509. Flathead Lake Centennial IPA

So we rolled out of Seattle today (well, Edmonds actually, to be more precise) on our way back to Dayton. 492 miles later, we found ourselves seated at Flathead Lake Brewing Company’s Pubhouse in Missoula, MT. While we missed the last call for food (by 5 minutes, dammit!), they did score us some very good chips and salsa as a consolation while we got a beer before heading to the hotel for the evening. We both chose the Centennial IPA—after all, beers made to commemorate National Parks don’t come along every day, and Glacier is one of the gems of our National Park system. But I digress. This beer was awesome, and it certainly hit the spot after all those hours behind the wheel: fresh tasting with excellent bitterness and only a touch of malt. And by awesome, I do mean awesome—to be perfectly honest, it was far, far better than either of us were expecting. It is good to see that quality craft beer is starting to pop up in places we wouldn’t normally expect. My only regret is that I didn’t buy a growler to take to the hotel. But I did have that sixpack of Inversion in the cooler, so not all was lost. Oh, and you’re not getting any more notes on the beer, because we didn’t take any. Snap!

From the website: “This India Pale Ale is entirely hopped with the Centennial variety in honor of the 100-year anniversary of Glacier National Park. You’ll be hooked on the lovely floral and citrusy hop flavor.”

ABV: 7.6%
IBU: 53

(1/11/2012)