Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Brewed By: Bell's Brewery, Inc. in Kalamazoo, Michigan  

Purchased: 16oz CAN from a 4-pack bought at Binny's in IL; 2014 

Style/ABV: American IPA, 7.0%

Reported IBUs: ?

DAE like drinking dat classic Midwest IPA in the can. About Bell's:

Bell's Brewery is one of the biggest names in craft beer. Once you get past the Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Stone phase, you start hearing about breweries like Bell's. Bell's began as a home-brewing supply shop, founded by Larry Bell, back in 1983. Bell's sold its first beer in September 1985. The brewery has humble roots like many of the first craft breweries, and the beer was originally brewed in a 15-gallon soup kettle. The beer was originally self-distributed, bottled, and delivered by hand during the company's first four years. In 1993, Bell's became the first brewery in Michigan to open an onsite pub. The brewery currently has two facilities, one in Kalamazoo, and one in Comstock Township, Michigan. For more info, check out their website. 

At this point, everyone knows that the Bell's Two Hearted Ale is amazing. But whatever. Says the can: "An American India Pale Ale with intense hop aroma and malt balance. Well suited for adventurous trips anywhere." This unfiltered IPA punches in at 7.0%, and is hopped exclusively with Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest. 

Bell's Two Hearted Ale (shill's glassware)

Being unfiltered and all, this one pours into a hazy/cloudy dark-orange body, and kicks up a couple of fingers of dense, fluffy, hop-fueled head. In brighter light, this takes on a hazy orange color, and the head retains mad caramel tones. Tiny dots of peppery carbonation are elevating up in this club, and there's lacing like spider-man crime scenes. I don't even know. It's an IPA.

The aroma here is an explosion of vibrant spiced orange, crushed citrus, grapefruit and orange rind, piney resin, and the smell of forest. There is resinous and dank punch to these hops, and this doesn't hide the orange and grapefruit spice.

It seems like these days everyone is making either a Pale Ale or an Imperial Pale Ale. This one rides the thin line between the two, with giant hops turning out blissful citrus spice. There's huge waves of orange and grapefruit rind, with big peppery (white pepper and even a little black pepper) orange, peppery fruit salad, hints of watermelon and peach and mango, resinous pine, and gentle dankness on the back. This is appropriately bitter, never going beyond the call of duty. It's refreshing and clean and frankly -- pretty fucking good.

This is medium-bodied with just a hint of caramel malts and bready malt backbone, but the big thing here are those delicious hops. The 7.0% is completely undetectable and within some reason. I probably would limit my session to two or three of these cans. Palate depth here is blissfully perfect for the style, but the complexity is somewhat limited. This IPA is a hammer...and sometimes you just want to hit nails. Up front: big citrus with peppery spice, citrus rind, pine; the mids roll into pine, rind, peppery spice, some hints of the earthy mango and black pepper watermelon; the back end gets increasingly piney and bitter with some hemp, and then the caramel/bready malts rear their ugly mug. 

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

This is a Strong Above-Average. Not much to say here. This is up there with the great India Pale Ales...this is something to stock in your fridge and keep on hand when you want a good IPA. The can travels well so now you can go mobile with this beer. Sweet.

Random Thought: Reviewing classics...why.