Sunday, January 31, 2010

First thoughts on the new brew, if a bit premature

So I could not wait any longer. After only 10 days in the bottle, I got the itch to try out one of my Two Hearted Clones. My first thought was, "wow, this is a cloudy beer"; although, a lot like the real Two Hearted can be when you get that bottom yeast out of the bottle and into the beer. Bascially the same color, and the exact same aroma and taste. Overall, a great success, despite needing a few more days in the bottle to gain a little carbonation and finish out a bit. But the texture is spot on. Very full, with ever so tiny bubbles everywhere throughout the beer. It really coats your whole mouth, in a good way. The head retention has also been great. A nice big head off the start, which died down to a full film cover with some residual foam buildup remaining even halfway into the beer. Great lacing as the beer makes its way to the bottom, as well.

The flavor is great. Piney, not citrusy like so may IPAs are. I am not a big fan of citrus bomb IPAs, and that is why I have always loved Two Hearted. So full flavored and hoppy, without being fruity like some IPAs on the coats. Although I think my beer could use a tiny touch more bittering, but I may just be immune in this department. I am going to hold off on having another for a few days so I can see the progression in the bottle. Maybe this weekend, when my brother and friends from home are in town, I will have a side by side taste test. Then I can get some input.

I think that this beer, with a little refinement, will have to enter permanent rotation. And who knows, maybe I can improve upon my inspiration. Exactly how is yet to be determined.

What to call this fine brew? Perhaps the Nick Adams IPA, in honor of Hemingway's wanderlust hero whose fishing trip in the U.P. inspired my muse.