Bourbon Pale
Flat Tail Brewing

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Flat Tail Brewing
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
6%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 1.27%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
3
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 11, 2012
Added:
Feb 13, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by chumba526:
Photo of chumba526
Reviewed by chumba526 from Oregon

3.97/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appears deep semi-hazy orange with a thick and creamy white head.

It smells fruity, slightly apple and orange like. I get a bit of a vanilla and bourbon type of a smell as well. There is also a slight sour smell to the beer as well.

There is a smooth oaky vanilla like bourbon flavor to the beer that is very smooth. I also get a slightly nutty malt flavor and a bit of a citrusy hop flavor to the beer. There is a slightly sour (yet pleasant) flavor to the beer as well.

There is a creamy smooth mouthfeel to the beer.

Overall a very good beer. I was not sure how bourbon pale ale would work but this is a pretty tasty beer.
Mar 17, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
First had: on tap at their brewpub

Poured a crystal clear golden color, with a small cap of soapy head that reduced to a ringlet. It's not very often that you see a bourbon-aged beer that isn't a stout or porter, so I was interested to see how this would be. Aroma was vanilla-forward, with underlying sweet malts and a touch of bourbon. Sweet biscuity malts in the taste, lots of vanilla, with lesser notes of bourbon-soaked wood and floral hops. An interesting combination of flavors, but it worked well. Medium-light mouthfeel, smooth, and easily drinkable.
Jan 11, 2012
Photo of Elendinn
Reviewed by Elendinn from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served, on nitro, in a pint glass.

Pours a mostly-translucent, honey-like amber, with a half-finger of creamy, nitro-induced white head and smooth, enveloping lace. First time I've had a pale on nitro, so it's a novel presentation, and I'm digging it.

The nose is dominated by relatively-subdued bourbon, which is a relief, as I was afraid it'd be too overwhelming. Beneath that are aromas of wood, malt, vanilla, biscuits, and a modicum of fruity hops. In short, it smells like what it is: a bourbon-infused pale ale.

Bourbon, again, is prevalent on the tongue, and it blends quite well with the bready, caramely malt, further complimenting the hints of wood, vanilla, and honey. Finishes dry, with a bit of hoppy bitterness, but proves to be very well-balanced. It's a unique and intriguing experience -- the bourbon works really well, giving this lighter style some much darker notes without turning it into something that it's not (e.g. a Black Ale). However, the flavors I typically associate with pale ales are all a little muted; it's good, but I'd like to see those particular notes heightened.

Nitro-induced, subdued carbonation and a light body make for a very smooth experience. I find that it works very well with the bourbon characteristics.

Despite my qualms, Bourbon Pale is great -- they took an already-solid pale ale and added a whole new layer of complexity to it. And, though the bourbon is dominant, it's still surprisingly drinkable. Again, I'd have liked a little more flavor, but, be that as it may, I'll be purchasing this often. If you're in Corvallis and haven't tried it, I'd recommend getting a pint, if for no other reason than to say you've had a bourbon-barrel-aged pale ale. If you're not a fan of the style, however, the addition of bourbon might not be enough to bowl you over.
Feb 13, 2011
Bourbon Pale from Flat Tail Brewing
Beer rating: 3.95 out of 5 with 3 ratings