Rio Blanco Pale Ale - Real Ale Brewing Company

BrewsCrewSA

Texas

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours coppery amber. Great look. Thin, dissapating head.

S - Smells hoppy, bright, zesty, almost citrusy. Good malty balance in the background of the scent.

T - Hits with a great balance of malts and hops, more so the latter. Bready malts follow throughout, balanced delicately with subtle hops underneath. Extremely well-balanced. Finishes zesty, not quite spicy, neither too much like citrus.

M - Feels great against the palate, extremely refreshing. The colder the better. A bit of a carbonated sting to begin with, but not bad enough to knock the whole beer.

D - Extremely drinkable - these were meant for sessions.

I think this last Rio Blanco may have changed my overall opinion of the beer. It's actually much better than the last few I've had, don't know what factor changed things; but, the one presently in front strikes me a solid B+ effort.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 02:18:12 | More by BrewsCrewSA

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Good pale, would make for a nice session brew.

Presentation: 12 oz brown capped bottle bottle. Green label with the main layout of Real Ale bottles, a bit lazy, and a poorly draw rendition of the Blanco river presiding it. Notes that is accented with Czech Sass hops. Back label offer a small narrative about the brewery, main ethos and brewing process. Shows best by date (05.01.11) and encourages to drink it soon. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Lightly hazy medium amber pour. Nice early frothy head, fair retention, good surface memory and lacing.

S - Fresh and soft hoppy notes, citrus and resin.

T - Gentle hoppiness, citrus, pine and a soft malty touch in the backbone.

M - Medium/light body with medium carbonation, and a fair creamy sense held by a soft bitter finish.

D - Nice pale ale, matches good US version of the style, is quaffable in a soft sense. I would not mind having this around to offer it to general non beer guest as an accessible quality entry point.

Notes: Glad to try some stuff from Texas as a result of this trip. Nothing magnificent but what Real Ale does here is pretty solid and quality. I had the opportunity to try some other of their brews and they were pretty pleasing. Worthy of note for future reference was that Sisyphus from 08, which was pretty rich, although I took insufficient notes to review it.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 13:14:54 | More by Daniellobo

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to tsatem for this bottle.

A - A rich amber with hints of a deeper orange. Small white bumpy head, big bubbles.

S - some spice from the hops, mild citrus sweetness.

T - Spice comes through quite well. A small amount of bitter dryness. You get some malt sweetness towards the back. It is mostly the spiciness that you get on this beer. It's not bad, by any means. A light taste.

M - Fairly strong with spice and carbonation, fairly full body.

D - Pretty drinkable, very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 21:07:28 | More by ColdPoncho

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pretty clear deep gold with a small head white head.

Aroma is slight and malty. Flavor is understated but balanced. More an English style Pale Ale than an APA. Nice malt sweetness, light hops but they are there. Some resiny piny notes. Fairly crisp despite it being sweeter than expected.

nice full body.

A good beer. Not my favorite from Real Ale, but still very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 05:15:07 | More by jmbranum

gkunkle

Oregon

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to depechemode1983 for sending me this bottle. Pours a light amber color with a 1 finger white that leaves a little lacing. Smells of sweet malts with a little bit of hops. Taste is of sweet bready malt and saaz hops. Mouthfeel and carbonation are average for an APA. Overall, good beer, but it didn't knock my socks off. I wouldn't turn it down if I was offered another.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 19:16:28 | More by gkunkle

rhodeska

Indiana

1.93/5  rDev -43.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Really not a good beer.

A solid amber pour, with a little head. Looked kind of intriguing.

However, the taste was just off. I don't know what I expected, but it was just farmhouse and funky, not really like it was made right. Kind of bitter and hoppy, but mostly just funky.

not my style.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 07:14:03 | More by rhodeska

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pale light orange in color, with about a finger of white head that laces alright.

Faint malt sweetness, caramel, and some slight earthy hop notes.

