Evil Twin Brewing 'The Only Thing I Know is That I Know Nothing' New England IPA. 6.5% abv. 68 IBU. Pale yellow color, like egg yolk. Dense hazy. Finger of white soapy head. Moderate retention, superb lacing. Nose of light fruit pastry, juicy grapefruit, floral and citrus hops. 

Front taste is bright citrus rind, notes of pepper and cloves, wide spice expression on the back end. Spice builds as the temp rises to room. Aftertaste is abundant bitter fruity hops, grapefruit pulp, white bread. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, foamy, clingy.

This is an excellent beer, a more aggressive version of a New England IPA. It's a cloudy, pungent, bitter fruity beer that blasts you with hops and tall spice throughout. The notes of pepper, cloves, and citrus rind build as the beer warms, resulting in an almost over-the-cliff flavor profile, giving you much more of what you sampled at first sip. Aroma follows suit, growing in intensity with time.


The relatively new category of N.E. IPA is growing exponentially in popularity, and I admit that I have not had many as of this writing. I'm still developing a palate for them, as well as sours, seemingly their second-cousins. However, I'm quickly learning to love them, and this is one of the first to truly grab my attention and make me remember it. Well recommended, particularly if you love bitter hop bite in your brew.

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Evil Twin Brewing 'Wet Dream' Brown Ale  Brewed with Coffee. 6% abv. Ruby-brown color. Two fingers of foamy tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of ground coffee beans, bright spice, cracked allspice, hot pepper. 

Front taste of black coffee, bitter herb, citrus peel, woody-nutty botanical notes. Aftertaste is bitter citrus rind, earthy hops, dank herbal resin, baking chocolate sustain. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, carby, dry finish.

This is a very good beer with a couple of nitpicks that hold it back from greatness. The promised coffee is delivered well in the wonderful aroma and initial taste, but soon drops off transitioning into the aftertaste. The spice profile is bright in the nose but greatly subdued in the taste. The complexity of the nose is not reflected by the overall taste. I kept wanting to smell the beer, more so than actually drink it. That's a balance issue. The body is a little thin for my taste within the category.

All that being said, it's still a very good beer with a unique smell and taste, one that's more ambitious than its final product. Mildly recommended

From the brewery:

"A beautiful brown ale boosted with gourmet espresso beans provide a delightful blend of citrus and spice aroma - the result is amazing, lusty, and incoherent- yes, it's your wildest desires in a can."

[source: can]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Even More Jesus' Imperial Stout. 12% abv. Dense black color. Finger of creamy mocha head, like melted ice cream. Outstanding retention and superb lacing. Nose of dark chocolate, roasted dark malt, black coffee, wood notes. Aroma of red wine emerges as the temp rises.

Front taste of bittersweet chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, vanilla ribbon underneath. Aftertaste is rich chocolate milk, emerging red wine, sweet bread, alcohol bite on the sustain with a dry finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, thick, syrupy, astringent.

This is an outstanding beer, an imperial stout with an unquestionably full body and rich dense mouthfeel. The alcohol is high, but doesn't show its presence at first. Its astringent taste steps forward only after the temp rises to room and the volatiles in the head have simmered down. 

Imagine a chocolate milkshake made with chunks of dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream, a shot of Chambord, a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, and a shot of espresso, served in a wooden cup. Wonderful, perfectly crafted beer. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A few times in the history of craft beer it has happened that a highly praised beer rises beyond mortal stardom into a higher godly league. Usually the recipe to make such heavenly drops is thick fudge-like body, pitch black color, amazingly overwhelming aromas of chocolate, coffee, dark fruits and muscovado sugar, obviously only made in limited amounts and most crucial of all - it must taste rare!"

[source: eviltwin.dk]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Imperial Biscotti Break' Stout. 11.5% abv. Black in color. Finger of small-bead foamy mocha head. Excellent retention, moderate lacing. Nose of ground coffee, vanilla, nutty, sweet bread. 

