Two Hearted Ale

Wow. Call me confused and misguided on this one. I for one was a big doubter of this ale, to be honest. After all, my own local favorite IPA (Stone, of course) is quite excellent, but doesn't show up as high in folks' Top 50 as Two Hearted. Is that due to the superority of the brew, or merely the fact there are more folks enjoying and reviewing Two Hearted than they are Stone? In this case, I would have to say that both conditions apply. Stone produces an excellent IPA, but Two Hearted is just plain *outstanding*.

Bright orangish body, with delicate white foam rimming the edge of the glass. Belgian lace a'plenty. And the aroma. Oh man, what a nose. Fruit undertones, from either the use of English under-attenuating yeast, and/or good ol' Centennial hopping.

A virtual medely of lovely flavors, with a substantial yet appealing malt body backing up a nice mesh of differrent hopping. There is bitterness here, but enough Flavor hops to contribute more than just pure Alpha-Acid Units to the mix. All that and more make this one of the easiest drinking IPA's I've had in a long time -- and that's coming from a diehard hop-head, no less!

A beer that one might think would be rather simple to produce. Quite the opposite, IMO. As a homebrewer, I know from fist-hand expirence that something this balanced and enjoyable is something only most brewers (commerical and not) can only dream of. A true classic of the style, and something that I wish I can enjoy on a day-to-day basis.

Cheers to cretemixer for the fine selection of beers via trade. A most noble effort, indeed.
//TB