Nice malt sweetness, touch of caramel, with a nice little hop bite finish and linger.

Feel is light, creamy, and a little bubbly.

Decent pale; nothing really special. Definitely not my favorite from Real Ale, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 01:17:26 | More by EgadBananas

alleykatking

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle. Thanks to oakedcanuck for this bottle!

A- Pours a golden amber color. One and a half finger head shows light retention. Light streaky lacing left on the glass.

S- Smell is pretty basic and simple. Citrusy hops are a little in the background but seems to me is the biggest aroma. Sweet caramel malts in middle and backing of the nose with a hint of grain lingering around the middle as well.

T- Bready malts start this one off with a hint of citrus hops. Middle of the beer is more bready malts a little stale tasting. Ending is well some light grains with more of a citrus hop burst than in the front. Short simple and sweet for the style.

M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Light hops and sweet malts left on the palate. Aftertaste is more of a sweet malt and alcohol combo. Light drying on the palate from the alcohol. Flavors are a little off balance to the style with malts showing more off. No off flavors could be found.

D- This beer was easy drinking and felt light in the mouth and on the stomach. The ABV is low enough that a sixer of this would be an easy goal. Not the most in your face flavorful beer but I could drink a lot of this during the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 20:06:39 | More by alleykatking

jbsg02

Texas

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This almost seems like a Pale Ale Light to me. Hops are pretty mild and leave room for the malty character to come through. I agree that this beer almost seems like a hybrid Pilsner - Pale Ale. Not hoppy like a Sierra Nevada. Not my favorite beer, but a pretty good beer nevertheless. Its lightness makes it a very drinkable beer, you could have a few of these back to back.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 06:17:42 | More by jbsg02

busternuggz

Arizona

2.78/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Had a pint on cask at Ginger Man in Dallas.
Murky goldenrod color with a frothy 1/4" off-white head that settles to a thin film. Clings in sheets to the sides of the glass.
Well this is weird...a woody, nutty smell with some fresh baked pretzel and...Play Doh and fabric softener sheets? Maybe this has been in the cask too long? Admittedly I haven't had many cask beers.
More woodiness, like damp firewood or something, a taste like the papery skin from inside a walnut shell (oddly specific I know!), and more Play Doh. Some breadiness. A faint glimmer of citrusy hops in the middle.
Light bodied but soft, slightly creamy.
I'll finish this one ok but I don't need any more.
Yeah this was weird. The waitress (who seemed knowledgeable) said it smelled and tasted normal to her so I'm not inclined to think it was off. Wouldn't get it again, not on cask at least.

Serving type: cask

01-05-2011 00:49:16 | More by busternuggz

Ek0nomik

Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured In: Snifter
Attained through a trade (Thanks Neil!)

Appearance: The pour is an amber and burnt orange color with just barely a finger of head showing up after my aggressive pour. Plenty of splashes of lace sit on the side of the glass. The beer is just ever so slightly effervescent

Smell: The nose makes me think it has the body of an imperial IPA and not a pale ale, though the hop profile seems to fall in line. This is an actual pale ale; it's not a pale ale in disguise as an IPA like you might get from a brewery such as Three Floyds. There's a bit of caramel malt sitting up front with some earthy hops sitting in there too.

Taste: The caramel malt that I found in the nose doesn't come out during the tasting. Pale malt and just a bit of toffee comes through at the beginning, with a nice wave of earthy and spicy hops finishing off the tasting.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation level gives it a medium body feel, though I suspect this beer is more thin than it would appear. The carbonation level is a bit too high for my liking; I would have liked to have seen it lowered.

Drinkability: This is an incredible easy beer to sip on. It may not be the boldest pale ale I've had, but hey, that's okay by me. I think Real Ale got this one right, it's a good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 01:59:02 | More by Ek0nomik

redraider2323

Texas

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - copper, amber in color, moderate foam and head retention

S - More of a European pale ale nose with a pleasant herbal quality from the Saaz hops.

