomes grainy again toward the end. Fairly spicy in the mouth, and a bit thick, but pretty pleasant. Overall, a pretty nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 20:45:19 | More by Georgiabeer

beerdown77

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours light orange and has a decent foamy head and good lacing. The smell is very hoppy and citrusy. The flavor was shockingly hoppy and grapefruity. I even taste pineapple. There is a nicely combined bitterness and sweetness. I feel like this beer is a breath of fresh air; it takes that craving that you seek in a really citrusy IPA and maximizes it. I hate to say it…it’s almost too fruity, making it hard to identify any malt. However, this is a great beer with a peculiar tanginess. I haven’t had a lot of Two Brothers, but from what I’ve tried so far, I’ve been blindsided by their approach to uniqueness. I am looking forward to the Long Haul Session Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 18:51:13 | More by beerdown77

Aguirre

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first review.

Poured into a nonic pint, this brew is copper colored, clear and has a nice thick head.

The smell doesn't knock me over, it's hoppy sure, but I can't pick out any specific notes...it smells good, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing special.

The taste is better than the smell, it's smooth and rich and well balanced. I get a little bit of the woodiness from the oak barrels, but not much, which is a little disappointing. Not a massive hop bomb by any means, but bitter. There's a lingering aftertaste that I don't find unpleasant.

It's a smooth drinker. You can taste the alcohol, but it's not overwhelming (especially for 6.9%) and I like the level of carbonation.

This isn't my favorite IPA, but there's something interesting about it that I'm not yet well-versed enough in beer to describe. Keep an eye out for it, it's worth a try!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 03:02:41 | More by Aguirre

movingtrain

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle from "The J Series" sampled from a small snifter.

Slightly less than aggressive pour yields a mammoth head, and it's not going anywhere. Beer is copper in color, and seriously carbonated. Thick, creamy, three-finger depth head on top.

Aroma gives off some standard IPA notes, citrus, pine, but goes a bit further, offering hints of grape, wet grass, plum, and oak.

Tart flavors up front...bitter apple and spicy hop notes. Flavor is very cidery, and pops on the tongue. That head is still sticking around...light and fluffy. Other flavors of astringent hops and pepper.

The carbonation may be too much here. However, it does allow for an interesting play on the palate. There are some rich flavors here, and I like the playful take on the IPA (aged in French Oak Fourdes).

Overall, this is a good beer...perhaps could use some time to cool down in the bottle...although, age may make this resistance all that more aggressive.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2010 22:25:17 | More by movingtrain

scottfrie

California

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into Gulden Draak tulip. Thanks goes to HosP for this one

A: Pours a tangerine orange color with a thin off white head that quickly faded into a faint film that left thin traces of sticky lacing down the glass.
S: Notes of orange sherbet hops and maybe a hint of vanilla.
T: I get notes of orange zest, light acetone nail polish remover, sweet citrus juice, and a touch of lemon and light pale malt. I wouldn't know this was oak aged unless you told me, but it tastes pretty good. Finish has a pretty good dose of bitter.
M: Tingly, bubbly carbonation over a medium body with a soft body. Alcohol isn't warm but there is still that slight acetone flavor.
D: Overall I liked it, but it's not very memorable. Still, it's a good beer with a great flavor. Thanks again Mark for hooking it up.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 03:03:13 | More by scottfrie

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

More from the Two Brothers oak aged series and an IPA no less.

12oz bottle poured into the trusty New Belgium tulip.

A: Beer is pretty. Little ropes of bubbles twist up from the etchings on the bottom of the glass and hold up an bright and loosely foamy one inch head. Color is clear, soft glowing peachy gold.

S: A delicate aroma on this one. Hops are there to be sure but it doesn't come at you like a that blast of heat you get from a big red wine, or for a better comparison, like that blast of bitter fruitiness and pine that you get from something like a Surly Furious or other such beers. Aroma is more restrained with drops of honey mixed in with the traditional citrus and pine aromas that appear here. Malt presence is also stronger here than in similar beers of this style, sweeter with maybe a touch (that's stretching it I think) of barrel character.

