Red Eye IPA
Two Brothers Brewing Company + Tap House

 

 

 

 

I was at a local retail shop and they were tasting a number of Two Brother Beers. I went directly for the Red Eye IPA.
I was not disappointed! I really nice beer, abv of 6.7% was really nice, IBUs of 60 gave it just enough hoppiness. But what stood out for me, was the the coffee flavor. Not like so many coffee stouts, different, but exciting

it gave me the best of both worlds that I love: IPA and Coffee/Stout. No, I will still start my mornings with the Breakfast of Champions, but a couple of hours later, this would be my next beer

 

 

 

 

Best by 6/22/18. 12oz can poured into a tulip. Pours golden with nice clarity and transparency with bubbles racing upwards; small white head that that fades leaving solid retention and sticky lacing. The aromas have malts and citrus. The coffee aromas are mild and hard to pick up. The flavors are clean, crisp, sharp and refreshing. Hints of lemon. Nice sharp earthy bitterness. Some coffee bitterness in the finish, but not a ton of coffee flavors. Malts do their thing. Finishes dry. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium-bodied with sharp active carbonation. It's smooth and easy to drink.

This is a solid IPA. The coffee is there, but it doesn't shine or come off as the star. It's ultimately nothing crazy, but it's enjoyable stuff.

Tasted in a pint glass from draft at Emil's Tavern on March 16, 2018. Complex fruity and toasty character with deep cacao notes that finish with a pleasant pine and citrus hop flavor.

 

 

12oz can, "swirl by 08/22/18". Light copper colored ale with a tall creamy head that leaves some lacing on the glass as it fades. Intriguing aroma of coffee, grain, and citric hops. Flavors are intriguing too with notes of coffee and cocoa, pale malt, fruit, citrus, and pine. Great creamy mouthfeel allows the complex flavors to meld on the palate: medium-to-full body with a moderately bitter yet balanced finish. Really nice balance between coffee and IPA here. Better than expected.

Crystal clear burnt orange body with a lasting, foamy eggshell head that leaves soft lace everywhere. The nose starts with strong, roasty coffee and chocolate scents, then transitions to floral, almost perfumey hop notes. There are no distinct scents from the hops, just aromatics that compliment those found in coffee- together they create aromas of dark berries. The taste offers coffee to spare which provides a nice roasted flavor, while the hops offer a refreshing piney aspect. Put together and a distinct blueberry flavor is created. The coffee isn't supremely dark, almost has a sweetness to it, but the hops definitely impart a good level of bitterness. The feel is smooth, soft even, with a fair bit of carbonation. I would appreciate some more weight to it, but I can't complain with it as-is.
Wow, this not only worked, it worked fascinatingly well. I'm fascinated; how does piney mix with roasted? If I were reading this review, I would think "black IPA's cousin: PASS." But it was not that, not at all. This was good. The flavors were individual but also complimented each other, instead of (IMO of course) clashing like they do in that aforementioned abomination of a style. Obviously one has to enjoy both these camps, hops and coffee, either of which can be turn-offs for many people. But if you can check off both of those flavors, then check this beer out. It really is a twofer, one which I will soon be returning to,