Long Haul Session Ale - Two Brothers Brewing Company

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

david18

New York

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

I always try session beers because they give me the opportunity to drink while not getting too drunk too fast. I had a sixteen ounce pour of this at George Keeley's on Manhattan's Upper West Side. I wished I had liked it better than I did.

Pours a light copper color with plenty of carbonation that stuck around for a while.

Aroma was slightly malty but a little underwhelming...although not surprising.

Flavor was nice but, again, nothing to exciting. Bready,maybe like an english bitter or an english mild.

Overall I thought this beer was ok but I don't know that I'll order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 19:09:42 | More by david18

HuskyinPDX

Washington

2.95/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed on 3-14-2011

12oz bottled poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a nice brownish-amber color with a small light tan head.

S- Smells of brown sugar and wheat.

T- Tastes of Toffee and malts- carmel like.

D- Drinks a bit bitter.

O- Drinks easy, but I became tired of it quickly.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 00:22:43 | More by HuskyinPDX

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sunday afternoon hockey...which is a rarity...usually we are at 10pm or later. So we make the most of it by having a BBQ afterward!! Our silky Defensemen stopped by Two Bros on his way to All Seasons to pick up two growlers of Long Haul...and they tasted mighty fine after a 6-1 win. The color was a nice carmelly clear with white foamy head. The smell was hinted with malt, other than that not much there. The taste was very well balanced and quite nice after sweatin my ass off. SESSION is a great description for this beer....could drink it in droves!!!!

Serving type: growler

05-02-2011 00:15:34 | More by WoodBrew

thebarnesbomb

Indiana

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

A- Rosy copper with slight haze, one-and-a-half finger head dissipates quickly into a thin layer. No lacing.

S- Initial smell of vanilla soft serve ice cream. Some hops pull through, but mostly it's DQ.

T- For an English Bitter, the malts are most pronounced in this brew. Vanilla bean and sweet amber/caramel malts, with a hint of hops in the back and aftertaste.

M- Creamy and smooth, and the French Oak aging really rounds it out.

Overall, a pretty good session beer, as promised. Worth a try, but Two Brothers have other better beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 02:09:10 | More by thebarnesbomb

BrewIrish98

Indiana

2.88/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Much darker than anticipated after pour. Minimal head, but enough to get a few frothy sips.

S: Oaky, not a whole lot going on here. It has a grainy aroma. Curious to know how long its aged in french oak?

T: Not exactly sure why this is classified as an english bitter but Ill go with it. The best I can say it is sessionable, but their isn't enough here to want to continue to drink more than a few of these. Clean finish.

M: Standard mouthfeel, can't complain can't say its got something special. Very clean, goes down smooth.

O: At 4.2, you can have all you want and still not tie one on. It's a good practice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 20:26:53 | More by BrewIrish98

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear light amber in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high creamy off white head that died down but left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: The smell isn't that strong but has a light amount of sourness due to the oak barrel aging.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has a light to moderate amount of sourness, although it isn't quite like other sour beers because there's a slight underlying bitterness. There are also some hints of caramel and vanilla in the flavors.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The low alcohol content makes this beer sessionable. I could easily drink more than one of these in a sitting because the sourness keeps the taste interesting.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 01:27:02 | More by metter98

mynie

Indiana

4.28/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An oak aged ESB? A'ight, I'm down with that.

Pours nice and amber with a big head and a tiny bit of a pleasant haze. Smells like rounded, sweet barley with light nodes of caramel and chocolate. Like a more nuanced and well rounded Fat Tire.

Tastes, surprisingly, like a more nuanced and well-rounded Fat Tire. No ashiness, no sour hop bitterness on the backend--just lots of smooth, sweet malt. Starts off lightly floral and this moves quickly into biscuity grain, ending with light, dry european hops and a small amount of burnless oakiness.

I admire any brewery who, in this age of mindless hoppy excess, puts such care into building a flagship session. This is a very, very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 04:17:06 | More by mynie

Arbitrator

California

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Chilled bottle into a glass, courtesy of lurchingbeast. Thanks!

Bottle says "best by 3/16/11." Well, no sense in holding it for a tasting now.

A: Pours a clear, but very dark, ruby-copper body that glows brilliantly against the light. It is capped with two fingers of off-white head. Good retention, with nice register marks and trails of lace down the sides of the glass.

S: I'm surprised to pick up a mild oak note. Serves me right for not reading the bottle description: this is aged on French oak foudres (casks). I guess that explains the tannins. It has an apple cider aroma that borders on tart, along with toast and grain.

T: Oak is stronger in the taste, though it's not harsh. It nicely accentuates the tartness I picked up in the nose: apple cider and dark fruit come to mind. I want to say grape. It has a nice toasted grain flavor; the grain in particular imparts a mild sourness, if that's the right description. Faint flavors of yeast.

M: Light-bodied. It has a dry finish with some mild bitterness. The pour seems to have extracted all the carbonation, as what's left in the body is mellow and supple. Well done.

O: Very tasty beer! I'd definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 01:45:15 | More by Arbitrator

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle. Poured into a DFH tulip glass a copper clear color with a 1.5 finger head of light tan that quickly settles, leaving some lace as it goes down. The aroma is that of sweet, lighlty toasted bread or biscuit. I don't pick up really any of the oak notes but it does have a ever so slight fruity aroma to it they may be caused by the oak. Medium/light mouthfeel. Sweet caramel like start with a light drawn out flavor that just sort of melts away. Nothing overpowering here in this one. Would like to see maybe a dash more hop character to this along with possibly more of the oak. Overall, not bad. The plusses are the looks and the light ABV which makes it a solid choice for a light beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 21:51:10 | More by kbutler1

foogerd

New York

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

A- Deep orange almost dark brown, rich white head.

S- Smokey sweetened wood chips, light malts, and overall dryness.

T- Really delicious wood flavor almost like sucking a wood chip dry of all its sweetness, slight hop bitterness, over all malty brown sugar taste.

M- Full thick brew

D- This is what sessions are made of!

Great concept and brew from Two Brothers this would be something that would be excellent in an English Pub on cask, kind of underperforms in its current state.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 04:49:53 | More by foogerd