Two Hearted IPA

[mac_1103]

Sorry you took it that way. IMO, it's quite possible for there to be exactly one thing wrong with someone's taste buds, and for this to be your one thing.

As an immunologist by training, I'd call it a hole in your repertoire. Google it for funsies if you like.

 

[Pennine]

What's the date on the 2 hearted? It does go off quickly.

 

[Kickass]

Rasputin Imperial Stout. I honestly think this may be the best beer I've ever had, and I never thought I'd say that about a store beer.

Out of curiosity, why would a store bought beer never be the best beer you’ve ever had?

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

RE the date, I was wondering about that.

The date is about seven weeks ago. I don't know if that's the packaging date or the best-by date. This is Florida, and we have had hot days since then. Even when it's not that hot, the sun can beat down on vehicles and heat them up inside.

Maybe it sat near something hot in the store.

I think this beer would look a lot better if I hadn't been drinking Rasputin for the last three days. I would have finished it if the Rasputin hadn't been here, making it look like dishwater. I don't drink a lot, and I knew how much better the evening would be if my only beverage was a Rasputin.

I'm done trying new IPA's for now. I feel reasonably caught up, and I am satisfied with my own IPA-ish recipes as they are. I will try a different type of beer next. I am trying to gain knowledge after a long layoff, so continuing to buy IPA's is not the right move at this time.

Maybe I can find some barleywines.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Out of curiosity, why would a store bought beer never be the best beer you’ve ever had?

I brew beer to suit my own tastes and no one else's. To me, that's the whole point of brewing. To get what I want. If some corporation makes a certain type of beer perfectly well, and I'm not determined to have beer that's exactly what I want, I think I should go to the store and buy their beer instead of spending money and working hard to make something identical or not as good. I don't see any point in struggling to make Warsteiner or Murphy's if I can buy them.

Back when I quit brewing, I was making things I liked better than anything I could find in stores. That was my goal, and it worked. You probably know how that is. It's the same way with food. When you get a recipe exactly the way you like it, you may never be satisfied with the same dish in a restaurant. I've paid for a lot of good pizza, but for my tastes, none of it comes close to what I make for myself. If I buy pizza, it means I don't feel like cooking and I'm willing to compromise.

I tried a lot of beers after that, but I can't say I liked any of them as much as what I had made. It discouraged me from drinking beer. I still drank beer, but I drank a lot less.

When I wrote, "best beer I've ever had," I wasn't trying to be perfectly correct. I meant Rasputin may be the beer I LIKE the most. I'm sure that over the years, there have been times when I've said my beers were better than anything I had bought, but if I did, I didn't really mean they were objectively better than every other beer. That wouldn't make any sense. I meant I liked them better.

 

[wetmk]

5lbs of crystal malt???

oofah

That was my immediate reaction!!! I see ace goes on to defend it in later posts. I'll keep reading them but ... I'm not seeing it.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I'm not seeing it

A malty red double IPA in a competition could fit in category BJCP (2021) 22B American Strong Ale.

eta: for commercial examples, think Nosferatu not Pliny.

 

[dmtaylor]

A malty red double IPA...

Heh... "malty"..... this is more like a cotton-candy bomb.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

a cotton-candy bomb.

Visualize a Neapolitan (color) beer flight at state fairs across the USA this summer. Two down (Pastry Stout, Cotton Candy Amber), one to go (need something vanilla-ish Sugar Wafer Blonde?).

 

[dmtaylor]

Visualize a Neapolitan (color) beer flight at state fairs across the USA this summer. Two down (Pastry Stout, Cotton Candy Amber), one to go (need something vanilla-ish Sugar Wafer Blonde?).

How about a "cream ale"?!

 

[Beekeeper]

Visualize a Neapolitan (color) beer flight at state fairs across the USA this summer. Two down (Pastry Stout, Cotton Candy Amber), one to go (need something vanilla-ish Sugar Wafer Blonde?).

There's always an artificial green one for St. Patrick's.

 

[aceluby]

Heh... "malty"..... this is more like a cotton-candy bomb.

It’s really not sweet at all and seems to compliment the hop schedule. Its a great reddish DIPA.

It’s not a recipe I made up FWIW, and I tried it in a few one gallon brews first, but it is one of my favorites and I’ll probably make it a few more times.