Front taste of molasses, black coffee, dark chocolate, almond cookie, plum. Aftertaste is raisins, red wine, dark rum, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla sustain, dry on the finish. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, carby, clingy on the back, astringent overall.

This is an extraordinary imperial stout, one with some unique flavors swirled in with the usual coffee and dark chocolate. The aroma brings to mind sweet bread or cookies (like biscotti) and the flavor profile is loaded with dark fruit and spicy bready taste. It's playful with its mix of flavors but  strong and aggressive, not for those new to craft beer. A powerful, playful imperial stout, and an instant classic for me. Strongly recommended. 

From the brewery:

"The Roman Empire had a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ - festive food culture, extravagant architecture and spectacular live entertainment. Some might argue the Emperors were brutal, mad and hungry for power, and the people vain when taking baths and working out all day. Listen - that’s still all part of the secret Imperial ingredient - keep it cool, clean, confident, arrogant and flamboyant. Forza Imperiale."

[eviltwin.dk]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Freudian Slip' Barley Wine Ale. 10.3% abv. 60 IBU. Brown-red in color. Hazy. Sediment. Finger of foamy off-white head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of caramel, malt, mild herbal spice. Aromas of ruby port emerge with the rising temp. Front taste of sweet bitter dark fruit, ample bitter fruity hops, rich malt, burnt brown sugar. Aftertaste is bitter herbal hops, prunes, raisins, sweet bread, somewhat dry finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, astringent, round, sticky, thick.

This is an outstanding barleywine, truly a dessert ale with its decadent malty backbone and tall hop profile that greets you immediately. The nose is ever-present, changing as it approaches room temp, with a complex web of fruity and herbal aromas. The taste is most assuredly within category, but with enough bitter sweet herbal zing and dark fruit notes to allow it signature flavor.

I could easily pick this out of a line of barleywines in a blind taste test, yet it is not an off-the-wall novelty brew. Grab a bottle or two of this wonderful beer, particularly if you love barleywine. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Did you also at some point in your life get seduced by promising words like ‘probably (not) the best in the world’, ‘it (doesn’t really) work every time’ etc. This American Barley Wine says it how it is. It’s intense, attention seekingly hoppy and definitely your kind of beer. A beer with a big ego, drive and a huge thirst for recognition."

[source: eviltwin.dk]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room' Imperial Stout. 10% abv. Black in color. Pencil thin tan head. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of dark chocolate. Aroma is bittersweet dark fruit as the temp lowers. Front taste of bitter dark chocolate, plum, sweet black coffee. Aftertaste of dark fruit, raisins, bitter fruity hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, clingy, astringent, dry finish.

This is an outstanding beer. Its dark flavor profile of chocolate, dried fruit, and coffee is rich and complex, with a malt backbone that is supported by bitter fruity hops. Another wonderful beer from this imaginative boutique brewery. Highly recommended.

NOTE: Special thanks to Anthony Olivera of the Craft Beer Drinkers of the 559 club for providing the lead photo. Cheers!

From the brewery:

"We have all good intentions to disturb, disorder and enlighten you with unforgettable beer after beer. Because we are so much in love with good taste, all the beers from Evil Twin are prepared in 10 of the best breweries around the world. Exclusively hand picked to please you with delicate, funky, extreme and by all means rare flavors. Maybe not the easiest way, but certainly the most fun!!! One More Thing. A clever man once said: 'Stay thirsty... stay foolish.' That sounds like our vision, just with a tad less attitude."

[source: eviltwin.dk]

I enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room on tap at one of my favorite bottle shops, Beer To The People.

Me and my beer buddy Steve enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room Imperial Stout on tap at Beer To The People. 

