Bell's Two Hearted Ale 5L Keg

Bell's Two Hearted Ale 5L Keg is a 7% ABV American IPA brewed with 100% Centennial hops, packaged in a convenient 5-liter mini keg format. Rated a perfect 100 by RateBeer and scored 95 on BeerAdvocate, Two Hearted has been named the best beer in America multiple times by the American Homebrewers Association — a distinction few IPAs can claim.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7%  |  IBU: 55  |  Origin: Kalamazoo, Michigan  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, brews Two Hearted using a simple but deliberate grain bill of two-row and caramel malts, hopped and dry hopped exclusively with Centennial — no blends, no backup varieties. What truly distinguishes the production process is Bell's use of custom-built shallow, wide fermentation tanks rather than the industry-standard tall, narrow vessels. This design allows the Centennial hops to disperse across a greater surface area during fermentation, contributing to the beer's signature aromatic intensity and clean hop expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grapefruit peel and resinous pine lead the nose immediately, followed by lighter floral and herbal notes from the Centennial hops. A subtle caramel sweetness from the malt bill rounds out the backdrop.

Taste: The entry is bright with citrus — grapefruit and tangerine dominate — before a wave of pine resin and lemongrass builds across the mid-palate. A smooth caramel malt backbone keeps the bitterness in check, lending a slight sweetness that balances the 55 IBUs without masking the hop character. Ripe berry notes surface as it warms.

Finish: Dry, clean, and moderately bitter with lingering floral and earthy pine. The finish is assertive but never harsh, encouraging the next sip rather than overwhelming the palate.

How to Drink Two Hearted Ale

Pour from the mini keg into a tulip glass or standard pint glass at around 45–50°F to let the Centennial hop aromatics fully open up. The 5L keg format keeps the beer fresh and carbonated through multiple servings, making it ideal for sharing. Two Hearted's balanced bitterness and citrus-forward profile also make it a strong candidate for a Beer-a-Rita (sub it for lager with lime and salt for a hoppier twist), a Michelada (where the grapefruit notes complement the tomato and hot sauce), or a Hop Shandy (mixed with fresh lemonade to tame the bitterness while amplifying the citrus).

Best For

• Hosting a backyard barbecue or game-day gathering with a draft-style pour
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates single-hop IPAs
• Stocking a home bar for a weekend without repeated trips for six-packs
• Introducing hop-curious friends to a benchmark American IPA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Two Hearted Ale taste like? Two Hearted Ale delivers bold grapefruit and pine resin balanced by a smooth caramel malt sweetness, finishing dry and moderately bitter at 55 IBUs. The 100% Centennial hop bill gives it a clean, focused citrus-and-pine character without the tropical fruit notes found in many modern IPAs.

How does Two Hearted Ale compare to Founders Centennial IPA? Both are American IPAs brewed exclusively with Centennial hops, but Two Hearted comes in at 7% ABV compared to Founders Centennial IPA's 7.2%, and Two Hearted tends to show more floral and grapefruit brightness while Founders leans slightly more toward caramel malt sweetness and bitterness. Two Hearted also holds higher aggregate scores on major rating platforms, including a perfect 100 on RateBeer.

Is Two Hearted Ale good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its balanced hop bitterness, citrus aromatics, and clean malt backbone make it one of the most drinkable 7% IPAs available. It is widely regarded as a textbook example of how an American IPA should taste when enjoyed on its own.

Where is Two Hearted Ale made? Two Hearted Ale is brewed by Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan, one of the pioneering craft breweries in the American Midwest. The beer is named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a renowned trout stream.

What foods pair well with Two Hearted Ale? Grilled burgers or bratwurst match the beer's assertive hops with charred, savory fat. Spicy tacos with citrus slaw echo the grapefruit notes. Sharp cheddar cheese stands up to the bitterness without being overpowered. Fish and chips benefit from the beer's dry, piney finish cutting through the fried batter. Carrot cake or citrus tarts complement the caramel malt sweetness and hop-driven citrus.

What sizes does Two Hearted Ale come in? Two Hearted Ale is available in 12 oz cans and bottles (in six-packs and twelve-packs), 16 oz cans, draft, and this 5-liter mini keg format, which holds the equivalent of roughly fourteen 12 oz servings.

Is Two Hearted Ale worth the price? The 5L mini keg positions as a premium craft package, but given that Two Hearted holds a perfect 100 on RateBeer and consistent top-tier recognition from the American Homebrewers Association, the price-per-ounce remains competitive for a benchmark American IPA in a shareable draft format.

Why Two Hearted Ale?

Few American IPAs have been as consistently celebrated as Two Hearted. Its perfect RateBeer score, 95 on BeerAdvocate, and repeated American Homebrewers Association honors place it in a tier that most IPAs never reach. The decision to use 100% Centennial hops — fermented in Bell's purpose-built shallow tanks — creates a singularly focused flavor profile that has remained a benchmark for the style since its release. In the 5L keg, that same benchmark quality pours fresh with proper carbonation glass after glass, making it the rare mini keg that delivers genuine draft-quality IPA at home.