T/MF: Not hugely bitter, not enamel stripping with a back hand of pine sap and pineapple. Instead this beer is a bit more restrained: orange blossom and honey are mixed in with a citrusy/piney profile. Malt character is also more pronounced with a caramel sweetness working its way into the fold. Feel is another story though. Filling though the middle with tiny pin pricks of carbonation filling the mouth like a blanket than leaves without much fanfare.

D: Again, I would like to see what the barrel does to this beer and beers like it down the road, maybe it needs to get broken in a bit as I don't seem to be picking much up in the way of oakiness that I'm used to from barrel aged beers. Still, this beer remains an interesting change of pace from the IPAs I'm familiar with.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 03:43:29 | More by bluemoonswoon

JToad

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear orange copper, minimal lacing.

Smells of biscuit malt and hops. Very understated, not in your face.

First taste is bready. Hops on the back end. Very well balanced. Relatively thin mouthfeel, with more malts then hops. Not your typical American IPA.

Very drinkable for 6.9% Tastes more of an amber ale with hops than an IPA. A solid brew, but not my fav from Two Bros.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 15:25:44 | More by JToad

innersanctum

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big shout out to Jim-E who generously offered me a bottle from his private stock!

Long Haul, also from 2 Bros J series, has made a few enjoyable appearances in my cellar but this was a first with Le Resistance. This is a nice looking brew, a finger or two of head, generous lacing, and a pine bouquet. This differs from a traditional IPA in its initial rounder and mellower mouthfeel, yet a definitive IPA finish; it is somewhat lighter than most IPA's on the market but it clearly has more hops than a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 16:29:04 | More by innersanctum

beagle75

Iowa

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Slightly hazy, brassy golden color with over one finger of off-white foam head that collapses to a large and lofty pad. Heavy lacing remains on the glass. A scary, wispy-looking mass of gelatinous yeast solids lurks, submerged, just under the foam cap. A trickle of fine bubbles rise through the column in a slow-moving strand.

S: Malt is decidedly vinous in the nose, smelling like oaked chardonnay and lesser yeast esters, offset by some green pine needles.

T: Begins dry, with refined toasted grain, restrained bright fruit, and a hint of lactic tartness that is complemented by mild herbaceous, floral, and grapefruit citrus hop aromatics. Precocious bitterness develops toward the middle, but does not overpower. Oak becomes more assertive in the middle, as hop flavors recede, but never becomes a dominant quality. The wood reveals considerable depth of flavor as the beer starts to warm, lending an overall air of maturity to the drink. The finish is moderately bitter, with a ramp-like herbaceous savoriness that is just another piece of the overall puzzle.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, slightly acidic and astringent on the palate at times, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: While lacking some of the most intense qualities of a West Coast IPA, this beer develops a much more unique and refined portfolio. Wood finds itself in balance with ale features here, but the suggestion of muddled and confused flavors that such a description may conjure is never realized. Instead, it projects the flavors with purpose; crisply and cleanly. If Russian River aged their eponymous draft-only IPA on oak, this is what it might taste like.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 00:05:44 | More by beagle75

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, courtesy of an in-person trade at DLD, into a Cantillon tulip. Shared with friends.

A: Clear amber body with a finger of fine white foam. Ok retention, delicate lace. Solid.

S: Mellow vanilla oakiness, caramel malt, and floral hops in the background. Pleasant, but less than entirely memorable.

T: Sweet up front: light oak, moderate vanilla, and solid caramel malt. Clean bitter finish. Not much in the way of actual hop flavor (especially for an IPA), but it's still a very tasty beer.

M: Medium, creamy body with light carbonation. Not quite enough life to balance the sweetness.

O: I enjoyed this one, but I was hoping for a more dynamic interplay between hops and oak; as it was, the oak melded nicely with the crystal malt, leaving the hops entirely in the background. I'd gladly drink it again, but there are better oak-aged IPAs to be had.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 16:04:57 | More by woosterbill

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cask at d.b.a., Brooklyn, NY

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that faded away but left a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of citrus and pine resin hops as well as oak in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell but the hop flavors are more balanced with the malts, the latter of which contribute some sweetness to the initial taste. There is a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a low amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink because it has a good balance between the hops and malts.

Serving type: cask

04-26-2011 00:52:26 | More by metter98

jrallen34

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap into a pint glass at Revolution.

