Ritual Brewing Pale Ale

LOC: Redlands, California ABV: 5.2% | IBUS: 50 | SRM: N/A

What the brewer says

“Our exemplary pale ale highlights classic American hops balanced with sweet pale and caramel malts.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Malt sweetness with caramel and light rye. Medium hops that are a touch spicy with some floral perfume. Caramel, citrus, and pine hops with an almost coffee-like dryness.” Flavor: “Spicy floral hops (chrysanthemum) hit strong, then medium rich malt, then a solid wall of bitterness to wrap it up. Light bread character in the background.” Overall: “Lots going on in this beer. The rye character from the hops or grain is interesting and well-balanced. The bitterness balances out the spiciness and is complemented with a touch of carbonation. The classic caramel malt body has enough residual sweetness to keep it from being watery. If you’re a fan of brown ales, this beer has a roastiness that is pretty unique among the samples we’ve tried.”

AROMA: 12 APPEARANCE: 3 FLAVOR: 19 MOUTHFEEL: 4 OVERALL: 10 94