T - biscuit malt, baked bread balanced by earthy noble hops.

M/D - medium mouthfeel and carbonation. Very drinkable and nice bready, tea-like flavors. Good session ale, although the ABV is probably a little high to be truly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 20:40:12 | More by redraider2323

mjurney

Texas

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance:
Amber-golden color, clear. Some carbonation. Small head, white color.

Aroma:
Spicy-grassy and sweet malts.

Taste & Mouthfeel:
Spicy-grassy hops up front, floral, touch of citrus. Semi-sweet malts, a little caramel. Slight fruitiness in the middle. Well balanced. Light bodied, carbonation is good.

Finish & Aftertaste:
Very crisp finish. Slight sharp aftertaste.

Overall Impressions:
Not bad at all. It's almost like a Pilsner-Pale Ale hybrid. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 23:36:01 | More by mjurney

albertjr21

New York

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured into a pint glass, a cloudy amber color under a broken and thin film head.

S: A moderate tangerine rind citrus note and sweet malt nose.

M/T: A sweet and sour blend of tangerine citrus and a significantly carbonated bitterness soon crashes into a hop loaded robust but "mineral-like" center and finish. Czech Saaz hops are prominently displayed throughout the bitterness here, especially in the brew's finish.

D: There's something overall here though that keeps from urging me on to make this something "I must have again." The palate is an ever changing and complex judge and at this point I felt like mine needed more or possibly less of something here to keep me coming back for more of this interpretation of this style. But that's just my palate and I will consider this worthy of another shot when I get the chance to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 03:02:41 | More by albertjr21

bastardface

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The Rio Blanco pale is not good. That wa my first impression of this beer when I first drank the first drink. THe color is an ugly yellow and he smell is that of bitterness, if that's possible. The taste isn't good and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth after ward. I guess it supposd to be made with Czech hops. It's difficult to finish but bareable. It has a harsh bite when it first hits your tounge. I would not recommend this beer. I personally can't wait to finish this one and then I'll chase it down wih a Tommyknocker. I'm out of this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 00:58:24 | More by bastardface

mdfb79

New York

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Received as an extra in s trade with SSW117; thanks Sam!

a - Pours a somewhat transparent amber color with one finger of fluffy white head with little retention and light carbonation evident. Light lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of wheat, grain, light citrus hops, and biscuit malts. Smells a little bit stale.

t - Tastes of bready malts, biscuit malts, grain, hops, and sweet fruit. Again, a tiny bit stale, but better than the smell.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and crisp.

d - Pretty easy to drink, but not sure I would want to. Wasn't a big fan of the smell or taste; lots of stale bready malts in my opinion. Probably would not seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 00:15:51 | More by mdfb79

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, served in a standard pint glass

A - pours with a quarter inch of fluffy, white foam which quickly falls to a thin film and ring. the beer is slightly hazy, dark gold in color.

S - strong and potent biscuity malts, some honey and caramel add sweetness. some light noble, grassy hops dance in the background, only picked up if sought after.

T - noble hops are in the forefront, though come attached to a weird, wet grassy, hint of citrus hop profile the whole way through. tastes a bit "green" and sweet, like unfinished wort. grainy in the finish, with some light caramel and toffee.

M - medium, slightly oily body. carbonation flashes quickly before falling apart, perhaps overtaken by the rich malty sweetness. slightly dry and clean finish.

D - a little confused by this one, a bit of an overdone malt profile and lacking in American hops - not so much missing balance rather than personality. goes down easy enough, though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 21:39:50 | More by Stigs

billab914

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Freetail pint glass. It poured a clear, light amber color with a thin but sticky white head.

The aroma shows a moderate earthy and very slightly spicy Saaz hop profile to it. Besides that I get a grainy and slightly malty flavor coming through. Pretty light and simple, but not bad.

