Two Brothers - Hop Juice Double IPA

Tonight I randomly came across this bottle of Hop Juice from Two Brothers Brewing, and bought it without a second thought.  Every brew I've had from Two Brothers has been phenomenal, so I'm excited to try their version of the hop-bomb.  This beer features a 9.9%ABV and 100 IBUs, dry-hopped with over a pound of hops per barrel (that' a lot). 

The label artwork is slick - roughly drawn plyers squeezing the juice out of a hop flower into a glass of beer, with "We squeeze to please" written in between.  There's also a short description on the label which is pictured below. 

This brew is going into my snifter glass - it's a dark, cloudy amber color with a full 2 inches of creme head that dissipates slowly leaving a snail trail behind.  The aroma brings boatloads of citrus, with grapefruit rinds, orange peels, and a hint of pineapple mixed with them.  Also, loads of pine resin and even some floral notes in there.  Smells terrific! The taste immediately confirms that yes, this is definitely a hop-bomb.  Blammo!  Bitter citrus rinds - orange zest - grapefruit zest - a touch of bitter sweetness that kind of reminds me of tangerine.  Then the flavor slowly meld into a musty, earthy, gritty middle that showcases some big, sweet caramel malts, while continuing to carry the pine resin on it's shoulders.  The alcohol pops in towards the finish, adding some welcome warmth to the bitterness.  The finish leaves a lingering oily, resinous sensation on the throat, capping off a hop fiesta. 

Overall Rating:  This DIPA is not for the faint of heart.  Big bitterness, big alcohol, big maltiness - custom built for the hop-heads of the world.  If your have a hop-minded palate, go grab a bottle of Hop Juice!  B+

Two Brothers - Cane and Ebel Red Rye Ale

Today I'll be taking a look at this Red Rye Ale from Two Brothers Brewing.  I tried their Resistance IPA recently, which was phenomenal, so hopefully their streak will continue with this brew.  This is a year-round beer brewed with Rye and Thai Palm Sugar.  What is Thai Palm Sugar, you ask?  WELL, according to the Wikipedia internet-brain, it is a blend of coconut palm sugar, white cane sugar, and malt sugar.  Should make for an interesting, sweet flavor addition in this brew.

The label designs from Two Brothers have been simple but professional - this label includes a drawing of a Thai farmer, presumably picking from sugar cane stalks.  The beer is a dirty, murky dark brown with a 1/4 finger egg-white creamy head.  Nose is spicy with rye and malt-forward with brown sugar making a big statement.  Also a little bit of wood, maybe oak, although I'm pretty sure this wasn't barrel-aged.  The drink is a lot hoppier than the nose let on - lemon zest and orange rinds up front.  Also a faint grassiness.  Then come the malts - raw almonds and spicey rye are primary here, along with a nice touch of sweetness that must come from that palm sugar.  The finish is dry and clean, with the spices hanging a bit in the aftertaste.  The 7% alcohol is well-hidden.

Overall Rating:  (4.8 out of 6.0)  Another solid brew from Two Brothers!  Those guys are building some great beers, and this is one of my favorites.  Smooth, creamy, and packed with interesting flavors.  Give it a try.

Two Brothers - Resistance IPA

Tonight I'll be taking a look at this IPA from Two Brothers Brewing.  Two Brothers is a small craft brewery in Warrenville, IL on the outskirts of Chicago that is 100% family owned.  Another warrior in the fight against the big brewing cronies that brew dirty yellow adjunct-water!  Resistance IPA falls under their "J Series" of beers which are aged in french oak foudres (basically large oak barrels).

The label design is simple, with a small foudre drawn on the front of the label and a short description on the label (pictured below).  Pours a clear honey-gold color with less than a half inch of head after a vigorous pour.  The nose is hefty and full of citrus tang, along with pine and lemongrass.  Also a hint of woody vanilla pushes it's way through the hop aromas.  The drink brings a wave of flavor that I honestly didn't expect after the aroma.  Instead of a big hop blast, the drink starts off with a fruity, juicy grapefruit coated with thin pine notes, overall I'm reminded of tropical drinks on the beach.  Then the flavor transitions to a cedar plank covered in sweet honey.  The finish is tart with sour fruits that are a bit different from the initial fruity hops, but very pleasant.  Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with a lower amount of carbonation that delivers the flavor perfectly.

Overall Rating:  (5.2 out of 6.0)  This was a fantastic, easy-drinking IPA with a nice twist courtesy of the french oak aging process.  If I had to describe this beer in one word, it would be 'Juicy'.  Unfortunately I think this is only distributed in the midwest, but get your hands on this brew if you can.