The beer is a medium clear orange with a nice head that has tons of retention and unreal lacing. The lacing fully coats the whole side of the glass as it falls and the head stays at least ten minutes.

The best thing about this beer is the look, the aroma and taste are nothing special, a little citrus, a little hops, easy to drink but nothing to write home about. I'd drink it again probably, but wouldn't search it out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2010 17:45:34 | More by jrallen34

CBlack85

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Smuttynose big beer balloon glass.

Pours a clear copper/orange-ish color with a huge white frothy head that slowly recedes, leaving behind a spectacular amount of sticky lacing.

The aroma is surprisingly more biscuity/bready and sweet caramel malts than it is the citrusy and spicy hops that seem to linger in the background. There is also a hint of vanilla that becomes more noticable as the beer warms.

The taste features the hops much more prominantly than the aroma, but I am still left wanting a little in the hop dept. I would love to have seen a bigger hop bite, maybe some dry hopping would have done the trick. The malt backbone is sweet and bready, really very nice. There is a slight hint of fruityness that is quite pleasant. I get just some subtle hints of the oak barrels, nothing overwhelming. Medium bodied and moderately carbonated. Finishes slightly dry and is easy to drink.

This is not your typical in your face, palate wrecking, uber hoppy IPA. It is a bit more refined, while still remianing within the IPA style guidelines. This is a very good, well balanced beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 16:11:54 | More by CBlack85

BB1313

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by 6/10/11. 12oz bottle poured into a chalice. Pours a light shiny golden, transparent for the most part, not much haze. Decent head and lacing, but nice color. The aromas are nice, but faint.. the hops aren't in your face. There's also a nice sweetness in the aromas. This IPA is on the sweeter side.. it's bitter, but once again not over the top. Lots of sweet fruits in the mix.. pear, apple, pineapple and mango are definitely there. The oak is noticeable, but not over the top. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. There are hints of vanilla. Finishes slightly dry. Mouthfeel is nice, right amount of carbonation, medium-bodied, extremely crisp. I'd definitely revisit this one, it's pretty enjoyable. Great beer for spring/summer.

This is a pretty unique IPA.. it's subtle, but bold; slightly sweet. Once again, the oak isn't extremely noticeable, but it's presence is known. Very nice IPA which should be respected, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 01:24:12 | More by BB1313

match1112

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: crystal clear yellowish orange body with a half finger of white head. the head quickly settles to a ring leaving lots of lacing behind. very good looking beer.

s: very floral with highlights of pine and citrus hops. a very well balanced malt body compliments this beer with notes of honey and oak.

t: plenty of hop flavor with out being overly bitter, the aging in french oak foudres helps to soften the edges. a nice sweet honey malt body rounds this out.

m: medium body with good carbonation. this beer goes down easy with a crisp finish that lingers. if you wait too long between sips you can feel your tongue getting dry and thirsty.

o: for an ipa i feel this is as good as any, it doesnt have the bigger bolder in your face style of iipa's that everyone seems to be craving, but this is a nice smooth flavorful beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 14:42:09 | More by match1112

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler filled at Yorktown Beverage in Yorktown, NY. Pours near clear, almond amber, slight off white heat, that leaves nicely coating fine sheeting all the way to the top of the glass.

Just a touch of grapefruit and sawdust on the nostrils.

Super dry brew, with notes of grapefruit peel. Not really getting any wood character on the palate. Tasty, citric and enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: growler

04-25-2012 01:57:56 | More by Billolick

AmitC

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured with about one finger thick head that has excellent standing. Decent to good lacing. Orange amber color that is hazy and translucent. Good number of bubbles.

Aroma: Very subdued hop presence. A good amount of malt that is mixed with piney and citrus hops. Oily aroma.

Taste: Bittering hops upfront with a tail of slight malt. A good balance that tilts towards malts overall. Could have used more hops. Finish is dry. Slight bitter aftertaste.

Mouth feel: Medium bodied feel with moderate carbonation. Some mild oily feel in the mouth. Hop derived astringency that is normal for an IPA.

Overall: Try it once. Nothing wrong with this one. Could just have improved on aroma a little. Other aspects, it does its job without doing anything outstanding.

Style Rate. 4
Personal Rate: 4

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 01:12:32 | More by AmitC