The taste shows a bit more of the spicy, almost peppery flavor from the Saaz hops throughout the flavor. More grainy flavors also come through with a bit of a sweet malt to it. Pretty light but also pretty balanced.

The mouthfeel is light with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is average for an APA. It was easy drinking and also pretty well balanced but it was also pretty light on flavor compared to some of the best APA's. not a bad beer to have a few of on a hot day but also nothing that really stands out.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 23:54:10 | More by billab914

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this beer from kiltedtxn and aggieboudreux, Thanks Guys!

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - clear copper color with a fluffy white head that left a bunch of lacing.

S - smells more like a German import than a APA.

T - taste is also somewhat similar to that of a German import (Spaten).

F - light bodied, crisp and refreshing.

D - a tasty beer that goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 00:06:19 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

climax

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This one pours a murky amber. The head was relatively modest, considering how ambitiously I poured it. All that remained when it faded was a few clumps of bubbles.

The nose seemed relatively tame, uninspiring. Well balanced, but not the intensity of citrus/pine I enjoy from an AIPA. Some spice and diacetyl lingered through the finish.

The taste carried more sweet and buttery flavors than anything. The feel was viscous and a bit syrupy, with the right amount of carbonation. It is what it is.... average.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 02:48:24 | More by climax

jrallen34

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle drank from Narke tulip...Pours a nice dark peach with a full and creamy bright white head. Excellent retention and lacing...Aroma is almost like a pilsner, perhaps the Czech hops used; grain, barley, tart shart hops. Slight skunk but not enough to scare me away...The taste is much more of let down, more pilsner flavors, not at all a pale ale. Miller lite skunk finish.

If you want a good pilsner grab this, if you're looking for a crushable pale ale this is not your beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 22:38:27 | More by jrallen34

JMad

Texas

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bottle to a pint glass...
Pours a dark golden color, sports a thick white head with big loosely packed bubbles, and lacing.
Smells of sweet malt lemon and pepper.
Tastes average for a pale ale, could have a lot more flavor. But it tastes of earthy hops, slightly bitter, malty, hint of bread and metal.
Feels smooth, medium bodied and dry.
It's ok beer gets better as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 19:05:11 | More by JMad

zeff80

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, orange color with golden highlights. It had a one-finger, white head of foam that left minimal lacing.

S - It smelled of citrusy hops - mostly orange peel aromas. There was a sweet maltiness to the nose, too.

T - This is a really sweet malty APA. Too sweet really. Almost tasted like a malty amber ale. Very little hop presence.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale.

D - This is an okay ale. A little too sweet for an APA and not enough bitter hop bite.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 15:18:05 | More by zeff80

wca005

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I grew up right outside of Blanco the town where the beer is brewed and this was the beer we drank when we had enough money to buy it in highschool. This was the beer that started me in my love for new beers beyond the regular generic light beer.

A- Nice golden color, straw, light honey

S- Floral Hopps, Grassy

T- Bitter, hoppy, slight grass taste, buttery

M- Crisp, well carbonated, light

D- Very easy drinking, goes great with some barbque

I buy a six pack at least every two weeks, Ive got most of my buddies hooked on this stuff. I recommend it to anyone lookin for a good beer made in Texas

-07/09/10

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 01:26:37 | More by wca005

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks goes to exiled for this beer. Poured into my pint glass the beer is clear golden brown with two fingers of off white head. Solid retention. Lots of sticky lace left behind.

The aroma is a solid amount of citrus hops. Sweet malt then takes over and dominates the nose. A hint of grass and black earth can be picked put as well.

The flavor is quite grassy at first. Moderate malt fades into just a touch of citrus hops. Not huge in the flavor department.

Medium to light body. Light to moderate carbonation.

Overall just toss it on the pile of middle of the road pale ales. I would be hard pressed to pick it out against hundreds of other beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 23:11:33 | More by beerwolf77