Rio Blanco Pale Ale - Real Ale Brewing Company

GMB

Japan

4.1/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Real Ale is one of my favorite "craft" breweries. Their catalogue comprises excellent, unique renditions of traditional beer styles; Rio Blanco Pale Ale is no exception.

The bottle tells us that the beer is brewed with Czech Saaz hops, a variety one usually expects to find in a pilsner. This should impart a mild, peppery flavor without adding much bitterness.

The beer pours a slightly deeper amber than one usually expects from a Pale Ale. My first pour produced almost no head. I may have overcompensated when pouring the second bottle, for there exploded a very large, though somewhat thin, white head that disappeared as suddenly as it came.

The nose of this beer is intriguing. A wave of sweet roasted grains are followed by mild notes of pepper and butterscotch.

The taste is crisp and refreshing without sacrificing complexity. One usually expects a delicate, mild hoppy character from the Saaz hops named on this beer's label, but this beer delivers both bitterness and a fragrant hoppy bouquet. The Saaz hops allow flavors of moderately toasted sweet grain and butterscotch to linger on the palate, producing an overall flavor that is sweeter and maltier than many pale ales. I can't understand how some BeerAdvocate reviewers can describe this beer's hoppy characteristics as "subdued" or "held back." In this batch they are up-front and personal. Some call for ales that are "hop-forward." I'd say that "hop-centric" best describes this one.

A quick swish around the mouth produces a nice creamy foam that beautifully complements the sweetness on the palate.

I am partial to Real Ale in general, and find myself gravitating towards Rio Blanco Pale Ale when looking for a beer that is both sophisticated and drinkable. This is a versatile beer. I can sip it slowly and appreciate its moderate complexity, enjoy it with aromatic foods, or drink a few on a hot summer evening.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 01:11:30 | More by GMB

RealAleBlanco

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

06-15-2013 05:25:02 | More by RealAleBlanco

jngrizzaffi

Texas

4/5  rDev +16.3%

06-07-2013 05:16:57 | More by jngrizzaffi

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a tumbler from a 12oz bottle.

Pours a light amber color with some golden hues on the edges. There is a half inch white head that forms and recedes quickly.

Aroma of typical APA. Pale malt notes with some slight grassy herbal hop notes. A very slight citrus tinge is present. There is some slight caramel and bready notes in the aroma.

Flavor is pretty nice, straight forward, refreshing and flavorful. Nice carmel malt sweetness from the pale malts and great earthy and bready grain. There is a nice spicy and slightly citrus hop note along the middle and all through the finish of this brew. The middle of the brew has some slight stickiness to it that quickly dissipates as some more APA type dry bitterness finishes the brew off. Mouthfeel is light-medium with some good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 00:38:38 | More by JoEBoBpr

nineworldseries

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

06-03-2013 00:23:33 | More by nineworldseries

Eriktheipaman

California

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

06-02-2013 02:13:56 | More by Eriktheipaman

Lagerquestrian

Texas

4/5  rDev +16.3%

06-01-2013 23:40:06 | More by Lagerquestrian

BayouBengal1537

Louisiana

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

06-01-2013 02:53:20 | More by BayouBengal1537

RandyPuckett

Texas

4/5  rDev +16.3%

05-25-2013 03:39:30 | More by RandyPuckett

Txgirlie

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%

05-23-2013 21:09:15 | More by Txgirlie

DarthBeer

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

05-20-2013 17:32:26 | More by DarthBeer

BlesstheHarvest

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -34.6%

05-20-2013 14:31:34 | More by BlesstheHarvest

jl28r1

Texas

3/5  rDev -12.8%

05-18-2013 16:07:37 | More by jl28r1

csfcmitchell

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

05-13-2013 15:46:17 | More by csfcmitchell

Stinger80OH

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

05-12-2013 12:55:28 | More by Stinger80OH

FrizWhiz

Texas

3/5  rDev -12.8%

05-10-2013 02:37:17 | More by FrizWhiz

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

05-10-2013 00:24:07 | More by Xzfgiimtsath

tastymug

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

05-06-2013 22:18:26 | More by tastymug

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

04-24-2013 03:02:02 | More by SmellsofMahagony

gshackles

New York

3.75/5  rDev +9%

04-19-2013 01:00:54 | More by gshackles

drinkAK

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-25-2013 00:09:14 | More by drinkAK

brentk56

North Carolina

2.85/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Pours a clear amber capped by an inch of foam; leaves some lacing behind

Smell: Grainy and grassy

Taste: Opens with a rather sweet, toffe/butterscotch flavor with a lemony/grassy flavor developing in the middle; the sweetness builds again, after the swallow with a bit of diacetyl in the finish that joins the grassy flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation; just a little bit slick on the tongue

Overall: Certainly different, with Saaz hops being used in an APA, so I will give it some kudos for creativity but I cannot say that I particularly like the way this whole beer comes together

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 03:17:33 | More by brentk56

bpfrush

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-05-2013 02:15:45 | More by bpfrush

Pesci

Texas

2/5  rDev -41.9%

03-03-2013 14:31:01 | More by Pesci

jkn09

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +9%

03-03-2013 03:40:55 | More by jkn09