Summer Cycle - Flat 12 Bierwerks

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Here’s another try of Flat 12: a big IPA for a hot day like today.

Poured into a pint glass at The Black Sparrow in Lafayette, IN.

A: Pale copper-orange body with a touch of haze. Creamy, diminished head of off-white above, with just a few ropes of lacing as the beer disappears.

S: True IPA goodness resides in this nose: a bold kick of herbal, piney hops with a farmy earthiness to the malts. Haven’t had something with that kind of nose in a long time – sure, there’s the normal caramel, but it takes a backseat to the distinct grass scents. Touches of grapefruit pulp and lime, as well.

T: Dark, spicy hops are this palate’s focus, excellently presenting loads of pepper, augmented by grapefruit rind, resin, and a juicy mango-lemon combination of fruitiness. It’s a satisfying bitterness, potent but not thick and heavy in any way. That may be thanks to the malts, which are not caramel-heavy at all; instead, they’re a mix of leafy greenness, crisp biscuitiness, and nutty, creamy, only-slightly-caramelly caramel maltiness. They fit perfectly into this controlled palate. Bitters lean toward a surprisingly herbal finish – a measure of bitter flowers in the aftertaste – along with fresh-baked bread tones (which, not surprisingly, don’t last as long as the hops).

M: Very light, only slightly watery in its presence. It helps to add to the drinkability of such a hopped-up brew, so much so that it’s gone before I even know it.

O: An uncommon example of a all-too-common style – a beer that cements my characterization of Flat 12 as a great brewery. If this were bottled, it would likely be a go-to summer brew for me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 18:08:49 | More by BarryMFBurton

joshmkelly

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very clean and hoppy IPA. The citrus armoma holds true to the intial flavor with a hint of pine to finish it off in the tip of the tongue. Not as piney as its house version but just as good. It has about 1 half inch head when pored that quickly dissapates. Its golden/yellowish color screams the citrus that lies within.

Serving type: growler

08-16-2011 21:14:54 | More by joshmkelly

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, darker gold with some shades of light copper. Nice white head holds for a few minutes, then fades to an ever-presentring. Nice spots of lace on the glass. Seems to be what an IPA should look like.

Big citrusy hop nose. Grapefruit abound, as well as just a hin of pine. Aroma has a juicy feel. Lighter caramel malt in the nose, with a clean, slightly bready feel.

Nice and juicy up front. Clean malt feel with a citrus, resiny hop blast. Just as in the nose, grapefruit and a bit of pine. Dries a little at the finish, but remains juicy overall.

Medium body, good carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden. A very nice IPA here.

Serving type: growler

07-10-2011 19:17:58 | More by Bierguy5