While I was hoping to branch out and try something different in my fourth batch of homebrew, I decided to stay with ale style, opting to try my hand at another clone. This time, it’s Bell’s Brewery and their popular American IPA, Two Hearted Ale. This beer has been voted as the best beer in American for 2018, the second year running by Zymurgy Magazine. It’s “perfectly balanced” brewed with 100% Centennial hops with an aroma ranging from pine to grapefruit.
There is a story to be heard behind the Two Cheaters Ale. Josh and Brandon, displaced Midwesterners making a life in New York, host a weekly fantasy football (soccer for Americans) podcast called Always Cheating. I decided to join as a Patreon this year and was referred to as the “Always Cheating brewer.” I felt it was my duty to pay homage these guys and brew up a batch of homebrew, which quickly became known as Two Cheaters Ale.
This batch of home brew is my fourth, first in what I am calling the Fantasy Premier League or FPL Series, which will feature two more fantasy related releases in the coming months. When I asked Josh and Brandon what style of beer they enjoyed to drink their answer was Bell’s Brewery, Two Hearted Ale. As luck would have it, my local home brew shop carried a clone kit. Looking back, I should have remembered that Bell’s Brewery sells their own Two Hearted Ale recipe kit, which has some different ingredients.
Brew day commenced and I decided to have some fun with the FPL Twitter community, providing video shorts detailing the brewing process, to dry hopping and bottling. You can also watch the First Sip video on the Two Cheaters Ale. Cheers!
Video 1: Brew Day
Video 2: Cleaning & Sanitizing
Video 3: Malt Additions
Video 4: Bring Up The Boil
Video 5: Hop Additions
Video 6: Aroma Hops
Video 7: Cooling Wort
Video 8: Fermentation Bucket
Video 9: Measure OG
Video 10: Airlock Bubbles
Video 11: Dry Hopping
Video 12: Bottling Day
Video 13: Liquid Transfer
Video 14: Measure FG
Josh and Brandon of Always Cheating featured their “30 second beer review” on their Two Cheaters Ale on Episode #160: More Than Words, of the Always Cheating Podcast. You can fast forward to 1:19:15 to hear their review.
As the Four Brewers would say, “brew the shit out of it!” Cheers!
Recipe
Fermentables
8 lbs. Ultralight Malt Extract
0.5 lbs. Light Dry Malt Extract
Specialty Grains
4 oz. Maltodextrin
0.5 lbs. Crystal 10°L
0.5 lbs. Carapils
Hops
Bittering
2 oz. Centennial
2 oz. Centennial
Dry Hop
2 oz. Centennial
Yeast
Yeast 1056 American Ale
Water
Not Available
Brew Timeline
Tasting Notes
Long lasting head and lacing. Slight caramel and toasted orange rind smell. Carbonation is just right. Smooth with subtle, creamy texture. Soft malt and burnt caramel sweetness along with toasted orange rind. I’m getting a little Chardonnay flavors as I exhale. The hops are there in the beginning but build and linger in the finish. This is a winner! My favorite thus far. It’s good! There’s nothing that overpowers. Everything is equally balanced.
In another review from JC, he followed up with another similar review. Just wanted to make sure those bottles filled late in the bucket were the same as the one filled first from the bottling bucket.
Your beer its identical! Taste just like the first time. Toasty malt with subtle sweetness coming from the malt. Not getting any fruit. Maybe some toasted orange rind in the smell but just a touch. Ok maybe a hint of melon in the flavor? Think I sense more yeast aromas this time. Bitter hops, again, during the finish. And the head keep! Excellent. Long hop finish.