King's Two Fisted Old Ale
King Brewing Company

King's Two Fisted Old AleKing's Two Fisted Old Ale
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From:
King Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.59 | pDev: 12.81%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 28, 2015
Added:
Apr 04, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of jeremyd365
Reviewed by jeremyd365 from Michigan

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one poured a very very dark amber with little head. It smelled very sweet, perhaps of apples or even citrus. It went down smooth and finished very citrusy and hoppy. It had a solid body but didn't feel too heavy going down. I would definitely recommend this brew and definitely have it again.
Oct 02, 2008
Photo of Baileyuk
Reviewed by Baileyuk from Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A - Lacing was amazing and maintained throughout. Head was very little and faded fast.

S - Biscuity tones and a roasted malt smell.

T - Very pleasant. Malts dominate with a roasted tone, Slight fruity taste. Alcohol taste was very present.

M - Medium Mouthfeel, was surprisingly smooth going down

D - For 8.5% very high. Could not drink that many though due to the strong alcohol presence.
Aug 31, 2008
Photo of CortexBomb
Reviewed by CortexBomb from Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pour is extremely dark amber/coppery with a monster off white head on it, unexpectedly huge head for the style actually. Nose is sweet and malty, caramel tones, dark fruits, this is right on par for the style.

Taste starts out with fairly strong dark fruits and then segues into a heavy chocolate and roasted malt tone, unexpected! Herbal hop character. Roast chocolate aftertaste. Unusual.

The mouth on this is decent, but about par for the style. Really good old ales kick up the thickness more than this. The drinkability, good but not spectacular. The beer is quite drinkable and tasty, but it probably wouldn't be high on my list for old ales, or for stouts, which it actually reminds me more of. It's a good beer, but it doesn't do either style in a particularly amazing way.

The bottom line: King's Old Ale is an interesting variation on the style. Take the standard dark fruit character and then give it a roasted chocolate whirl and you have a good idea of what is going on here. I don't think it does either of its styles in a particularly remarkable fashion, but it is an interesting hybrid and worth trying out for the novelty alone. Probably not a rebuy for me though.
Feb 02, 2008
Photo of BMoney575
Reviewed by BMoney575 from Texas

1.89/5  rDev -47.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1
Reviewed from notes
Sampled on 11-17-07

Pours a very deep red, light around the edges, with a foamy tan head that almost rises out of the glass.

Smell is thin, rather harsh, but nice and earthy with lots of caramelized sugar.

Taste is very earthy, salty, with a definite soy sauce twinge. Absolutely gross. It was everything I could do to choke it down.

Mouthfeel is decent, this beer seems to foam up in your mouth.

Drinkability is not good. I've never poured a beer down the drain before, but I seriously considered it here.
Nov 28, 2007
Photo of jp32
Reviewed by jp32 from Michigan

4.31/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: Very dark brown, espresso colored, with a perfectly thick and foamy tan head that just sticks and sticks and sticks.

S: Mostly malty and sweet, a touch on the herbal side.

T: Outstanding flavor. Awesomely balanced with smooth malts and hop bitterness. Terriffic.

M: Damn near heavy bodied. Maybe not quite there, but as close as a beer can get.

D: Drinkability is great, but considering the intense flavor, it may be a bit difficult after a few of these.
Oct 16, 2007
Photo of MICAMD
Reviewed by MICAMD from Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2
A- A beast of an off-white head forms atop this murky leather/brown liquid. I cannot believe how long this head maintains itself. It takes such a long time to pour this beer, but it looks worth it.

S- Some raisin, brown sugar, cocoa powder, plum, some apple. Very complex and tasty.

T- Wonderful flavor. Same as the aroma with an emphasis on the fruit and the cocoa powder. Delicious. I am really digging this.

M- WTF. Way way over carbonated. I should have known from the pour(s), but I was so impressed by the beastiness. Looks, smells, and tastes great, but as soon as it gets into your mouth it turns into foam. Very strange and not appealing.

