Odell Brewing Company 5 Barrel Pale Ale

**Aroma:** “Sweet caramel, toast, and toffee notes with a floral and earthy hops character. Esters evoke fresh cut Red Delicious apples or an orange grove after the rain. Not much hops aroma, but other components more than make up for its absence.” **Flavor:** “Caramel and toasty malt sweetness with a touch of floral and spiced hops notes. That blend of fruity yeast esters plays off the complex and delicious malt profile. The apple and pear flavors work wonderfully with the bread crust. Lingering bitterness is just a touch harsh. **Overall:** “Very enjoyable malt-forward pale ale with subtle floral and earthy hops. The bold fruit flavors and sweet malt make this both a warming and refreshing treat. Finishes medium sweet with some tartness in the aftertaste. Great beer to have for lunch while skiing! Tastes like caramel apples—a wonderfully complex and tasty beer with flavors not often found in this style. Unusual, well done, and welcomed.”

**Aroma:** “A breath of graham cracker−like wheat, a touch of bread, and a clean, very low yeast character. Some light citrus esters, and a touch of herbal, grassy hops and raw wort, plus a sense of some bitterness to come.” **Flavor:** “The aroma suggested a more hops-forward flavor than comes through. A delicate balance of low bready malt character with a hint of graham cracker and a bit of earthy and herbal hops. Some fruit esters emerge as peach and nectarine, along with some unexpected almost Brett-like notes. Medium body with a touch of sweetness. The finish is a touch bitter and a little watery.” **Overall:** “Very refreshing and easy to drink—this beer is balanced and clean, with the malt and hops in harmony. Some nice hops on the nose, but not the expected bitterness in the flavor. A great lawnmower beer. The soft palate makes this a good pairing for food.”

**Aroma:** “Spicy hops aroma is very herbal and almost medicinal, with some dark cherry esters. Nice sweet caramel and toffee malt aroma. Hops aroma is subdued, floral and earthy.” **Flavor:** “The hops character in this beer is earthy, woody, a bit spicy, and floral, with mild bitterness—more than the nose would suggest. Notes of caramel and toffee come through well with a light body. Some tart notes in mid-palate. Hops flavors clash with the fruity yeast esters, though as it warms these work better together. Bitterness is a little low for the style, allowing the malt to linger a little too long.” **Overall:** “Nice example of the style. A decent English pale ale, but hops choices don’t quite harmonize with the malt complexity and yeast esters. A smooth round malt backbone anchors the flavor profile. Plenty of hops to keep things interesting—perhaps more than would usually be found in England—this is an American take on a British style.”