Beer #152 - Wry Pale Ale, Laurelwood Brewing, Portland Oregon

The Laurelwood Brewing Company serves up certified organic ales at 3 public houses/resaturants around Portland. Select ales are also available at a variety of stores in 22oz bottles. One of their recent seasonal offerings is the Rye Pale Ale. An interesting hybrid of Pale Ale with Rye Malt. Let's give it a try!

It pours a brilliant straw color with a medium-sized tight head.

The aroma is bright hop with mild citrus tones.

The medium body introduces straw and citrus tones right off. There is substantial bitterness on the tongue, but it does not dominate the palate. A rounded malt backbone is evident on the back of the tongue, curbing the hop and balancing the flavor. Citrus tones reveal subtle grapefruit and orange layers.

The aftertaste holds tones of grapefruit citrus which initially dominates, then fades to a mild bitterness that leaves a freshness in the mouth.

A refreshing beer with plenty of substance and a unique spin with the addition of the rye malt. It is a good sipper on these last hot days of summer, but also will pair easily with many dishes.

Cheers!

Rio Refresco Pale Ale, Eske's Pub and Restaurant, Taos New Mexico

The second of the Eske's beers I sampled at their brew pub and restaurant in Taos, New Mexico was the Rio Refresco Pale Ale, which sounded good after a long hot day in the sun...

It pours a thick honey color with a nice big head.

The aroma is citrus with hop - and a unique aroma which - and I may just have been influenced by the dry environs - I detected a hint of agave.

Earthy hop builds, but it is not too bitter. It has a medium body, smooth with slight citrus and I swear, agave - if any one else tries this beer, let me know what you think.

The aftertaste is mildly bitter and dry.

Cheers!

5 Barrel Pale Ale, Odell Brewing Company

One of the great beers I had the chance to try last month in Colorado was the 5 Barrel Pale Ale from Odell. I'm not sure what the extent of their distribution is, but if you come across it - it'd be worth the try...

It pours copper with a tight head.

The aroma is very subtle with slight flowery hop and slight citrus notes.

It starts very subtle, but after a few sips, the flowery hop develops and reveals a nice bitterness. The bitterness builds and lingers on the tongue revealing some subtle citrus flavor as well.

The aftertaste is bitter and very very dry.

with 5.2% and 36 IBUs, it's a great beer for dinner or for as a sessions beer.

Cheers!

Independence Hop Ale, Rogue Ales, Newport Oregon

Once again, let's return to Rogue. This is an ale brewed in honor of Independence, Oregon which, according to the bottle, is the "Hop Capitol of the World!". This hopped up pale ale features Two-Row, Munich, Caramel Wheat and Carafoam malts. It has Fresh unkilned Centennial and Cascade Hops with Rogue's Pacman Yeast. It has 80 IBU's...Let's sample -

It pours a nice deep copper.

The aroma is earthy hop with mild citrus.

It has a big hop that arrives in the body. It is smooth in the beginning, but finishes with the big bitterness. It is dry and the malt is more prevalent in the finish. There is mild grapefruit and mild apricot in the hop body.

The aftertaste is a good clean hop bitterness that lingers nicely.

This is a great refreshing beer - definitely for the hop lovers. It's not overly bitter of flowery with the hops, but has wonderful character in it's dryness and finish.

Rogue ales are available all over!

Cheers!