Upland Brewing Petal to the Kettle (2019)

__Aroma:__ “Nice balance of sweet strawberry with hibiscus and light tartness. Refreshing and bright. Light malt sweetness, toasty caramel, some cherry, and light floral notes with a touch of honey.” __Flavor:__ “Notes of strawberry provide some fruitiness and sweetness. Nicely balanced acidity. Plenty of fruity esters: berry, strawberry jam, light acidity, a touch of lemon, with light honey notes. The hibiscus and rose give a light floral flavor with a mild tartness in the finish.” __Overall:__ “Sweet, but not too sweet. Very pleasant and refreshing. Just right for those who enjoy meads or fruit wines. Hops profile on this beer is light and blended in well with the fruit and hibiscus.”

**Aroma:** “Piney and citrusy hops notes up front work well with the malt spiciness. A touch of malt sweetness comes through, maybe with a hint of caramel. Medium yeast notes of plum and apple cider. Pine and citrus hops give it a slightly earthy character.” **Flavor:** “A bit more subdued on hops flavor than most APAs, with the hops flavors competing a bit with rye and maybe even caramel malt notes. This pale doesn't make the hops the star of the show; it’s more a bit player behind an intriguing maltiness with bread crust, caramel, and biscuit notes. Earthy and spiced notes of rye add complexity.” **Overall:** “I like the complexity the rye malt adds, but think it would work better with larger amounts of spicy hops, such as Chinook. The citrusy hops don't seem to play as well with the rye. Enjoyable, and a different take on APA. The spice and malt character blend well with the hops that come through more in the finish than on the front. Very drinkable.”

**Aroma:** “Light lemony acidity, sulfur, and sweetness up front, with a distinct, pleasant aroma of fresh raspberries, light banana, and pear. Funky and earthy character, with an intriguing floral spiciness that adds to the fruity complexity.” **Flavor:** “The raspberry dominates, with hints of underripe tartness and sweetness, then gives way to a subtle lactic tartness, which carries a bit more thanks to the dry, light body. There’s a hint of hops bitterness and light banana, as well as very light wheat malt character and simple sugar. It finishes dry and light.” **Overall:** “An exquisite balance between fruit and funk, with a very light body and light acidity. It’s straightforward, easy drinking, with a touch of sour. It’s a well-designed base beer supported by thoughtful, delicate fruit additions.”