Two Brothers Heavy Handed India Pale Ale

Bottle. Moderate malt and hop aromas of roasted and pine, light soap for the yeast and hints of toffee. Head is small, frothy, white with fair lacing and is fully diminishing. Flavor starts lightly sweet and moderately acidic then finishes lightly acidic and moderately bitter. Palate is light to medium, oily and has a lively carbonation. A nice IPA, nothing outstanding but nothing offensive.

Pours a rich amber color with a creamy head from the tap at the Hop Leaf. Smells more of caramel than hops. Overripe red apples dominate the flavor, particularly as it warms. Starts a bit sour at first, then mellows with a nice amount of yeast and faint butter on the finish.

A beautiful looker. Deep crystal clear burnt orange with a creamy head. Big nose of grapefruit, floral hops, bitter hops. Flavor of pine, diverse hops, with a nice creamy malt backbone. Complex, crisp, tasty. This IPA is a worthwhile venture for hopheads and those who just want a good India Pale Ale.

Courtesy KnightDr. 2008 vintage, Lot #2748. 65 IBUs and 6.7% ABV per the label. Pours a crystal clear, dark, brazen-amber color. A frothy, cream colored head settles to a wispy film with a thin edge. Sticky rings of cobweb lacing circle the glass. Aromas include bright grassy and grapefruit hops, along with notes of darkly toasted caramel and roasted cereals grains. Flavors are substantially bitter, the grass and citrus being accompanied by pine this time around. The caramel notes are so darkly toasted, they are almost bitter on their own. Still, there’s a touch of biscuity sweetness in there, lending balance. Medium-plus in body, moderately carbonated, and slightly astringent on the finish, it’s a decent enough brew overall, but nothing overly special.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber brown with a medium frothy head that lasts. This beer is not really big in the aroma department. Heavy malt, slight dirty mouth feel, a bit coppery.

Heavy bitterness. On-tap at Town Hall in Minny, and appropriately carbonated by them. Medium orange body with bubbly head and noticeable lace. This is wet-hopped and I feel the high IBU. Hop heads rejoice. Full-mouthfeel, and you can detect hops in the aroma.

On tap at the Alchemy in Madison: Pours a cloudy copper colour with a huge white head. ARoma is super hopped, floral, with noticeable pine and grapefruit notes. Taste is very crisp, chewy and citrusy all in one.

Draft at the Tap Room in Warrenville. Medium amber hue with full, white lace and little head. Citrusy, light grapefruit, orange rind, with floral & pine notes which follow to flavor. A bit of malt sweetness with the fruit, but blanketed nicely by the hop dryness throughout. A very representative IPA