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Flannel Friday

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A hoppy amber ale with subtle tasting notes of roasted caramel and toffee from Maine-grown malt, falling between a Brown Ale and a Red IPA. Harpoon brewed this seasonal release in collaboration with L.L.Bean for the fall, with crisp evenings and cozy layers in mind. From Harpoon's Boston, Massachusetts brewery, at 5.7% ABV and 35 IBU.

ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycaramelroasted
hoppy
caramel
roasted
malty
toasty
Aroma
The nose leads with rounded hop character—herbaceous and slightly citric—balanced by pronounced caramel and toasted grain notes from the malt.
not found:juicy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Flannel Friday

◎ Appearance

Medium amber hue with warm copper undertones, reflecting the Maine-grown malt at its core. The beer presents good clarity with a dense, off-white head that demonstrates solid retention and lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a gentle effervescence that settles into a persistent collar.

copper amberdense headgood claritypersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with rounded hop character—herbaceous and slightly citric—balanced by pronounced caramel and toasted grain notes from the malt. Subtle roasted undertones emerge beneath, reminiscent of light toffee and molasses. The overall aromatic profile is warm and inviting without any harsh or aggressive edges.

herbaceous hopscaramel maltroasted graintoffee sweetness

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and malty-forward, with caramel and roasted character building immediately on the palate. Mid-palate shows good body and a moderate bitterness that integrates seamlessly with the malt backbone—the 35 IBU sits comfortably between restraint and definition. Finish dries slightly while maintaining the toasted, smooth malt presence that defines the beer.

malty backbonemoderate bitternesscaramel sweetnesstoasted finish

◑ Finish

Clean and lingering, with residual caramel and roasted notes persisting gently on the palate. The aftertaste remains smooth and balanced, free of astringency or harshness.

clean finishlingering caramel
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Flannel Friday

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About Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Amber Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, caramel, roasted character as Flannel Friday will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Amber Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →