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Unite, the beer, will be coming later this month in time for International Women’s Day from Bell’s. Might be a good choice to add to your female owned or brewed beer list for that day along with this IPA from Topa Topa…
…and this English Summer Ale from Eagle Rock Brewery…
Part of the Heart Family from Bell’s, Light Hearted is 3.7% ABV, 110 calories and 9 grams of carbs. That is seriously light. But how does it compare to say, Hopslam? Unfair, but I thought I would really put this to the test.
Both beers pour similar in color with Light Hearted just a touch more yellow than orange. Now onto the rest of the comparison…
Light Hearted – There is a bitter kick up front. That fades to watery followed by a considerable malt flavor. Cascade’y earthy notes for me. Most IPA of the bunch of Lo-Cal beers that I have sampled.
HopSlam – Sweetness (honey) then the alcohol burn takes over. This is aggressively hoppy with some small citrus notes lingering behind the main flavors.
The DNA flows through both of these. The hops do kick hard in both beers it’s just the scaffolding that’s different. Neither would win my heart (get it) like the original 2 Hearted but if given a choice, I would stick with the Light.
Last year brought Double Two Hearted, which was really good and now 2020 brings a throwback to the Cascadian Dark Ale times with a Two Hearts Valentine’s Day brand extension from Bell’s with Broken Hearted. How the honey and extreme hops work with darker malts is to be seen.
Personally, I would have gone for the throat and come out with a Triple Two Hearted. I can see this making a new stir because based on the flagship love for the regular version that Bell’s puts out.
It has been good that a steady supply of Bell’s and Founders has found it’s way to Los Angeles because it allows me to try beers in the proper season as opposed to getting all at once. This is especially helpful when it comes to the Quinannan Falls Lager.
I get to try it in summer and see how well it matches up to our SoCal July.
The lager pours a bright yellow from the can. The aroma screams Pilsner with a touch of pear juice. Minerality is high but doesn’t distract from the beer at all. Salt tinged but also juicy. It might be too much as a table beer but certainly is well-suited for summer. A bit of grapefruit here as well. Nice and varied. Might be one of my favorite Bell’s beers.
Coffee beers are one of my favorites and to get a different taste of beans from Michigan is tempting.
Here is my review of Java Stout from Bell’s.
Java Stout is really strong on the Starbuck-ian very roasted bean side of the equation. Burnt notes with a bit of smoke are the dominate notes here. The base stout is overwhelmed in one sense but also holds the beer up. There is a load of bitter coffee acidity here as well. There are some fig and anise notes tucked into the beer as well. It is, in the end, well balanced despite the darkness of the roast.
I just wish the label weren’t some sort of Jigsaw meets coffee mug dementia.
Is this what the Doctor would drink on Gallifrey? Too geeky? Probably but I see a chance for cross promotion. Which I think would be cool especially since I do not like the label for Two Hearted at all. Though to be fair the rendition on the Bell’s can is much better.
On to the beer, it pours a lovely medium orange. To be frank the aroma is muted from my west coast perspective. A bit of spice orange teas drifts up but that is primarily it. The taste is almost more session wise except for the beefy malt base. The main note that I get is orange. Almost a candied, creamsicle type of orange which works really well. More smooth than carbonated but that works here and the bitterness rounds it out in the back. You can taste why this is popular.