Long Haul Session Ale - Two Brothers Brewing Company

grandbeerdaily

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Two Brothers
Long Haul Session Ale
4.2% ABV 27 IBU

Appearance: Amber color, crystal clear. 2 1/2 inch off white, yellowish head. Minimal lacing.

Aroma: Bready malt with a subtle earthy, spicy hops. Creamy and toasty with a slight hint of rye. The oak is apparent but shines in the background.

Taste: Spicy hops similar to black pepper. Minimal esters that are bready and yeasty rather than fruity. A hint of cocoa and biscuits with a kiss of caramel. A very dry finish with smooth bitter that is accentuated by the french oak which is quite prominent.

Mouth feel: Light-medium body and medium carbonation. Very drinkable with a sharp acidity, but not too much.

Overall: Balanced and drinkable. Plenty of flavor but goes down smooth. The malt is central but the noble hops truly shine as a supporting role in this session. I always find french oak to be very subtle but imparting strong vanilla notes. This is an incredibly intriguing, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 05:03:02 | More by grandbeerdaily

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.66/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Golden copper with good foam.

Smell: Caramel and oak. Very subtle.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Subtle oak flavors with some vanilla. I quite enjoy the flavor, but miss the bourbon that traditionally accompanies oak. Too thin for a bitter, but it is clean and there is a decent light-medium body.

Overall Drinkability: I appreciate this beer a lot more after drinking it. A nice change of pace for oak-aged beer fans.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2013 02:29:16 | More by tjsdomer2

BierStein711

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Beer poured into nonic.

Two finger off white head

Dark brown in color with an amber hue at the top and the bottom.

Carbonation is slightly heavy, but not as heavy as a pilsner or BMC

Taste: fuggle, herb, sharpness, with an oaky finish

Aroma: oak and hop

Mouthfeel: great, not too thick, not too thin

Overall, this is a beer worth getting a six pack of. I strongly suggest giving Long Haul a try. It is more than just a session al.e

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 14:22:36 | More by BierStein711

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

About 2 months past best buy date. I won't hold that against this.
Poured into bar wine glass from my father-in -law. May he RIP on this wonderful fall Sunday with all sorts of football on the tube.
Light and thin looking as would be expected for a session ale. Brownish and off-white head that takes its time settling out.
Soft malt aroma with even lighter hops and hints of the oak aging. Pleasant.
A little tickle on the tongue and soft malt flavors. Dries out quite a bit on the finish and is quite long. Nice streak of English hop flavor through the middle and a contributing lingering bitterness on the finish. More of the oak seemed in the aroma.
Bigger body than anticipated. Probably enhance somewhat by the bigger than normal of very soft carbonation for style. Nonetheless a nice mouth feel.
This is a solid beer. Nice complexity for a beer clearly labeled "session beer". Nicely done. Good fall beer for afternoons of getting stuff done.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 18:06:46 | More by garymuchow

matjack85

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I got this single 12oz brown bottle as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. It has today's best before date on it, so I figured I better drink this one up right away.

The beer poured a cloudy golden/orange color with a nice 3-finger white head that hung around awhile and left some spotty lacing. After reading other reviews, I am curious as to why half of us got a cloudy pour and the other half say this beer is clear. I wonder what accounts for the difference.

The beer has a nice bready malt smell to it with a lot of fruit in it as well.

Nice mix of sweetness and soft bitterness here. Caramel and vanilla are the predominant flavors, but there is also some oak woodiness and some soft but spicy hop bitterness for balance. (Just 27 IBU's) The fruit I picked up in the smell also lingers in the background.

Light bodied with low carbonation.

This is a very unique tasting beer, well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 08:15:35 | More by matjack85

bnes09

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Light copper color and perfectly transparent. Big frothy head with good retention and patchy lacing.

Funky yeast smell which is mildly repulsive.

Mild bready malt, hints of barley and rye. Somewhat assertive herbal and spice hop. Ginger and nutmeg notes. Flavor is mellow and balanced.

Light to medium bodied. Smooth throughout with a clean, dry finish, adding to the drinkability.

Quite sessionable. Descent flavors and well balanced. I could drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 04:14:28 | More by bnes09

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a chalice

A: Pours a dark amber, copper color with a fizzy head that takes on a shade of dingy white, like dirty underwear.

S: Aroma is lightly sweet with malt and a touch of peach fruitiness, almost Belgian but subtle all around.

T/M: Carbonation is pretty high and the fizz lingers on the tongue for a good bit yet the flavor is pretty light beyond that, like an amber mixed with an American lager. Just a hint of bitterness balances out the faint maltiness and finishes clean.

