Bell's Double Ipa: A Seasonal Strong Brew

Bell's Brewery's Double Two Hearted Ale, a double IPA version of its celebrated Two Hearted Ale, was released at the end of summer. The new ale has two-and-a-half times the amount of Centennial hops, giving it a more intense pine and citrus flavour. With an ABV of 11%, the beer is smooth but packs a punch.

Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale is no longer being produced

Bell's Brewery has discontinued the production of its Double Two Hearted Ale, a double IPA with 11% ABV. The beer was an amped-up version of the brewery's classic Two Hearted Ale, with two and a half times the amount of Centennial hops, giving it intense pine and citrus notes, a resinous hop aroma, and a rich malt character.

The decision to stop producing Double Two Hearted Ale may be due to several reasons. One possible reason is that Bell's Brewery already has a wide range of Double IPAs in its portfolio, including Hopslam, The Oracle, and Hopsoulution. With these similar options available, the brewery may have decided to focus its resources on its other offerings.

Another factor could be the high alcohol content of Double Two Hearted Ale, which at 11% ABV, falls into the Triple IPA category. This high alcohol content may have been off-putting to some consumers, as indicated by one reviewer who mentioned the "intense buzz" they felt before even finishing a glass.

Additionally, some beer enthusiasts may have found the beer underwhelming or disappointing. While it offered a smooth first sip, the overpowering hop presence and bitter finish let some drinkers down, especially when compared to the classic Two Hearted Ale, which has a more well-balanced flavor profile.

Whatever the reasons behind its discontinuation, Bell's Brewery's Double Two Hearted Ale will no longer be available for craft beer enthusiasts to enjoy.

The beer has an ABV of 11%

Bell's Brewery's Double Two Hearted Ale is a powerful beer with an ABV of 11%. This is a significant increase from the original Two Hearted Ale, which has an ABV of 7%. With over 1.5 times the alcohol content of its predecessor, the Double Two Hearted Ale packs a punch.

The higher ABV is not the only difference between the two beers. Bell's Brewery has also increased the amount of Centennial hops used in the recipe. The Double Two Hearted Ale features two and a half times the amount of hops found in the original beer, resulting in intense pine and citrus notes, a resinous hop aroma, and a rich malt character.

The beer's flavour profile is described as having an overpowering hop presence that turns bitter before finishing with a short but sweet malty backbone. The grapefruit and floral aromatics typically found in Two Hearted Ale are replaced by a powerful piney taste in the Double IPA.

The Double Two Hearted Ale is a limited release, and it generated a lot of hype among beer enthusiasts. Some drinkers praised its smooth taste, while others were disappointed by the loss of the original's complex grapefruit and floral notes. Despite the mixed reviews, the Double Two Hearted Ale is a unique and potent beer from Bell's Brewery.

It has two-and-a-half times the hops of the original Two Hearted Ale

Bell's Brewery's Double Two Hearted Ale has two-and-a-half times the hops of the original Two Hearted Ale. The original Two Hearted Ale is an American IPA brewed with 100% Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest. It is named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and is bursting with hop aromas ranging from pine to grapefruit. The brewers took this popular recipe and turned it up a notch to create the Double Two Hearted Ale, a Double IPA.

The Double Two Hearted Ale has an ABV of 11%, which is a little over 1.5 times that of the original Two Hearted Ale (7%). To achieve the higher ABV, the brewers used two and a half times the amount of Centennial hops as the original recipe. This results in an even stronger hop presence and a more bitter flavour profile.

While the original Two Hearted Ale is known for its grapefruit and floral aromatics/taste, the Double Two Hearted Ale replaces these complex notes with a powerful piney taste. The higher ABV also means that the beer packs a punch, despite having a surprisingly smooth finish for a Double IPA.

The Double Two Hearted Ale was released at the end of summer and generated a lot of hype among beer enthusiasts. However, some drinkers were left disappointed, feeling that it did not live up to the expectations set by the original Two Hearted Ale. Despite this, it is still a solid beer and a unique take on a classic favourite.

It has a strong malt backbone

Malt is one of the four main ingredients in beer, along with water, hops, and yeast. It is typically malted barley, but it can also be malted wheat or oats. The grains within the malt bill add colour, flavour, and aroma to the beer. They also add the sugars that yeast needs to create alcohol and carbon dioxide. The more malt used in a beer recipe, the higher the ABV will be.

Malt is divided into two categories: base malts and specialty malts. Base malts make up most of the grain bill and are lightly toasted to produce more fermentable sugars. Specialty malts, on the other hand, are toasted, roasted, or stewed to add interesting colours and flavours to the beer. They only make up a small part of the grain bill, as they are used to create the desired aromas and flavours.

The process of making malt involves steeping, germination, and kilning (or drying). The fourth step, roasting, is used to make specialty malts. During the steeping process, the grains are soaked and drained at intervals over a period of around 48 hours. This increases the moisture in the kernel, stimulating the embryo to create more enzymes that break down protein and starch. During germination, the barley sits for four to five days while the maltster watches the rootlets grow. The grain is turned during this stage to prevent the barley from growing together. Kilning halts the germination process by exposing the malt to heat, typically for a few hours to a few days, to reduce moisture.

Bell's Brewery's Double Two Hearted Ale is a Double IPA with an ABV of 11%. It has been described as having a "short but sweet malty backbone". The beer has an overpowering hop presence that turns bitter before finishing with a malty taste. While the beer may not have met some drinkers' expectations, it has been praised for its smoothness.

It has a bitter finish

Bell's Double Two Hearted Ale is a double IPA with a bitter finish. It is an imperial version of the classic Two Hearted Ale, with two and a half times the amount of Centennial hops, giving it intense pine and citrus notes, a resinous hop aroma, and a rich malt character. The beer has an ABV of 11%, which is higher than the classic version's 7%. This higher alcohol content gives the beer a smoother mouthfeel and a more intense buzz.

The Double Two Hearted Ale has a clear amber colour and a towering, yellowish-beige foam that persists for several minutes. The aroma is characterised by volatile soapy notes that dissipate to reveal orange gummy slices, candied citrus, pound cake, and buttery pie crust, with hints of lemon rind and intense mint. The taste is a rush of booze, sugar, and bitterness that collide, creating a rough and tannic mouthfeel. The high alcohol content thins out the body, resulting in minimal malty balance. The intense bitterness can create an unpleasant wicking effect, and the beer has been described as gimmicky and forced compared to other Bell's recipes.

The Double Two Hearted Ale is a part of Bell's Brewery's portfolio of Double IPAs, which includes Hopslam, The Oracle, and Hopsoulution. Despite having similar graphic designs, names, and appearances, the Double Two Hearted Ale sets itself apart from the classic Two Hearted Ale with its higher ABV and more intense flavours.

The beer was first released in bottles across the United States in 2019, although it has been around since at least 2015. It is typically sold in six-packs of 12oz bottles, with a price of around $19 plus tax. The recommended shelf life is 3 months, and it is best consumed within this timeframe to ensure optimal flavour and freshness.

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