Matches like these make me glad we don’t review 7 days a week, my brain would explode from trying to pick. We’ll start today with a beer that has been a bit of a surprise thusfar, the Bells Two-Hearted Ale.  I don’t know how long I can get away with calling this brew surprising as I’ve been fawning over it in my reviews and it has moved on virtually unchallenged thus far. The Two-Hearted Ale is unparalleled in terms of deep, rich fruit flavors. That said, the beer is not at all overwhelming because the deep flavors are cut by hoppy pine and floral scents which round the beer out very nicely. I thought about trying to find a season to describe this beer and really the only thing I could say is it is an all-season, all-person, all-pairing beer. Just give it a shot and you’ll discover what I mean. This beer is a strong contender tucked away in a carefully crafted beer by a meticulous brewery.

And in the Blue Fridge today, hailing from Founder’s Brewing Co., the Founder’s Centennial IPA. A brewery with tremendous fan support, 2 beers in the Sweet 16, and a good rapport with these tournaments, one could consider their beers to be heavily favored at this point. Then again, I voted against this beer the last round so we will see if it can change my mind. I decided to take a different approach to this brew and let it decant for a few minutes. I’ve admitted that it is a stronger beer, and if you took a Barolo or a stronger wine you would let it breathe. Perhaps with some air this beer opens up nicely, giving it a niche as a pool-playing beer or a shooting the breeze beer. Sure enough, if you give it some time, the smoky flavor opens up and replaces the bitterness which is followed by a rich caramel flavor and a scotch-like finish. Grab a cigar, some friends, rack ‘em up, and enjoy this fantastic IPA. It may not be for everyone but if it is for you it will be one of if not your favorite brew.

UPDATE: Click Here for Match Results!