It's pretty typical for a session but is still kind of bland.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 02:43:21 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

dexterk1

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours into a pint glass with a medium thick head and a reddish-brown/ dark copper color. Looks a little more carbonated than normal.
Odor is light. Has floral and some toffee notes.
Taste has a floral hit right from the beginning. Some malty notes appear near the end.
Mouth feel is light and pretty carbonated. It is a little light on the tongue and seems to disappear a little fast.
Overall still a pretty darn good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 00:01:50 | More by dexterk1

Kc4shore

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: This brew was a pretty cloudy off-amber with a small head with next to no retention. To be fair, it wasn't my greatest pour ever.

Smell: Nice balance of wheat and oaky maltiness. The wheat gives way to a refreshing bananna-ish aroma and a minimum of citrus notes, however the malt is what really comes through. Nice and nutty

Taste: Very rich oaky nuttiness right off the bat here. The kicker with this bitter ale is the balance that the high hoppage and the strong use of wheat creates with the malt. Overall, this is a really freakin smooth beer with great balance. Extremely drinkable. I guess the bottle name "Session" says it all.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 02:31:14 | More by Kc4shore

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - A cloudy amber with a half an inch of head that turns to a sticky lace ring.

S - Not too much maybe some sweet malts and grains with some hops. Smells rather good.

T - Ow wow ew. I get sort of a bitter tart flavor like sour lemons with a bit of hop bitterness. After a few the flavor does get a bit more balanced but it's really not a good beer.

M - Light to medium but soured.

Overall definitely not the best idea or ale they had. The same french oak on IPA does wonders but these bitters aged just made it tart and unenjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 06:58:45 | More by DrDemento456

BigPlay1824

New York

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a medium golden color that is crystal clear and has a ton of carbonation bubbles, pours with a finger of pure white head that is quite fluffy and only lingers for a little bit, leaves spotty lacing around the glass
S: definitely a subdued nose but it is still nice, hop bitter notes
T: hmmm a pretty nice and interesting taste, bitter yet sweetly malty, leaves kind of an odd taste on the palate like cherrios that have been soaking in water for a really long time, nice taste, refreshing and crisp
M: intense on the carbonation, leaves the mouth feeling dry, kind of a thick mouthfeel like apple cider
O: a nice brew, drinks crisp and smooth, good taste, overall enjoyable could find it better on a very hot summer day after, or while, mowing the lawn

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 01:30:02 | More by BigPlay1824

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: a pristine, amber to brown color with a one finger white head.
S: a lot going on here. I pick up on the sweet smelling malt first, but can definitely smell some of the oak which this was aged in. I also get whiffs of spice and hops. Nice mix.
T: starts out sweet as the malts really come through then fades into some bitterness at the back. A bit earthy would be a fit description. Would like to have more of the oaky flavor come though.
M: light and low carbonation. A dry and slighty bitter hang at the end.
O: obviously a sessionable beer and you could do a lot worse than this. However, based on the look and smell, I expected more in the flavor. I think this could use a tad more malt or some more of the oak to cut what I believe to be a slightly unpleasant aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 22:44:16 | More by Infamous7100

treque

Mexico

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: a nice amber color, completely traslucent, the head is off white but dissipates quickly, there is no carb at all

S: caramel malt, floral, pinus and some citrusy from the hops

T: there is sweetness, floral, nice bitterness ending pinu a little bit earthy, the final is long bitter tasting, a little bit dry

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 05:08:16 | More by treque

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amberish color with a 3 finger sticky off-white head leaving lots of lacing down the glass.

Some bready malts in the aroma with some subtle spicy hop tones.

Starts off with some earthy sharpness. A light bready malt flavor in the middle. Finishes slightly bitter and somewhat dry.

Mouthfeel is thin, to be expected and carbonation levels are medium.

I think this beer succeeds in what it's trying to be. This is definitely tasty enough to be a true session beer, but I've had other lower ABV's that have packed in better flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 00:11:55 | More by jmarsh123

dorianmarley

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is translucent chestnut brown, with creamy foam and nice lacing.

Nose is lots of sweet malt, crusty bread, sour candy, and tart fruit.

Taste is a maple-sweet malt, sour wood from the oak barrels, subtle bitter hops, and a pecan finish.

The mouthfeel is exciting in how light it is, completely carries the sharp flavors.

Overall, this beer will make you realize how great common, American session beers could be, but are not. This is a wonderfully executed brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 02:37:50 | More by dorianmarley

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, gingerbread like malt and a small oak note. In the taste, quite oaky and a gingerbread malt that goes from sweet to dry. A small bite amd medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry gingerbread like malt aftertaste. Quite English, and a nice mellow oak.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 12:52:43 | More by OWSLEY069

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased from Friar Tuck's in Savoy, IL.
Poured into a standard US pint glass.

Body is orange-copper in color, fairly light. Transparent, lots of active carbonation. 1cm head, white, quickly recedes to a ring around glass. Thin wisps of lacing hang around after each sip.

