Pit Stop Pale Ale by Garage Brewing Co. was judged per the 2021 BJCP style specifications under 18 B, American Pale Ale. The beer is served at in a nonic pint glass after a full and vigorous pour at 42 degrees Fahrenheit, and exhibits a medium-light amber color (around 7 SRM), and some modest haze including some noticeable suspended solids. Foam is off-white, creamy and lasts minutes into the pour. The aroma had a bright hoppy front end dominated by classic citrus and pine, with a light resinous note, backed by a pretty pronounced honey-biscuity-light caramel malt angle that provides some sweetness, body and richness.   

The nose is fresh and dry hop-forward, but in the scheme of things 2022-ish, reserved in the hop character. In contrast, the malt balance structure is notably full-throated and portends a beer of balance and structure -- a bit of citrus and acid, a bit of honey. The flavor profile starts rounded with light honey and caramel notes balanced with a medium level of bitterness. The middle flavor is hop-forward with classic new world/Cascade-type flavors of pine and grapefruit zest with a hint of lemon that pairs super-well with the deeply rich but dry and clean malt sweetness. The late palate marries hop flavor with lingering honey-malt notes trailing to a nice lasting bitter finish that is a couple marks right of full-dry but short of off-dry.

Conditioning is excellent and the mouthfeel has a bit of creaminess from the residual sugar that is very pleasant. If anything, it does seem a little full and strong for the style. Overall this a really well-crafted APA that allows classic and tested hop character to waltz with a very nice malt backbone. Maybe I am old and cranky, but often pale ale these days shade toward IPAs of old, with balance way, way over to hops.   

This beer has great balance and allows hop and malt to intermingle and make something out of two things  that add up to three. It's relatively low in bitterness (est. 40 IBU, but that could be off due to the malt balance) relative to the malt and sweetness level that some might deem the beer too malty, but I am not in that camp. I think its super well done; it's drinkable, dry with structure and shot with sweet light caramel and honey with a lovely mouthfeel.   

Nothing to not love about this beer, and a reminder that this style is mostly where the entire modern beer revolution began. This beer would rock with some al pastor street tacos doused in classic taqueria sauce of roasted chilis arbol and tomatillos, cutting through the fat and heat and cleaning the palate for the next bite to start the cycle all over again. I am drooling just thinking about it. Great job, brewers.