Atom Smasher - Two Brothers Brewing Company

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Good amber color. Absent the foam and lacing that I normally like, but this strikes me as a no frills working man's beer. On those standards, this is a winner.

Smell: Nutmeg, cinnamon, and some oak. It reminds me of an oaked chardonnay in a way. Not what I expected.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Looks like a medium-bodied ale, but tastes a bit like a white wine (see oaked chardonnay). The spices make the mouthfeel extraordinary crisp with a great bite.

Overall Drinkability: Two Brothers knocks another one out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 04:50:00 | More by tjsdomer2

Craftonly23121

Rhode Island

5/5  rDev +35.9%

05-13-2013 12:20:42 | More by Craftonly23121

Ak555667

Illinois

5/5  rDev +35.9%

03-28-2013 01:38:04 | More by Ak555667

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

03-04-2013 13:54:26 | More by t0rin0

MCain04

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.7%

02-12-2013 18:19:14 | More by MCain04

KingMe

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

01-25-2013 18:42:27 | More by KingMe

mishtif

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

01-18-2013 14:40:28 | More by mishtif

beerhawk41

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

12-30-2012 03:55:38 | More by beerhawk41

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Opened this bottle in early November, just know entering my notes... This was recommended by Terry at Vineyard Liquors (Plano, IL) on my Labor Day visit. I agreed - an 'Oktoberfest Style Lager aged in French Oak Foudres' sounded interesting...

12 oz bottle, dated 'Best By 12/1/12'. Opened & poured to a pilsner glass.

Label artwork looks different from photo above. It reads, in part: "A hefty, full-bodied lager like the Märzens of old, but aged in our oak foudres for complexity unmatched by the imported Oktoberfest beers of today. Just add Lederhosen." Alc/Vol 7.7%, 22.6 IBU

A: Very pretty reddish-copper tone, almost clear. A few wriggling bubble trails but not a ton of carbonation. Good head, a frothy ivory that tops off at about 1-finger high. Lace is a dappled patchwork of sticky foam and spotty flecks.

S: An expected malty aroma, a touch of brown sugar with toasted nuts. Lilting fruitiness (hard to discern - apple or pear?)

T: Tasty and full flavor of baked bread, caramel and nutty grains. Hints at holiday spice (cinnamon?) and a vaguely vanilla/woody finish do let on that this has been aged in oak. The 'fruitiness' here is definitely 'apple', with a red/tannic skin-like bite. A little mineral in that drier finish. Lots of subtleties.

M: Lovely smoothness and subtle alcohol warming (this *IS* an Oktoberfest approaching 8%, after all...). Carbonation is modest, creamy feel but a lasting 'tinny' feel, glightly gummy. Not as clean as I want in a Märzen.

O: Enjoyable beer, no doubt. I kinda wish I'd tried it a little fresher (September-mid October) as carbonation seemed a little underwhelming, but the flavors and feel were all good. Have tried a few from Two Brothers and generally like what I've had; I'd seek out this beer again!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 15:06:08 | More by msubulldog25

Imacopyouidiot

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

12-07-2012 02:37:22 | More by Imacopyouidiot

mikekydd

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

12-02-2012 23:00:26 | More by mikekydd

Hopstout

Minnesota

2.5/5  rDev -32.1%

11-27-2012 02:53:38 | More by Hopstout

TequilaTom

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.7%

11-21-2012 13:40:41 | More by TequilaTom

DavidGross

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.7%

11-13-2012 04:10:49 | More by DavidGross

dmheinz57

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

11-12-2012 22:54:37 | More by dmheinz57

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

11-12-2012 00:28:13 | More by leprechaunandfatman

Thurgoft

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.7%

11-11-2012 00:20:07 | More by Thurgoft

ssimpson89

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.7%

10-29-2012 01:14:43 | More by ssimpson89

minneapolitanjim

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

10-17-2012 22:56:50 | More by minneapolitanjim

Twifiter

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

10-15-2012 20:20:55 | More by Twifiter

jmunsters

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ended up in Westlake, OH in mid-Oct 2012 and this was a recommendation to me from the local craft beer place, Fine Wine and Tobacco for "local seasonal beer".

A - Pours deep golden amber. Obvious from the pour this is not your typical Marzen
S - Sweet malt, maple syrup, bright oak, sweet yeast
T - This is not your typical Marzen. At. All. It's a malt forward, heavy lager with a sweet maple (I know it's oak but it tastes like maple) taste. This is amazing for the season, but an "Oktoberfest" this is not.
M - I love how this goes down. Smooth like a sweet bourbon. Full like an Autumn brown, but sweet. This typifies Autumn in the NE and NE/Midwest to me.
O - I love this beer. I really do. However, I am going to rate it as it's labeled and branded. If you're looking for a typical Oktoberfest, you will not enjoy this. If you're looking for something that reminds you of pumpkins, red leaves, and cool nights full of stars in the sky... You got it.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 21:49:00 | More by jmunsters

Hoofbite84

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

10-11-2012 19:29:28 | More by Hoofbite84

tastymug

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

10-10-2012 21:41:40 | More by tastymug

MMcClure

4/5  rDev +8.7%

10-09-2012 01:41:05 | More by MMcClure

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass. Bottle says best by 12/1/12.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy copper amber orange with a lot of rising bubbles. Solid three fingers of off white head with good retention. Lacing is fairly light.

Smell: Bready and malt forward with hints of the barrel. Sweet toasted malts with hints of caramel, biscuit, toffee, and crackers. Hints of oak come through with a little bit of cherry and apple. Also some light cinnamon and nutmeg spice hints. Some grassy, earthy hops round out the smell. Solid aroma.

Taste: Like the nose hints, a malty Marzen with a interesting twist from the barrel. Sweet and toasty malts with good notes of biscuit, caramel, toffee, yeast, cracker, and apple. Some oak and wood with subtle notes of cherry and vanilla. Light taste of spice including cinnamon and nutmeg. Light hop presence in the background with some earthy hops. A solid and interesting taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Creamy, crisp, and pretty smooth. Fairly sweet to start, with a somewhat dry finish.

Overall: A pretty decent spin on the style. Nice caramel malt taste with a interesting mix of oak and spice.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 05:30:47 | More by MattyG85