Holly and I have visited Lone Tree Brewing Company on a number of prior occasions, but I had never sat down and put pen to paper (or finger to iPhone, as it were) as it relates to the brewery's beer offerings. LTBC holds a fairly special place in my heart as it was the location where I asked Holly's dad for her hand in marriage. Let's just say Sunday's visit was a little less stressful than that fateful visit back in February.
LTBC is yet another brewery operation posted up in a nondescript commercial strip, really close to Park Meadows but thankfully off the beaten path of other strip malls and PM Mall. The bar room is pretty sprawling with ample table spaces and a really big soft-L shaped bar. The tanks and fermenters are all visible, as is the general working space for those lucky employees who are regularly tasked with creating what I drink. There are a few TVs in the bar, a stack of games in the corner, and a popcorn machine to help wash their tasty beers down with something salty. Strike that though, and reverse it...Willy Wonka style.
Here's what we drank, this time. I've enjoyed every one of their flagship beers and the February-to-May carryover, Cherry Chocolate Stout, on prior visits:
Hoptree IPA - 80IBUs, 8.0%ABV; dark amber in color; very minimal head; light lacing; 'soapy' bubbles present; grassy on the nose; hoppy and citrusy, almost orange or tangerine smelling; great balance up-front; overall, heady grapefruit and smooth hop flavor; bitter and slightly piney; easy-going 8% abv beer...borderline sessionable; probably the best LTBC beer, although I'm always sympathetic to IPAs.
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| Hoptree IPA in foreground, with a line of yummy taps behind |
Toots Oatmeal Stout - 31IBUS, 5.2%ABV; very dark colored...almost tar-looking; small head; light lacing; lightly sweet and oatmeal-y on the nose; nutty, almost coffee-pungent aromas; nutty on the front when drank; again, lightly sweet and cocoa smooth; good, well-balanced stout.
Das Bart Dunkelweizen - 15IBUs, 5.8% ABV; I originally ordered the Hefeweizen, which I've tried and liked on prior visits, but the keg was getting changed and the barkeep recommended this tasty number; great 1-inch head; nut-brown looking; smells a bit like a burnt banana; spicy bubblegum on the nose and mouth; kinda tastes like roasted banana bread in liquid form; hints of clove and all-spice; German-malt-laced Hefe, by all accounts; good beer!
I always enjoy my visits at LTBC, and while it's a bit far away from the city and well in to the suburbs, it's absolutely worth a visit. There's quality beer getting made here...and as far as I know, short of a few local restaurants, you can only get it on-site.
