I have pretty much universally enjoyed the wares that Bell's has to offer. Every time I see the Two Hearted Ale at a beer store or supermarket, I inevitably get a tug at my heart that makes me want to just buy that and nothing else. However, I have often said on this site that very few beers can compared to a well sorted porter. Well, Bell's is bringing me a porter, and I am certainly looking forward to it.
First sip certainly has some coffee to it. It is the correct kind of coffee in that it is derived from the malts that have been added rather than ham-fistedly jamming coffee beans into the brewing process, but I still wouldn't refer to it as welcome. The chocolate is barely there, but the roasted barley is a distinct and calming influence. The dry and bitter taste left in my mouth after the sip echoes with the coffee.
Tip-in is bitter coffee and chocolate with carbonation dazzling the center of the tongue. When the middle hits, carbonation starts stabbing at the roof of the mouth while the bitter coffee and chocolate amalgamate is partially tamped down by the roasted barley. The finish is dry with a bitter coating before coffee and chocolate come back to echo bitterness into the void.
Bottom Line: Just too much coffee for me.
2.0/5