11% ABV...good grief!

[stevej37]

After biking this morning (in the Kalamazoo area) I stopped at a nearby bar and grille for lunch. As usual in that area...Bell's Beer is prominent (it's where it's made) On tap they had the regular two hearted ale, two hearted lite, and two hearted double.
I ordered a pint of the double with my burger and soup.
Taste was about the same as reg 2 hearted...but wow!....It packs a punch!

Not sure it's a good idea for a bar or restaurant...maybe I'm getting wimpy with age?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Oh damn! Haven’t seen that one yet but I love the regular Two Hearted.

[Roswell]

the dangerous thing is that it tastes GOOD............

[stevej37]

I left about an inch in the mug when I left the restaurant....(A serious no-no!)
Just wasn't quite happy with the drive home from there...

In younger years..I would have downed it with no thought.

[Flat Six]

Yikes! I'm a fan of Elysian Space Dust and it's big (8.2% ABV); I can't imagine a good-tasting IPA @ 11%. Woohoo!

[cabmandone]

Bells makes some good stuff but so does Founders. I think Founders KBS is 13%. I like Bells Porter and Stout. I made a Dogfish 90 minute IPA that would have your head spinning after about 3. Good stuff. IPA's take a healthy amount of base malt with some crystal and caramel thrown in for a nice malty profile then hop the hell out of it Just have to make sure the yeast can handle the high alcohol content. I think my 5 gallon batch took 19 lbs of grain which is REALLY heavy on the grain bill when you consider my 10 gallon batch of Kolsch takes about 21 lbs of grain total.

[beatnavy]

11% packs a punch. This is a 11% as well (and quite good):



IIRC the "Elf" is a play on German for the number "eleven." I think I figured it out after finishing my second. I could always speak better German when I was drunk...

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Bells makes some good stuff but so does Founders. I think Founders KBS is 13%. I like Bells Porter and Stout. I made a Dogfish 90 minute IPA that would have your head spinning after about 3. Good stuff. IPA's take a healthy amount of base malt with some crystal and caramel thrown in for a nice malty profile then hop the hell out of it Just have to make sure the yeast can handle the high alcohol content. I think my 5 gallon batch took 19 lbs of grain which is REALLY heavy on the grain bill when you consider my 10 gallon batch of Kolsch takes about 21 lbs of grain total.

I'm fortunate to live close to both Bell's and Founders. Most stores in this area have all their offerings....but I've never seen the double two hearted for sale.
The taproom has it...but that's it. This was the first bar/grill that I've seen it for sale.

[TimT]

I'm a big fan of Two Hearted..

The double not so much... its much to heavy, overly malty (grain bill must be huge to get that ABV) and probably has a really long boil...concentrating it even more..

At some point the beers just get to be to much..

Awhile back my s/o asked me to pick up some Dogfish Palo Santo that she had tried and like.. So I got a 4 pack.... and it cost $20... I should have known then...

Got home and popped one, it was heavy.... and I later found out 12% ABV

Plain jane Two Hearted is one of my go to brews

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by TimT

I'm a big fan of Two Hearted..
Plain jane Two Hearted is one of my go to brews

totally agree here. Hard to improve on perfect.

[MBAtarga]

Wild Heaven Gravitational Wave - Stout - Russian Imperial - 14% !!!!

[red-beard]

Years ago I made a Maple Imperial Stout. It was about 10.5% ABV before I added the maple syrup in secondary fermentation. I think it about about 12 ABV afterwards.

I remember at the Original Lionheart in Albany NY, they put Sierra Nevada Bigfoot on tap, in 1999. Of course, they forgot to tell the bartender what it was and that it was supposed to be sold in 6 oz snifters. They were selling pints for $3.50. Not knowing it was 9.5% meant I'd had about 3 pints before I hit the HOLY CRAP line.

Here in Houston, they make a really well balanced Double IPA, St. Arnold's Endeavor. It is 9%. And deadly. It is so smooth and tasty, but not too bitter. You do not know you are in trouble until you are in trouble. I have been on a self imposed Endeavor ban for many years.

[Bill Douglas]

Phew.

I can imagine a nice refreshing beer on a hot summers day. Then tripping over the doorstep on the way out LOL

[Danimal16]

Avery used to make a Grand Cru named The Beast. It was my favorite. A 12 ounce bottle could be split 3 ways. 16.8% ABV and smooth. I miss The Beast.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Phew.

I can imagine a nice refreshing beer on a hot summers day. Then tripping over the doorstep on the way out LOL

Or get busted for DUI while mowing your lawn!

[widebody911]

I had a quad-IPA a while back that was 12.5%

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I can imagine a nice refreshing beer on a hot summers day. Then tripping over the doorstep on the way out LOL

I would never drink a pint of 11% beer. I would drink three. It's best for me to stick to the 4% stuff. I have done the three or six pints with 7+% real beer and it's such a wonderful buzz. I need to be helped to the back seat of the car though.

I had my son take a look at the OP's Double Two Hearted Ale pic. He's experienced. Had not seen the double but immediately said the Two Hearted Ale is divine.

[stevej37]

^^^ Your son is a smart man!....the reg two hearted is great.

I know the double is sold by the bottle at the taproom, but because of the high abv, it might not be handled by the beer distributors...I really don't know.

[Flat Six]

You guys convinced me; a half-rack of Two-Hearted came home with me from the liquor store. Mmmmmmm gooooooood. Thanks for the recommendation.

[stevej37]

I had to Google half rack...never heard a twelve pack called that!
Two Hearted is named after the river in the UP of MI.