In my search for a wedding beer I came across Two Hearted Ale several times. I think people like it for weddings because of the name, even though I believe the name refers to a fish. It did fit my criteria of being a relatively local beer, but it is way too hop forward for the sole good beer that my wedding budget allows me. Maybe I can have a few for the bridal party.
Aroma
Straight up hop right off the bat. Not really as hop forward as I had come to expect from reading about the beer. The aromas does not last very long, but I am kind of sick so my smelling ability is fishy at best.
Color
Golden yellow. I took the picture at night, so the golden color doesn’t really come through. It has good lacing, and a small white head.
Taste
Hops are definitely the first thing you taste. They aren’t very grapefruity like a cascade or a simcoe, but there is still a hint of orange (which made sense when I looked up the beer and found it uses only Centennial hops). There is a noticeable amount of sweetness. It is crisp, but not a beer I would consider particularly refreshing. It is very bitter on the tip of the tongue which is an indicator of just how bitter it is, as most of the bitter taste buds are on the back of the tongue. I really think the overwhelming taste of this whole beer is bitter. Not warheads bitter of course, but decently bitter for an IPA. As it warms up, I strangely feel that it gets slightly less bitter, and slightly more orange flavored. And really, the bitterness does not have that aftertaste that many IPAs have. I think this beer is growing on me the more I drink.
Mouthfeel
It has a medium mouthfeel, with a moderate amount of carbonation. The bitterness fatigues the palette quickly.
Overall Impression.
It is very bitter, but because of that, I wouldn’t really call it refreshing. Although as the beer warms up, the orange flavor comes out, and the 7.0% ABV kicks in. It is starting to become a very nice beer to drink while I sit in the back yard on this breezy night, with my dog chewing a stick next to me, writing blog posts. It is definitely a good beer to have one of.