Ritual Pale Ale

What the brewers say

“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.”