Two Hoppy Hearts
Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery

 

 

I've had this beer a number of times; on tap at Haymarket, on tap at an event and in the growler a few times and every time I love it even more. I'm not sure where the other reviewers are getting the onion from but I don't recall ever getting that. When it's poured into your glass you get a clear amber with a nice foamy head. The heavy aroma of amarillo and citra hops hit you in the nose and just pours out of the glass. They both meld together well to get a nice tropical aroma of pineapple. The taste is light, the hops are pretty much all in the nose so you're greeted with a nice balance of carmel and sweet malts. Two Hoppy Hearts has a light body which makes it very easy to drink and being under 5% ABV, there is no reason why you wouldn't want to have five or six more.

On-tap at Haymarket. Served in a 4oz taster glass.

A - White foam settles to wisps, collar, and glass-coating lace. Transparent golden that is surprisingly light for a red ale - this was virtually the same color as Barney's Centennial IPA.

S - Somewhat malt-forward, with a mixture of icing sugar and light red fruits. The hops impart an herbal flavor and perhaps a bit of onion. Something seems off about this beer, and it's a tad understated.

T - Malt is less assertive here, with more bread and less sweetness. Earthy and piney flavors, and an odd astringent note. Not very enjoyable.

M - Medium carbonation, medium-light body, dry finish, and some residual hop oils.

D - This wasn't very good, although I'm wondering if there was something off with this keg as other reviews are mostly favorable. The flavors were muted and there was an excessive amount of bitter and astringent flavors. I finished my pour but I don't think I'd order this again.

Poured from tap into a pint glass. Pours an amber color with a foamy head.

Very good aromas of hops, citrus, some malts and amber grains. Good depth with nice complexity to the aromas.

Medium bodied, but on the lighter side. Balanced, but almost all attack with flavors of hops, citrus, and some malts.

This was kind of a Jekyll and Hyde beer for me. The aromas were really good, but it seemed to lack on the feel.

Served in a nonic pint glass at the brewpub.

This was described as an American red ale with a generous amount of hops. Right on. It pours a clear amber-orange topped by two fingers of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises mild ruby red grapefruit zest (along with some accompanying free bits of rind), light onion, and sweet caramel. The taste brings in more of the same, but without the onion and with lighter caramel. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, a nice little red, a fruity, hop-forward example of the style that ends up being pretty enjoyable.