I find myself in Vincennes, Indiana, where the beer selection at the local liquor store leaves much to be desired. With great beers being brewed in the state, only one Indiana brewery is represented. That one is Upland Brewing Company of Bloomington. I always like to try the locals and I had read about Upland on a few occasions so I decided to give it a whirl. I opted for the amber ale as that is one of my favorite styles, one that I can drink anytime and anywhere. It was also the only one in the cooler. Here’s my notes.

Amber Ale
Upland Brewing Company
Bloomington, Indiana
Style: American Amber
Serving Style: 12 oz. Bottle

Aroma: Caramel and grainy malt with some earthy and spicy hop character. Woody.
Appearance: In my Holiday Inn plastic cup it appears to be clear. Reddish amber color with a persistent and creamy off-white head.
Flavor: Starts with a nutty, caramel malt and spicy/earthy hop. A significant roasted malt character comes through mid-palate and lingers into the finish giving the beer an interesting roasty bitterness that hangs on for a while. Coffee and hints of bittersweet chocolate. Bitterness is medium with the emphasis more on the spicy hop flavor.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Slight creaminess but with a bit of roasted astringency on the backside.
Overall Impression: An interesting amber with bigger than expected roasted flavors and earthy/spicy hops. Like a Düsseldorf Alt. This beer tells a story from start to finish going from caramel to roasted coffee. It makes me want to try others from this brewery.