Heretic Brewing 'Evil Twin' Red IPA. 6.8% abv. 45 IBU. Dark ruby red color. Finger of tan bubbly head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of floral hops, malt, slight bittersweet. Front taste of bright floral hops, slightly toasty malt, floral spice notes on the back. Aftertaste of bitter herbal hops, light brown sugar with a dank sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, bubbly, resiny.


This is an very good beer, one that could be called an Imperial Red. Being a "Red IPA," the hop presence is taller than I would expect from a traditional red, from start to finish, with a moderate toast/bread taste underneath. There is a subdued spice throughout that and a touch of sweet taste that gives way to a nearly dry finish. Overall, a very good red ale that peeks over the fence to other categories. This beer makes me want to explore other brews from Heretic. Well recommended.


From the brewery:


"This blood-red ale may not be what you might expect from a malty and hoppy craft beer. Evil Twin has a rich malt character, without being overly sweet. It has a huge hop character, without being overly bitter. It is a great example of a bold, rich, balanced craft beer, without being heavy and hard to drink in quantity. Our Evil Twin is only bad because it is too good to resist."
[source: hereticbrewing.com]

Evil Twin Brewing 'I Love You With My Stout' Imperial Stout. 12% abv. Black in color. Nearly two fingers of tan foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of dark chocolate, roasted malt, alcohol. Front taste of sweet dark chocolate, vanilla, brewed coffee. Aftertaste of bittersweet chocolate, sweet cream, espresso, notes of oak. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, sticky.

This is an exceptional imperial stout. The chocolate and coffee flavor are tall, fresh, and sweet with low bitter at the start. The aftertaste is complex with several big flavors taking turns on my tongue. The big mouthfeel adds to the bold flavor profile, making for a dessert-style brew. Outstanding. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

“When I copied the famous Even More Jesus, I had to ask myself as an artist, why am I doing this? I didn’t honestly know. It was just an instinct about beer as pure form… in a sense this stout is like a metaphor for freedom - the sum of all the beauty that surrounds me and my perfect contemporary existence.” 
- Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, Brewer and founder of Evil Twin Brewing

[source: eviltwin.dk]

I enjoyed this incredible imperial stout with a fine cigar. I highly recommend this pairing.

Evil Twin Brewing 'Lil B' Imperial Porter. 11.5% abv. 35 IBU. Black in color. Two+ fingers of thick, creamy tan head, frothy. Outstanding retention and lacing. Nose of dark malt, molasses, dark fruit. Front taste of roasted malt, raisins, bittersweet chocolate, coffee, vanilla at the back. Aftertaste of bitter fruit, plum, alcohol. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, creamy, astringent.

This is a wonderful, excellent porter. Big body filled with a flavor profile of roasty and dark fruity notes coupled with an complex aroma that is pungent, bitter, sweet, malty, down to the bottom of the glass. Based on this beer, I definitely look forward to the rest of the Evil Twin lineup. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Shall one compare thee to a fair beer, Not even this perfect porter before thou will do thee justice. Thou art more complex, brave and cunning. Thou have changed more than a brew will ever. Thou may be lil’, but thy mind is greater than words can speak and beer will ever taste."

[source: eviltwin.dk]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Molotov Cocktail' Imperial IPA. 13% abv. Hazy orange honey color. Thin beige head that falls quickly to a thread of a collar. Low retention. Moderate lace. Nose of biscuits, citrus rind. Front taste of bitter orange rind, sweet malt. Aftertaste of bitter hops, citrus peel, orange syrup. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, thin, slightly sticky syrupy.

This is an excellent beer for those that love bitter flavor profiles. Though it is not an easy-drinking beer, the complex flavors with heavy citrus sweet-bitter taste will prompt another glass. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Did you like Before During and after Christmas, maybe you thought it poured brilliantly, the alcohol was admirable well hidden and you loved how the arrogant amounts of hops numbed your mouth. This beer will knock your tongue off - it’s a tour de force in hoppiness and by far one the craziest beer ever made by Evil Twin Brewing."