ReaperAle Ritual Dark Ale

Brewed by Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch
Style: American Strong Ale
Davis, California USA

Any first impressions?
-A misty head rests atop the brown-purple murk.
-Roasting berry skins and dust conjure up a decent aroma.
-Withered spices. dried dates, and prevalent roastiness agree.
-A frail mouthfeel proposes ample, frothy carbonation, almost Belgian.

What if you dig deeper?
-Ashy, roasted malt bitterness lingers.
-Blackberries, grapes get lost quickly in the roastiness.
-Tea-like tannins evolve in the finish.
-Not quite American, not quite Belgian, a decent, but harsh strong ale.

Bottle; no date.

Bottle from DarkElf. Pours a near black color, slight bits of ruby show at the edges when backlit. Head formation is initially rocky and composed of bubbles in varying sizes. Eventually everything compacts and fades down to a small 1/4" head with a beige color and leaving good lacing behind. Aroma is molasses, a bit of lactose and some dark fruit. Full bodied and rather smooth/creamy on the palate. Initially sweet with a nice hop finish. Pretty nice ASA.

Bottle. Deep brown in color with a nice tan fluffy head. Malty and roasty aroma. Raisiny and date notes. Fruity and malty flavor. Spicey and caramel Sweet. Smooth. Well balanced. Finish is malty. Drinkable. Enjoyable.

22 oz bottle. Porter looking with a tan head and lacing. Description says figs, red apple and dates and I dont get any of that. Instead I get chocolate, grapes and cocoa. Taste is nice with the dried fruits mentioned and even more cocoa. Roasted grains abound as well in this really tasty treat. Caramel and mollasses are in there also.

Tap in tasting “corner” at brewery (Green Flash) in Vista, CA: Dark mahogany. Nose of nutty sweet roast, a bit of hops and some chewy maltiness in the finish. The flavor is creamy and toasty with a complex blend of light body and dark flavors. Nice strength, good portion. Nice beer.

Dark mahogony pour thick creamy off white head w/ nice lacing. Some roast malt aromas mixed w/ light dark fruits. Palate is full & well coated lightly creamy. Tastes of roasted malts then an odd fruity chunck that I think reminded me of fruity pepples cereal. And the beer finishes dry and crisp like most every Green Flash (yes reaper == greenflash).

Dark brown with some reddish highlights. Aroma shows molasses, grapes, hints of nuts and wort. Interesting dark malt with light molasses and bits of roast. Smooth body, if a bit light. Late alcohol. Shows promise but a bit thin and underdeveloped.

Very dark reddish brown body is topped by a large, dense, coffee creamer-colored head. The aroma is intense with harsh piney/creosote hops and dark, dried fruits.The flavor is malty, hazlenuts almost covered by the dried apricots and dates and the bitterness that builds toward the end and lingers past the swallow. Not a bad strong ale.