Bell’s Hazy Hearted IPA: I Like It, However…

Like many bigger breweries, Bell’s Brewing was pretty gradual to simply accept that hazy IPAs have been right here to remain. I keep in mind being fairly shocked when their Sideyard hazy launched via their Eccentric Cafe, after which Bell’s Official solely got here out in 2019. Years after Michigan’s Outdated Nation exploded onto the scene with their now-ubiquitous (however nonetheless expensive) M-43, the brewery has put their second main hazy into vast launch within the type of this Two Hearted model extension, which is the best way of the brewing world lately.

I admit it: Hazy Hearted is a reasonably first rate beer. The primary time I pulled up a draft of it at a neighborhood bar, I can even admit that I didn’t need to love it, in a cussed sense of loyalty to Two Hearted. However I do prefer it. It lacks the legendary refinement and simple assertion and bitterness of its a lot older sibling, nevertheless it’s head and shoulders above the skinny, simply forgettable Mild Hearted that rolled out just a few years again.

Sadly, it’s additionally not any vital enchancment over Bell’s Official, which was softer on the palate, a bit sweeter and at a 6ish-percent ABV merely extra approachable than Hazy Hearted’s 7.5%.

Is Official accomplished for? That’d be a disgrace, but when the burden of the corporate is behind Hazy Hearted (and all the opposite -Hearted extensions at present on the market) then it appears unlikely that Official goes to proceed; I do know I haven’t seen it on retailer cabinets these days. I’m, nonetheless, completely satisfied to proceed to see the opposite current hit from Bell’s, their No Yeah golden ale, persevering with onward.

I’ll say that Hazy Hearted is a major improve over one in every of New Belgium’s present rocket ship rides, Juice Drive. Having lately blown roughly $10 on a sixer of that, I discovered it to be totally mediocre: Gritty, with acrid bitterness atop sticky apricot, canteloupe and orange juiciness. The 9ish% ABV might be accountable for lots of these tough edges however that’s what drinkers need from it, and in enormous numbers, so who am I to say that New Belgium is unsuitable for placing this out? Nobody, that’s who.

So is Hazy Hearted a internet optimistic for drinkers across the nation more and more in a position to entry beer from Bell’s? I’m positive this beer will just do positive for itself, however hopefully not on the expense of the unique Two Hearted … and to everybody who’s cracking into their first Bell’s hazy on this kind, I’m sorry you didn’t get to offer Official a shot.

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