D- I love the flavor, but I cannot stand this in my mouth. So much carbonation. Maybe If I let this sit in a glass in the fridge for a day...
Sep 20, 2007
Photo of logansboat15
Reviewed by logansboat15 from Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A nice, unexpected beer from a lesser-known Michigan brewery, King Two-Fisted Old Ale pours an intense ruby-brown. A foamy tan head forms and leaves a moderate amount of lace. Smells slightly of currant with an alcoholic trace. Tastes of burnt chocolate with a mildly bitter hop finish. Medium-to-fullish mouthfeel rounds out a drinkable, fairly strong ale that is better-than-average. Would pair well with smoked chubs or any other strong smoked food. This is a manly brew not for the squeamish.
Jun 02, 2007
Photo of mcallister
Reviewed by mcallister from Ohio

2.88/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
4 for being different than any old ale/barley wine I've sampled. This bad boy is dark. Very dark. A burnt caramel/amber with orangy red hues throughout. Head is whispy, thick and long lasting. A light tan in color with a thick ring of lace.

What a nose. Raisin, plum, fresh fig, minerals and herb, milk chocolate, toffee, and more golden raisin with dried cranberry and dates. Not huge depth of aroma however intriguing.

Taste is a big letdown. Lacking depty and complexity. A bit of dark bready malts, with some raising in the mouth and some other dried fruits with very little bittering hop on the finish. The rest is a discombobulated wash. Mouth is medium and suits the style. Odd chocolatey flavors with toffee.
May 28, 2007
Photo of ZAP
Reviewed by ZAP from Minnesota

3.52/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Interesting brew...much darker than most old ales...nose is reminiscent of a english stout...mineral water....raisins....even some bock like dark fruits..

Taste is not bad at all but not what I expected...charred malts...coffee grains..dark cocoa....black licorice....mineral water...raisins..some dark fruity elements as well..

Body is medium..carbonation is low...this slips down nicely...

Really feels like an English made brew...I just looked at the label and it is from Michigan...not your typical old ale but a nice brew...I don't think I would buy it again but this is interesting enough for me to enjoy..
Apr 25, 2007
Photo of alexgash
Reviewed by alexgash from Connecticut

3.06/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served at 55 degrees.

Dark, murky, chestnut brown with a tall, foamy, long-lasting, khaki head. Good lacing. Maple syrup, toffee malt, and dark fruits on the nose, backed by pine and Scotch tape hops. The tape aroma is too dominant though. Toasted, slightly astringent bitterness up front. Slightly tart, moving to sweet, malt notes follow. Caramelly and mildly sweet. Hops pick up towards the finish contributing a vague bitterness: some pine, some herb. Medium-bodied, with a slightly-overcarbonated feel. Needs a little work, but not bad.
Apr 11, 2007
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

3.37/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
This old ale is very drinkable, perhaps too much so for this style. It is very roasty, and tastes much like the better porters I've had. It is OK, but worth getting too excited about it.

Pours a clear red-brown with virtually no head. Aroma is somewhere between coffee and a malt ball. Flavor is very roasted, much like a porter. Mouthfeel is thin, particularly for the old ale style. However, this is a very light old ale, and is highly drinkable...not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Apr 07, 2007
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

2.9/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Dirty auburn tone. No head forms. Lace is negligible. Not the most inviting piece of work. Kind of a rough aroma to this one. Not necessarily bad, but a little rough. Stale malts. Chocolate comes through. Not a lot else happening. O.K. That's it. Pretty average taste too. More roasted tones and chocolate than most Old Ales I've had. Kind of a bit of a stale taste to this as well. Maybe more earthy than stale. Alcohol is hidden nicely, but other than that, there's not a lot of juicy maltiness or fruitiness or richness that I like in my Old Ales.
Mar 21, 2007
Photo of geexploitation
Reviewed by geexploitation from Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a very dark and deep mahogany brown -- not quite black -- with a fluffy off-white head that leaves some nice lacing on the sides of the glass. Aromas of coffee, clay, and hops predominate, along with an indetermine earthy note that I can't put my finger on. On the palate, bitter chocolates come first, then oily hops and a dry finish. It's rich in flavor but not complex. Mouthfeel is a bit overcarbonated, which takes away from the richness of the malts and produces an overly sharp sensation. Overall, this is only OK. It's got some richness but not enough complexity to hold the attention.
Jan 02, 2007
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottled, obtained in an extra in a trade but I cant remember who from so let me know if you read this

