OK.. so here's the deal. I got 3 each of Bell's Oberon and Two Hearted Ale last year on my birthday (just under 10 months ago) from the greatest bottle shop owners in New England. Total hook up. Bomb!
I had 2 of each before November and had forgotten about the last one until recently. If no one had noticed, I've had a major change of scenery in the backgrounds in the last 3 months. Had to change living arrangements, short notice. During the move, these became uncovered. Did they hold up? Comparing first and recent impressions...
a 5.8% ABV Summer Wheat ale. Beyond Sam Summer, this is what I hear most about as the quintessential summer brew. It's got a great golden yellow haze, billowing white head like summer clouds. Lemon, other citrus, grassy hops, some nice but subtle wheat notes. These were all a little bit faded in the most recent pour.. expected, but nothing funky showed up. It's crisp, yet almost creamy in body.. typical wheat and citrus you'd expect.. but there's just something unique about this. How the wheat plays with the citrus.. the grains poke through. It's just damned good! It's slightly drying on the finish and more than 5 or 6 months old, the citrus and faint grassy hops fade.. that's a definite duh. But besides that, it retains 80% of what makes it yummy.. the bright wheat profile.. If you can get it even somewhat fresh.. do it!
- - 8 Hops!
Bells - Two Hearted Ale
a 7.0% ABV 55 IBU IPA - This is another one that I've constantly heard of and just needed to try. Prior to the Heady's, Pliny's, etc.. this was THE IPA to hunt down. Is it still? A typical, traditional IPA pour.. golden orange/copper.. one finger head. Grapefruit and pine come through BIG on the nose.. the most recent pour had a bit of the grapefruit/citrus faded.. but not much. A great malt profile.. caramel, nutty.. sweet underlying honey. The taste.. the closest comparison I can give is a Harpoon IPA and a Sam Boston Lager had a baby lovechild. There's a great, subtle spice characteristic in this.. rye? There's complexity and balance but that doesn't get in the way of it being fairly straightforward with great malts, grapefruit and other citrus notes and a nice sweet, dry finish. Two Hearted is the real deal, yo.
- - 8 Hops!
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