Two Roads Brewing was founded in 2012 in in Stratford, Connecticut. They make such decently-rated beers as Ol’Factory Pils, Road 2 Ruin Double IPA, and Workers Comp Saison. While not a microbrewery by any means, the company has been a relatively modest operation. But due to the success of its beers, which it distributes widely, the company has decided to expand.

Two Roads is spending $2.4 million to buy new equipment and upgrade its facilities. This growth will allow the company to increase its brewing capacity to 176,000 barrels. That is pretty big by any standards. The company is buying top-of-the-line equipment from Rolec, the industry standard for high-quality brewing equipment.

This expansion is a result of the popularity of the company’s beers, which consistently receive good and very-good ratings. One such beer is Two Roads Road 2 Ruin Double IPA (8.0% ABV). The brewery describes it thus:

A big, hoppy IPA with plenty of bite! Our assertive, hop-centric Double IPA has a lean malt backdrop and is brewed with four American hop varieties – Summit, Palisade, Cascade and Magnum. Piney, citrus, floral, not-for-the-timid!

As an India Pale Ale, this beer would have been top-fermented and warm-fermented. The Double in name indicates twice the amount of hops as a regular IPA.

Everything On Tap Review: Two Roads Road 2 Ruin Double IPA:

Bottle: The bottle is of medium-brown glass. The label is rectangular. The logo has a blue border with a large, oval logo featuring an image of the brewery, two crossed arms and hands pointing in opposite directions, with blue-on-yellow, and white, lettering.

Pour: The color is a nice, cloudy orange with hints of bright gold. The head is over two fingers thick and off-white. It is creamy and bubbly, and it dissipates slowly, leaving thick lacing.

Aroma: The nose is immediately caressed with several elements of hops: pine, citrus, and grass, with a pleasant bitterness. This is followed by sweet malted grains and very faint tropical fruit.

Flavor: The flavor is that of a standard IPA (in a good way). It begins with malted, lightly-roasted grains and some tropical fruit, and then continues to bitter, grassy, piney, citrus hops, finishing tart and crisp. It is a good, solid IPA, although for a double, I would still like even more hops. One thing I do really like is the definite presence of ethyl alcohol on the palate. Some people do not like this in a beer, but I actually do.

Mouthfeel: A medium body with medium carbonation is just perfect for an IPA, and this does not disappoint.

Structure: The structure is round, stable, and solid. This beer would be very good at room temperature.

Food Pairing: As a good, solid, classic IPA, I would pair this with spicy Indian or Southeast Asian food; spicy Louisiana seafood; or gamy meat such as wild boar.

Overall Rating Out Of 5 Possible Beer Mugs: