When I first popped open the bottle of Laurelwood Wry Pale Ale, I didn't know what to expect.  There have been a lot of rye beers on the market lately, and most of them do a nice job of bringing out the bitter astringency of rye without completely overrunning the rest of the beer.  So I didn't know what to expect, but I had high hopes for this Laurelwood brew.  It pours a beautiful, clear gold with a nearly white head that has quite good retention.  On the nose it's fresh and floral, with a substantial but not huge hop character coming through.  It smelled so good that I couldn't wait to sip it, so I didn't, and I was happy.

This beer has a great mouth feel, with a perfect pale ale consistency and a very pleasant level of carbonation.  The hops and malt balance nicely, and there's just a hint of rye bitterness throughout the palate.  This is a great pale ale, and a really wonderful example of what a rye beer can be all about.  It's highly recommended!