Free State Copperhead Pale Ale

On tap at Free State. After a long bike ride on a slow bike, this is exactly what I needed to drink on their patio. Poured a clear golden orange with a soapy off white head that laces down. The nose is light but good. Herbal, orange citrus with a caramel base. Body is light but creamy. Lightly sweet caramel, lemon, and pale malt flavors on the first sip. This quickly leads to herbal and piney hops that finish with a strong bitterness. Really refreshing on a hot Kansas day!

On tap. Pours a clear amber-copper with thin head that doesn’t even cover the entire surface. Piney, citrus nose with some malt sweetness showing. Flavor is, naturally, a wall of hop bitterness that gives way to pine, grapefruit citrus, bitter orange, and a nice dose of malt sweetness to provide a pleasant balance.For a beer that appeared to have weak carbonation, the palate is rather pin-prickly and lively. A pretty solid and well-balanced American-style IPA

Sampled during Dark Lord Days ’08 at guest picnic tables via growler. Pours a clear light copper amber brew with a fast dissolving white head that dissipates nearly clean except for a thin white ring. Aroma of light caramel malt, some apple, citrus zest and a touch of pine. Taste is light to medium bodied, light carbonated with flavors of citrus zest, some light caramel, flowery hops and a touch of beets. Finish is a tad thin, almost as a light American Pale Ale but still enjoyable.

Growler... DLD’08... Clear copper ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. Fantastic retention. The nose is a mishmash of caramel and earthy, piney lupulin. Medium-bodied with soft carbonation. Watery, thin flavor with subdued caramel. Crisp, balanced finish. Kudos to someone in the Kansas contingent - aka my roommates at DLD’08 - for the sample... maybe csbosox?

Floral hop aroma and flavor. Not as balanced as i wanted. Low carbonation. Bitter caboose. Nothing special here. Sample at FFF DL 2008.