365 different beers from 365 different breweries in 365 days with random musings on beer, food, music, sports, dogs and anything else interesting along the way
Beer #717 Two Hearted / Bell's Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI
Previously from this brewery: Oberon, another Oberon, and a Double Cream Stout
Tonight's beer is an old favorite; a bottle of Two Hearted Ale from Bell's. This IPA has a clear, dark gold hue and a wispy white head. There are big grapefruit aromas, with lemon and pine as well. When you take a sip, you find a wondrous mix of tropical fruit citrus and dry, earthy pine, with enough malt to balance things out. A mellow bitterness to let you know that this is an IPA, but not enough to kill your taste buds. A Top 25 selection, for sure. To be fair, that list is now well beyond 25 beers, but it's still a high honor.
Nothing fishy about that!
I suppose you should read Ernest Hemingway's Big Two Hearted River when drinking this beer, if you want to get all up in the theme.
Thing to Think About Today:
Bottle of Two Hearted? Don't need two, just need one Heart in this space - the Heart with the timeless classic What About Love?
It's after nine o'clock and I just finished working. I've got nothing left for you folks.
I was trying some artsy-fartsy angle. Yeah. So there's that.
That's a Bell's BeerSpecial Double Cream Stout. It pours a deep, dark brown with an off-white head. There was tons of sticky lacing left behind. It had a very light smell of roasted malts. The flavor had a little cola, lots of coffee and barely any hops.
Beer #121 Oberon Ale / Bell's Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI
Summer has officially unofficially arrived - the Phillies home opener was today. I've been known to have a pessimistic side when it comes to my sports teams, but seriously, they've looked awful so far. Plenty of season to go, but unless they figure out a way to hit the ball, all of the pitching in the world isn't going to save them.
You know what they might need? A tasty, refreshing beer to cheer themselves up. Allow me to suggest the Oberon Ale from Bell's Brewery. This summer wheat beer pours an effervescent, cloudy, gold color and gives off a light earthy, wheat scent. The taste is summer in a pint glass - citrus flavors of orange, a mild spicy hop and a clean, crisp finish. Very enjoyable, particularly as the days are getting longer and warmer. Truly a great beer, but don't just take my word for it. Go out and drink this beer!
At a respectable 5.8% ABV, this ale can easily be a go-to option for a tailgate. Particularly if the Phillies remember how to hit at any point this year. This awesome summer beer gets a coveted spot in the Top 25 (for now... ) and you have a green light to drink anything this brewery puts out, because everything they produce is top shelf.
Thing to Think About Today:
If we're thinking about Bell's, then we're thinking about the best Bell ever. Liberty Bell? Nope. Ma Bell? Nope. Stringer Bell? Well, yes probably, but I was hoping for some music here. Therefore, you know I'm talking about Bell Biv DeVoe, people! BBD (and the rest of the New Edition alumni) were a nice, smooth countermeasure to the West Coast gangsta rap I was heavily into during the high school days. Really, the only question is which BBD song will help wash away a busy Monday. Yeah, you know which one we're going with here:
I think I hit mental rock bottom this afternoon. I’ve been losing project details lately -- too much happening too fast -- and I had no idea what time an event I’m planning was scheduled for later this week. Nothing I had in writing agreed on a time for this event and I’ve been inadvertently telling various people different times. I actually had to call the host venue and ask what time they had in their schedule. Like I said, mental rock bottom. The good thing is that it seems to have jumpstarted my brain again so I have that going for me. Has anyone else had something like this happen? I’ll admit I feel a bit loony over it.
***
It seems to have been a nice -- albeit windy -- day today. In honor of that, I’m opening a Bell’s Oberon Ale. Described on the label as an American wheat ale with the color and scent of a summer afternoon. (pause for beer sniffing) Indeed it does -- a bit wheaty, a bit citrusy. Is it the color of a summer afternoon? Maybe a late afternoon summer. It’s a deep golden hue, slightly cloudy with a moderate head that’s leaving lots of lacing in my glass.
The flavor is spicy hops but they aren’t overpowering. There’s the taste of citrus and bread. With a relatively low ABV (at least for me) of 5.8% ABV, this says summer afternoon drinking to me.
I wish the sun was still up. This Oberon makes me want to kick up my feet and chill on the deck. And on that note, I bid you cheers for the evening!