appearance: pours out of the bottle into a snifter....cola-esque appearance was the first impression, rather dark body with a light creamy beige head and pretty substantial lacing

smell: aroma is pretty subdued and not very rich like many old ales...caramel evident, slightly herbal, smoky and earthy, cola

taste: I guess this isnt exactly what I was expecting...its not terribly bold or boozy like others of the style...earthy smoky molasses body, cola, caramel, black licorice, herbal hops

mouthfeel: a little thin, creamy

drinkability: fine
Nov 12, 2006
Photo of hoppymeal
Reviewed by hoppymeal from Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours black in color with a small cream head that recedes slowly. Aroma is of roasted malts some sweet cola and a little sugary chocolate, like hot cocoa powder. Taste follows suit with some roast and smokiness up front, the sweetness comes thru in the middle with the cola as the pronounced flavor but also a little chocolate and prunes, it finishes witha decent hop bite. Light to medium body and dry and a little spicy in the finish. The beer had an earthy quality that was nice and I also enjoyed the decent hoppiness, however, the flavors didn't mesh well for my own palate and some of the flavors I didn't expect to find when I popped an old ale, esp the level of roastiness as well as the chocolate.
Sep 08, 2006
Photo of thelagerheads
Reviewed by thelagerheads from Michigan

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It's back to supremacy for the old king with this palate washing astringent. It starts as a heavy citrus and alcohol vapor that shrouds the roof of the mouth with a warming permafrost that soon gives way to a roasty toasty caramel malt gum of sorts. It first reminded me of Bell's Two Hearted Ale but no lingering citrus grove waterfall of rinds ensued. Plus this biter goes over to the darkside and sticks out its chin like a fighter but quickly pulls back in time to show that he is a gentleman of favorable repute. Unlike the previous two King entries this one gave a full foam even though it quickly dissipated. The picture above has suffered for its art seeing as it is blurry but was the best representation of the exploding head which first sprung forth. Not something I would drink regularly but then again I never drink anything regularly anyhow.
Aug 23, 2006
Photo of macpapi
Reviewed by macpapi from Oregon

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
King's Two Fisted Old Ale pours an intriguing deep purplish-brown color, with a very small tannish head. There is little to no visibility through the glass along with minimal lacing. The smell is deep, malty and fruity. There is a definite presence of raisin and plum along with some caramel, making this a pretty complex and pleasant pull on the nose. The taste is a bit surprising. The fruit, so strong in the sniff, is hardly notable in the mouth. Roasted malt and caramel are dominant. There is also a bit of bitterness, but little note of the high a.b.v. Mouthfeel is somewhat full. There is a pretty high carbonation level, but little bitterness or presence of any kind left behind the initial swallow. Overall, I would say this is not a bad representation of an Old Ale. It is not as smooth in the mouth as it is on the nose or to the eyes. Still a potent and pretty enjoyable quaff.
May 28, 2006
Photo of RedHaze
Reviewed by RedHaze from Nebraska

3.08/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours a very dark brown with traces of ruby highilights around the edges. There's a half inch tan head that settles gently to spotty cap and thick ring leaving behind a nice sheeting of lace.

Smell; roasted, almost charred smelling malts, with mild hints of raisins. After that nothing seems to really stand out at all. A bit disapointing.

Taste; even more disapointing than the smell. A little roasted malts, with some hints of dark fruits with a little bit of hops in there. Overall everything is very muted. Mouthfeel is on the thin side, and hard to drink due to a bit of chalkiness, and such a high abv. I must say that I was expecting a lot more from this one.
Apr 28, 2006
Photo of Brian700
Reviewed by Brian700 from Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer poured a bit darker than I expected for an old ale. It was sort of a deep brown with an off white head that didn't stick around very long.

The aroma was caramely and malty but pretty mellow.

The flavor was a little lacking for me. I think for an old ale this beer should have a little more bite to it. The malt was there just in lesser quantities I think.

The mouthfeel was also a little thin for me especially for an old ale. It was medium bodied with low carbonation. I think this beer could be good if it were concentrated by about 1/2.

Its an alright session beer though.
Apr 25, 2006
King's Two Fisted Old Ale from King Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 33 ratings