ReaperAle Ritual Dark Ale

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

Bottled. Dark black with rich but brief head. Strong crystal malt aroma. Sweet and powerful with clean mouthfeel and full body. Notes of chocolaty mud cake with some grapefruity hops on top of it. Licorice finish.

Name: Ritual Dark Ale
Date: 08/12/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Roadtrip

dark with ruby edges, thin beige head, touch of lace, light sweet malt aroma with hints of chocolate, rich dark fruity malt flavor, touch of sweetness well balanced with a touch of bitterness

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

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.

(22oz bottle) Clear red-black body with fluffy beige head. Aroma is mild, medium sweet, pine, grapefruit. Taste is medium sweet, raisin, grapefruit, some cocoa, light smoke. Alcohol pretty well hidden, but does become more noticeable as it warms. Medium body, feels a bit thin relative to the flavors, but then again, it does a fine job of handling the alcohol.

Bottle shared thanks to egajdzis. Poured a dark reddish-brown color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of light chocolate, a little smoky, and verly lightly nutty. Tastes of chocolate, and roasted malts. I also had a harder time nailing down exactly what it was that I was smelling and tasting.

Clearish dark ruby brown pour shows a thin beige foam with gentle lacing. Rather chalky, dry nose offers whiffs of raisin bread, figs, general fruit juice and a dry dark malt counterparts varying from ashes to dusty cement. Seriously roasty, slightly yeasty though in a simplistic manner. Rather thin on the palate, bay leaves and growing chalkiness shuts the flavour experience promptly. Light carbonation, thin body.

Bottle… Clear, mahogany ale with a large, frothy, beige head. Good retention. Chocolate, alcohol and molasses aroma. A hint of cola. The flavor is alcoholic and a touch harsh with burnt notes of blackstrap molasses and cocoa. Full-bodied and syrupy with fizzy carbonation. Burnt, lightly bitter, dry finish.

(Bottle) Pours a dark mahogany body with a small beige head. Aroma of roasted malt and mild citrus. Flavor of malt, caramel, and alcohol with a bitter finish.