 

[troxerX]

I'm done trying new IPA's for now. I feel reasonably caught up, and I am satisfied with my own IPA-ish recipes as they are. I will try a different type of beer next. I am trying to gain knowledge after a long layoff, so continuing to buy IPA's is not the right move at this time.

Perfect time release…

 

[d40dave]

I brewed this beer (Two Hearted Ale) several times about 2 years ago. It tuned out nearly identical to store bought and was very good. I used this recipe:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/bells-two-hearted-ale-clone-close-as-they-come.91488/
This thread got me thinking about brewing it again and I found this recipe from Bell's so I would think it might be better:
https://store.bellsbeer.com/products/two-hearted-ale-clone-all-grain-ingredient-kit
Does anybody have any experience with both and have a preference?
Also, Bell's recipe calls for both Briess 2-Row Brewer's Malt and Pale Ale Malt. If I used just 2-Row do you think it would be noticeable?
Thanks.

 

[troxerX]

Also, Bell's recipe calls for both Briess 2-Row Brewer's Malt and Pale Ale Malt. If I used just 2-Row do you think it would be noticeable?

Extremely noticeable - Briess brewers malt (a.k.a ‘Pale Malt’ or 2-Row) is a straight to the bone malt when compared with lets say Rahr’s ‘Pale Ale’ Malt which is kilned slightly more and with much more flavor.. I’ve been brewing with Rahr’s Pale Ale Malt and it’s such a great malt. I will even recommend ditching the Briess and going for Rahr’s 2-Row and Rahrs Pale Ale Malt in combination for a much better beer.

 

[mac_1103]

Bell's recipe calls for both Briess 2-Row Brewer's Malt and Pale Ale Malt. If I used just 2-Row do you think it would be noticeable?

Extremely noticeable - Briess brewers malt (a.k.a ‘Pale Malt’ or 2-Row) is a straight to the bone malt when compared with lets say Rahr’s ‘Pale Ale’ Malt which is kilned slightly more and with much more flavor.. I’ve been brewing with Rahr’s Pale Ale Malt and it’s such a great malt. I will even recommend ditching the Briess and going for Rahr’s 2-Row and Rahrs Pale Ale Malt in combination for a much better beer.

What's your goal? They're basically giving you their recipe. If I wanted to make Bell's then I would do what they tell me. If I want to make my own unique Bell's-inspired brew, then I would tweak away (within reason).

Having said that, I'd imagine that the most important ingredients are the hops and the yeast, which they sell separately.

 

[d40dave]

What's your goal? They're basically giving you their recipe. If I wanted to make Bell's then I would do what they tell me. If I want to make my own unique Bell's-inspired brew, then I would tweak away (within reason).

Having said that, I'd imagine that the most important ingredients are the hops and the yeast, which they sell separately.

My goal is to replicate Bell's Two Hearted Ale and was wondering if anybody had experience with both. I made a recipe (1st link) several years ago and it turned out almost identical and just as good. Bell's recipe (2nd link) seems quite different, especially with regard to the dry hopping. Bell's recipe calls for 3.5 oz dry hop vs. 0.5 oz which is very different. I just ordered what I need for the Bell's recipe so I guess I will eventually see for myself.

 

[Langerz]

My goal is to replicate Bell's Two Hearted Ale and was wondering if anybody had experience with both. I made a recipe (1st link) several years ago and it turned out almost identical and just as good. Bell's recipe (2nd link) seems quite different, especially with regard to the dry hopping. Bell's recipe calls for 3.5 oz dry hop vs. 0.5 oz which is very different. I just ordered what I need for the Bell's recipe so I guess I will eventually see for myself.

I have the first one conditioning right now so glad to hear it was a good replica. I'll be interested in what you find.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

This is Florida

This explains everything.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Personally, I try not to get angry at people who don't like beers I like. Doesn't really make sense.

 

[d40dave]

I have the first one conditioning right now so glad to hear it was a good replica. I'll be interested in what you find.

I have several lagers I have planned to brew while it's still cold out so it may be a couple of months but I'll report back. I'm interested too. BTW, I will be using yeast from empty bottles Bell's which is what I have done it the past.

 

[Langerz]

I have several lagers I have planned to brew while it's still cold out so it may be a couple of months but I'll report back. I'm interested too. BTW, I will be using yeast from empty bottles Bell's which is what I have done it the past.

I bought the bells yeast (after I started brewing this one. Going to use it on next batch which isn’t two hearted - makes sense I know)

 

[faithie999]

removed by OP. redundant with other posts.