I detect smells of caramel, vanilla, and oak, lightly floral hops, with a mineral-like faint undertone. Dominant is the malt sweetness - caramel and the woody or oak scents. Good, but may appreciate a bit more oak or hop character.

Taste is of biscuity malt flavors with some bitterness from hops. Slightly oaky, but would like more. Mostly malt sweetness and hop bitterness, not much of the complexity from the nose. Aftertaste is very nice, of light, wood-aged beer. Very smooth, with mild hop bitterness.

Light to light-medium in body, beer foams up in mouth due to carbonation. Feel that it's slightly overcarbonated, finish is dry, from hop presence.

This is an ok beer. It's sessionable, but the fairly lackluster taste and foaming mouthfeel are a turn-off. If you want a sessionable ale, Two Brothers' pale ale is only slightly more alcoholic and boasts more complexity to this.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 04:27:15 | More by falloutsnow

syrupjoe

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy caramel color with a one finger caramel-tinted off-white head, and no lacing.

Nose is roasty, grainy, caramel-y, dark berryish and slightly sweet.

Taste is grainy, slightly sweet, roasty, oaky, and with a bit of honey.

Mouthfeel is sweet and somewhat slick, with medium carbonation.

Overall a good beer. Nothing exceptional, but a great amount of flavor for a session beer. Would drink again, but won't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 04:23:44 | More by syrupjoe

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Long Haul Session Ale is a brown colored ale, with a small bubbly white head. The body is pretty clear with just a slight haze. The aroma of this brew has both caramel malt and bitter hop elements to it. Maybe a bit of fruit as well. As I take a sip and look into it, I find out that the beer is oak-aged for at least a month, and that oakiness comes through. I would say that flavor dominates the rest, which consists of light hops and a bit of bitter hop. Some apple comes through as well. Medium bodied and very sharp on the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 17:41:10 | More by Tballz420

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Two Brothers Long Haul Session Ale

Pours a pale copper color with a nice foamy head. Very light aroma, some malty sweetness and hints of vanilla. In the flavor, pale malts, mild caramel sweetness, and definate oak presence. Chalky yeast and tannins coat the palate. Still, mild in its flavors, simple, but a nice session brew at 4.2%. The lightest oak influenced brew I've come across as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 04:54:40 | More by Stinkypuss

womencantsail

California

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for pawning this off on me, Bobby.

A: The pour on this beer is amber in color with a thin layer of off-white head.

S: A really funky nose on this beer. Some light tartness and fruit with quite a lot of oak. There is a bit of hop character and some sweet bready and toffee malts. Not sure what to make of this.

T: The flavor is actually sort of nice. Some lightly tart apple flavor which is quite enjoyable. A light maltiness of bread and toffee. Again, there is a big time oak character.

M: Light to medium in body with a medium carbonation.

O: Really a strange beer. The idea just doesn't make any sense to me.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 04:39:09 | More by womencantsail

herman77

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Medium amber, lighter brown with a light khaki head that lasts.

S: Lightly toasted malt with a surprisingly decent amount of sourness to it. A bit of oak as well.

T: More lightly toasted malt, a bit of fruitiness and a little more sourness. You can slightly pick up the oak notes as well. The hops are there, but not much of it.

M: Lighter body, moderate to softer carbonation.

O: A very flavorful session beer. The oak aging really ads a lot. Good drinkability, though it is a little more sour than I would like it.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 01:05:00 | More by herman77

WesWes

New York

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark golden/amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a solid malt scent that boasts of pale and crystal malts. The hop aroma is adequate, but nothing too incredible. The taste is good. It has a smooth, somewhat bitter flavor that boasts of English hops and pale/crystal malts. It's an easy drinking beer that's well balanced and quite flavorful. It's a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a solid session ale. It's nothing bold, but drinks well and is accessible to most people.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 23:55:38 | More by WesWes

beerdown77

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours darker brown than I expected with off white head; there is a little bit of lacing and good retention. The smell is pleasant malt but not too pungent. The body is medium but very smooth. The French oak aging has given this beer a nice tangy bite, but it isn’t near as noticeable as it is in the Resistence IPA. This is a great pale ale with a unique fruitiness and delicious malt finish, I could easily have a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 18:57:44 | More by beerdown77

CPeterson

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A -- A copper / amber brew that pour to a two finger off white head and settles to a thin skim, leaving streaky, spotty lacing.

S -- Light caramel malts, a twinge of sourness on the nose that imparts hints of green banana or papaya. A suggestion of citrus or piney hop characteristics.

T -- Light biscuity flavor, followed by a twinge of citrus or acid of some sort. A little like apple cider vinegar mellowed by earthy tones.

M -- Light bodied, medium carbonation, clean finish.

D -- Fitting to the intention of brewer, nice but not really grabbing me. Definitely more interesting than a domestic adjunct lager but nothing amazing.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 23:58:04 | More by CPeterson