Flatlander IPA
Flatlander's Restaurant and Brewery

 

Served on-tap at Flatlander's.

A: Clear amber color, small off-white head. Subtle webbed lace down the glass.

S: Starts off with a weird onion smell with a faint hint of caramel coffee. Finally pick up a malt bill with small citrus fruit at the end.

T: There is a slight citrus up front with a more pine hop towards the finish. In between there is malt, some slight onion and some bitterness.

M: Medium body with a nice carbonation. Bitter hops left on the palate.

O: The onion quality of this was a big downer. Will not revisit.

Served in a shaker pint glass at the brewpub.

Of course, there's an IPA, too. It pours a clear amber topped by a finger of white micro-foam. The nose comprises pine, caramel, and a faint (though certainly detectable) hint of onion. The taste holds notes of caramel, light pine, and a strange mixture of onion and grapefruit. It somehow works, though. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry, sticky finish. Overall, a nice IPA, but it doesn't quite do it for me.

Of the range on tap at Flatlander's today, this and the Oktoberfest were the best quality offerings.

Copperish amber color, soft sticky crown of lacing, solid retention that lasted the duration of the glass. The foam left a few concentric rings of lace down the glass.

Mildly hoppy aroma, a little pine and dried citrus. Pleasant but not extreme or overbearing. Flavor was moderately bitter, but at 47 IBUs, the hop bitterness was not overwhelming. Some caramel maltiness in there, pretty well balanced. Easygoing, drinkable, fairly simple but well crafted. Ultimately not so unique, but it's one of the better options at Flatlanders.