Bear Republic Brewery Grand-Am

**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:** “Slight earthy and herbal hops notes, but yeasty esters quickly come out to dominate the aroma. Apple cider, over-ripe pear, slight mustiness of a fallen apple set out in the sun too long. A mild caramel malt note. As it warms, a slight cheese rind aroma emerges. Esters tend toward the floral or fruity, almost pineapple. Smells like sourdough at first.” **Flavor:** “The hops come through with nice earthy and spiced character and moderate bitterness. Smooth round malt flavors, caramel and dark crystal notes with a nice clean finish for an English pale. Mid-level hops bitterness balances well with the malt body. There is a noticeable amount of herbal and floral hops flavor, but they aren't allowed to shine behind the overly British yeast character.” **Overall:** “Enjoyable pale ale. The malt character was nice and provided some richness without overtaking the beer. The earthy spiced hops were showcased well. Sweet malt aroma is appropriate for EPA. Nice beer for enjoying by a fire reading a good book.”

**Aroma:** “Moderate hops aroma is restrained with relatively mild citrus hops character of orange and grapefruit and some light caramel, biscuit, and toast notes. Juicy citrus peel with notes of grapefruit, lemon zest, and tangerine. Hops dominate.” **Flavor:** “A moderate hops bitterness, balanced by a decent malt backbone and slight mineral character. Light on the body and the juicy orange and bitter grapefruit hops character carries through to a dry and crisp finish. Balanced and just slightly bitter but doesn't linger long in the finish.” **Overall:** “It doesn't take many risks, but this pale ale showcases the hops with a tasty hops backbone. It finishes slightly juicy and sweet, which leads to the next sip. While not quite as exciting as other examples, this is a well-executed APA with an accessible hops profile and just the right amount of bitterness—a great APA that is worth seeking out.”