ReaperAle Ritual Dark Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

a lot to take in here, but all the big sweet flavors work well, as they are more than balanced with a big hop presence as well. good beer from a solid brewery!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

From a bottle. Poured a clear dark red/brown. Tan head. Aroma of malt and caramel and slight nut aroma as well. Flavor had a fruit undertone and a nice maltiness. Alcohol presense as well. Nice bitter/smokey aftertaste. An okay beer but nothing spectacular.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

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.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours dark brown with a nice frothy head. Aromas of smoke and citrus. Tastes OK, but nothing to write home about - beer with perhaps some bitters and slight fruit, bot too much more going on there. On the bright side, mouthfeel is silky and creamy with a slight smoke aftertaste. All around this is OK, but I suppose I expected more due to the cool label and name. Dang marketeers got me again!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This strong ale pours a deep red brown from a 22oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is roasty malt, chocolate, grapefruit and floral hops. A medium bodied American Strong Ale. Malts are chocolate, caramel and sweet. Hops are grapefruity. Malty and sweet, touch of fruit, hint of cola. The hop bite is there, but not really strong. A very drinkable and smooth strong ale. Hides the 8.5% alcohol very well. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is bitter.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

On tap at Hollingsheads. Dark pour with a decent tan head. Very easy drinking brew. Light roasted nose but the flavor is full and well rounded. Reminds me a little of a sugar cookie. Vanilla with some doughiness. Enough roasted malt to keep it from being cloying. Very good.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Poured a reddish brown color with a small, light tan head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of nuts, caramel malts, smoke, and citrus. Taste of roast, and light smoke, dried fruits, dry bitter finish, and light alcohol as well.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Can't say that I'ever been all that overwelmed with the Reaper Ales line of beers. Granted, I did rate the Sleighor abit higher than was neccesary when it first came out, but hey, everybody makes mistakes... ;)

Walked to the corner store in me and Karen's neighborhood -- a little mom&pop place that stocks a decent array of beer, surprisingly -- and this new one caught my eye. Always a sucker for new beers (especially whilst supporting the local breweries), I plopped down my $4.49 for a 22-ozer.

Looks entirely too dull, off the bat. Now, granted, the lacing is nice, and the everlasting head is a plus too. But when held to the light, entirely too transluscent IMO. When I beer claims to be both "dark" and "evil", I don't want to see a beer that looks like Abita Amber...!

At least the nose tends to turn things around a little. Website goes on about "...notes of fig, dates and hints of red apple". Sure. Hints of some complexity in the aroma -- which translates to possibly interesting things in store for the flavor, yes?

Meh, maybe. This really isn't as complex as I'd prefer. Strikes me as more of a boozed-up Irish Dry Stout (Murphy's + Vodka?) than anything all that fascinating, to be honest. Some backend warmth that is not entirely unwelcome, but really could have been hidden away a bit better IMO.

A beer that picked up steam with me as it warmed.... but never really won me over. The warmish and slightly cloying mouthfeel does this beer no favors..., as I slowly work my way through yet another Reaper Ale that probably won't ever see the inside of my beer fridge again....

Music: Mastodon's "Lifebood".
//TB