Two Brothers Domaine DuPage

Brewed by Two Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Bière de Garde
Warrenville, Illinois USA

Serve in Stem glass, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Pours crystal clear amber color with minimal head retention of the slighly off white head. Aromas of toasty malt, caramel, a slight apricot fruitiness, a little earthy, and a slight hop, but it's missing some of the typical aromas of a biere de garde. Flavor is leathery, sweetly malty at first, toasty, and fruity with a dry, bitter finish. Still missing a lot for a biere de garde, but I'm not completely dissapointed. Mouthfeel is a little on the light side, moderately low carbonation, and a slightly dry, borderline astringent sensation on the tongue. Not a session beer in my book, nor is it a true biere de guard from what my understanding is of the style, it's missing that barnyard, leathery, aroma and flavor, and it's a little too dark and clear, but it is drinkable nonetheless, but not a favorite of mine by any stretch of the imagination.

Interesting and enjoyable. Deep amber color, clinging head. Suggestions of fruit in the nose, then woody, musty flavors, like this was stuck in a cellar to hide it from advancing German armies and only now has been rediscovered. Quick finish until a late bitterness kicks in. Nice--I think this would be my preference for a session beer if it was available to me more regularly. (on tap, Clark Street Ale House, Chicago, IL)

UPDATED: APR 11, 2005 Bottled. Great stuff. Nice malty aroma behind a head that disappears a little too quickly. Taste of orange and some light spiciness comes through, finishes off with a note of red wine.
Re-rate, 4/10/05. Okay, this was one of my earlier ratings, and I finally had a second bottle from my original sixer (others have gone out in trade). My impressions still hold true, but it’s just not worth the 4.1 I first assigned. A slight note of brett mars the second sampling, but this is a two-year old bottle. I had taken the name of the style literally and was cellaring it outside my fridge, probably not a good idea for a 5.9% beer.

I'm a hophead by nature and tried this beer as I like their other brews. I just absolutely enjoy this beer. Semi-sweet caramel flavor and a light hop finish. Medium amber color and light head at the pour. This one just goes down damn easy.

Copper in color, no head, even after an agressive pour. Aroma is somewhat malty with a slightly sour, almost orange note. Flavor is earthy, hay-and-straw, malt, and cinnamon. Lightly hopped finish that turns rather dry. As it warmed, more fruity flavors emerged (orange), as well as some (but not much) alcohol.

Summer night cotton candy nose smothered in brown sugar. Average sized head sits on an ornage colored brew. Slightly hopped and crisp but a light candy sugar flavor. Lively medium body with a dry feel.

UPDATED: OCT 22, 2003 Unfiltered light bronze. Attractive creamy dirty white foam. Earthy hop aroma. Stylistic nuttiness (hazelnut), coconut, heavily creamed coffee, metallic shade, toasted pumkin seed, barnyard, must, lightly vinous, toffee, leather, and light tropical fruit and cinnamon overtones. Tight, velvety carbonation. Firm, toffeeish palate. Light acidic front, followed by a leafy hop edge, toffee, and turning to a huge gooey, sweet caramel malt, twangy hop smack. Delicious nutty malt backdrop sticks around for a while, as does a hint of bandage. The caramel-coated malt flavors and refined balance are exquisite. This rivals any in its class.

UPDATED: MAR 24, 2003 Pours a beautiful light amber, with a great frothy head and lacing to match Belgiums' best. Clean, sweet caramel, toffee, hazlenut aromas. Thick and rich, yet soft and gentle. Wonderful complexity withouth exploding into too many flavors. I've been having heartburn lately, and this big beer won't stir up, or add on to any crazy acids in my beer belly. Incredibly malty right through to the end, but there is a bit of dry hops at the end to add to this enjoyment. A wonderful soft and maltily complex brew.

UPDATED: AUG 19, 2007 Pours a transparent copper with a frothy off-white head. Predominate saaz hop aroma has some toasted caramel notes. Body is smooth and complex, but a little too bitter for the style with some floral, slightly soapy hop character and light fruity esters. Overall, pretty good for an American brewery though.

Medium orange color. Small head. Aroma is malty, slightly sweet and applish. Medium bodied. Malty with a carmely start. Applish and a little nutty. Touch of hop spiciness. Light and refreshing. Nicely balanced. Very drinkable. Mouthfeel is full and round, Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.