Flat Branch Pub & Brewery, 4/25/08

Flat Branch Pub & Brewery
Columbia, MO
Fri. 4/25/08, 7:15pm
[open]

The visit to Columbia marks Becky's first time in the city since her graduation from college there 26 years prior. The city hasn't changed much at all in the interim.

House Brews:
Oil Change Stout (J)
Green Chili
Honey Wheat
Brown Ale
Ed's IPA
Katy Trail Pale Ale (J)
ESB (B)
Irish Red Ale
Bare Knuckle Bock
Anniversary Cream Ale
American Pale Ale
Abbey Ale (B)

Abbey Ale: Deep chestnut color. NO head, no apparent carbonation. Pungently sweet and malty aroma. Caramel flavor and rich mouthfeel, although body is slightly watery. Instead of hops finishing the taste, it's a different set of malts. Hops are necessary in a Belgian anyway! This isn't the best showing for an Abbey Ale, but it's a pretty good beer. 8.2

Katy Trail Pale Ale: Slightly sweet, malty aroma, but weak. Medium to dark copper color. Malts come through in the initial swallow. Hops and a slightly sweet sensation come through in the middle. It has a nice balance. Good, but not very strong, body. This beer has several interesting things going on at once. I like. 8.6

ESB: Ombre gold topped by a bodacious head of foam! Lots of carbonation in this beer. When the carbonation bubbles settle, the color is a clear rich reddish gold. Aroma is of a sour mash. It definitely has some bitters in it. The malt and hops are nicely balanced. The head won't quit. In the mouth, the flavor shifts from initial malty to finishing hops pop seamlessly. Body is correct for the style. It's a very straightforward ESB - my main complaint is that it really doesn't complement my meal, and the fault with that lies only with me. The beer is well -made. 8.4

Oil Change Stout: Thick head at first, then it disappeared. Probably nitrous poured. Dark color. Chocolate aroma. The predominant taste is chocolate. While the taste is pleasant, the beer needs something more to be interesting. Body is reather thin. 8.1