Dos Serranos India Pale Ale

Bottoms Up

By Alex Tank | Jan. 4, 2020

Traverse City’s Earthen Ales celebrated three years of craft brewing on Dec. 7.  Alongside several specialty beers tied to the party was the third annual release of the brewery’s beloved Dos Serranos, an India Pale Ale brewed with locally grown chiles and centennial hops.  The medium-bronze brew glows with a floral, verdant aroma hinting at the chiles within, both fresh and roasted, sourced from Loma Farm of Leelanau County.  But co-founder/brewer Andrew Kidwell-Brix told us that the chiles are “just one component” of this deceivingly complex IPA; the flavor is balanced with caramel malt notes and a pleasant bitter kick, owed to some top-quality centennial hops sourced from MI Local Hops of Williamsburg.  Dos Serranos was inspired by Jamie Kidwell-Brix, co-founder/brewer, who hails from Corpus Christi, Texas. “Jamie loves her chiles,” said Andrew. “If Jamie were a beer, this would be it.” Now firmly rooted in northern Michigan’s craft beer landscape, Dos Serranos IPA is emblematic of the couple’s ever-evolving skills, with a subtle, lingering tingle that demands another taste. Find Dos Serranos at Earthen Ales at 1371 Gray Dr., # 200,  in Traverse City, under the water tower in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. (231) 252-4270, www.earthernales.com