Bell’s Brewery has a devoted midwestern following, but until recently their distribution didn’t reach our home state. Late last fall, they began to roll out their offerings in western and upstate New York, and highly-anticipated cases finally made their way down to New York City just a few weeks ago.
Beer nerds across the city rejoiced. Two Hearted — their flagship IPA — has all kinds of acclaim as a hoppy, easy-drinking offering that’s got layers of floral flavor and plenty of availability within the areas where it’s distributed. So if you live in any of these states, it’s probably available at your local convenience store.
Appearance: Clear, orange-y amber with a fluffy white head that lingers and laces.
Smell: The aroma is faint, but with a couple swirls you can pick up a hoppy and lightly floral nose.
Taste: There’s no mistaking this for an IPA; the hops bite right away. It’s not so strong, though, that it’ll overwhelm your taste buds, and there’s a nice blend of slightly sweet malts and bitter orange citrus to balance things out. It’s 7% ABV, but you’d never know it based on how easy it is to drink.
Mouthfeel: On the thinner side, with a low carbonation. Which makes it all the more easy to drink. And drink. And drink.
Overall: Bell’s, you’re a welcome addition to New York. This is flavorful, easy-drinking, and widely available enough to make it an excellent choice anytime you need to pick up a six-pack. There’s a notable amount of floral, hoppy bitterness that lingers until the finish, but it’s subtly offset by sweet and just barely citrus-y notes that make it super easy to drink. It's not bursting with aroma, and walks the line between piney and citrusy hop notes without fully capturing either, but it's still got well-balanced layers of flavor. Just be careful, since it’s boozy enough that you’ll be three deep and wobbly before you know it.