Barley Island Flat Belly Wheat (Flat Top)

Brewed by Barley Island Brewing
Style: Wheat Ale
Noblesville, Indiana USA

From a 12 oz. bottle with no freshness date, sampled at cellar temperature in a pint glass, without, then with the recommended slice of lemon. Poured a clear pale yellowish golden with a foamy white head, decent retention, slowly settled into a thin sudsy lacing. The aroma without the lemon slice was very wheat malty, a light spiciness and a subtle fruitiness, with lemon slice, lemony, of course, the yeast comes out a bit, and the malts turn a little fruit wheat bready, kinda of appealing. Good carbonation, tiny micro bubbles flowing from bottom to top for the whole duration, and a soft malty crisp, dry, creamy smooth medium-light bodied mouthfeel, when add the lemon slice it helps the crispiness and adds a little acidity. The taste without the lemon slice, wheat malty with a mildly tart peach fruitiness, a touch of spiciness, with the slice of lemon, lemon fruity with a mild citric acidity, the malts turn wheat bready with a soft spiciness, the mild tart peach fruitiness is tamed even more, and a dry lemony, fruity, bready finish. The slice of lemon adds to the taste and I see why the brewer recommends it, an easy, smooth drinker on a hot, muggy late spring day. I would just like to add that I don’t think it is a "crime" or "sin" to a add a slice of lemon or orange to a pale wheat ale or witbier, especially when that is the brewer’s intent.

Bottle. Milky wheat malt aroma with hints of peach and orange. Hazy orange yellow with a small head. Slightly sweet orange-pineapple juice and light malt. Light summer beer - nothing great and a bit on the sweet side.

Drinking from a bottle of Flat Top: This pours a slightly hazed pale yellow body with a dinkus fizzy head that dematerializes rather quickly. It smells of Wheaties, old straw, and a squirt of lemon juice. Highly carbonated and spritzy in the mouth, it tastes like wheat flakes, dried grass, and lemon. Not one I’d care to repeat.
RATING #3456!!!!!

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Wow, I don’t understand the hate on this beer - seems to me to be a good light summer beer. Pours very pale yellow tih a fluffy and fizzy off-white head. The aroma has sweet american style wheat graininess, a bit of spice, light paper aspects and some lemony citrus. Medium / thin body that is smooth and pleasant with extra sharp carbonation on the finish. The flavors start with some spice with some mellow wheat, grain, grassiness and light nectarine. The finish has spicy hops and a bit of lemony citrus. Nothing that will knock your socks off, but a nice light enjoyable summer beer.

Bottle. Light yeasty aroma with some sour vacuum cleaner. Clear golden with a white head. Lightly bitter, lightly wheaten taste. Medium body with a trickle of carbonation. Doesn’t really have any character or style features - on the order of BMC, but with fewer headaches. Not a lot here!

Bottle as Flat Top. Pour is a blond with a small white head. Aroma is some light wheat and yeast nothing much. Flavor is about the same some yeast that made this creamy but nothing really else. Overall very light and forgetable.

On tap at the brew pub...very clean/slighty fruity aroma. Taste is light and smooth. Hops almost non-exsistant, but I enjoyed this beer. Great for hot days-

Draft sampler at Barley Island. Golden color pour with a small white head that diminished quickly. Moderate sweet wheat aroma. Light body with a thin texture. Light sweet flavor with a smooth wheat finish. Soft summer brew.