Long Ride Pale Ale by Confluence Brewing Co. is an American Pale Ale and is being evaluated as an American Pale Ale (category 18B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American Pale Ales are hop-forward ales (but less so than American IPAs) with enough supporting malt to balance the hops. Long Ride is brewed with Mosaic and El Dorado hops.

Long Ride pours dark golden in color with a light haze and a big, fluffy, off-white head. The aroma is very prominent hops of tangerines, mangoes, blueberries and pine with just a hint of malt. The flavor again is very hoppy with flavors of tangerine, pine and mangoes with just a hint of malt. The beer finishes with a moderate-light bitterness and lingering hop flavors of citrus and tropical fruit.

Long Ride is a well-made hoppy beer. But, the hop to malt balance is more akin to a New England IPA (prominent hops over a touch of malt) than an American Pale Ale (malt definitely present and more in balance with the hops). Perhaps think of this as a more sessionable New England IPA. Regardless, this is a great beer and hop heads will love Long Ride.