Courtesy of Brian, cheers mate! 12 oz bottle, best before 16 March 2021, 2020 vintage. 16 IBUs, limited release with maple syrup and aged in Templeton rye barrels. Mid-brown pour with a decent head considering the ABV. Of course this fades, but it leaves a thin film on the surface of the beer, and a few tiny pieces of lace on the glass. Nose has the whiskey notes that one would expect, but no real trace of maple. Initial tastes are reversed. Nose also gives up much more alcohol than the tastes...
Notes on beers in the style
Rye Beer
Improved Old Fashioned
Plain and simply? It's ugly. The classic, muddy brown dirty dishwater Dubbel. I mean, it does generate some head, and for a beer of this ABV that's no mean feat, so a little credit where credit is due, but that color ... Botanicals and whisk(e)y aromas dominate the nose, with a similar mix coming through in the initial tastes. Alcohol is warming, but for me it was very short on the back end. Lots of licorice and aniseed. Some bitter warming whiskey. A lemony finish, a little orange and final...
Saranac Rye Pilsener
12 oz single, thanks to Kevin for the chance to try this. Rye beers (of any description) are not really my thing so I approach this with a degree of trepidation. the beer pours as a totally clear, golden straw color with a small, white head. Carbonation is decent and leaves a touch of lace. With the combo of pale malts and, hops and rye, the beer does deliver a clean-cut edge with a degree of bitterness up front. However, this beer is not really deep. Finish is short and dry (good), but lacks...
Sweetwater Crank Tank Rye’d Ale
Had this a few times in the last few weeks, this review is for the final 22oz bottle that I will drink. Pour is a rich looking, clear orange with some good carbonation and head and lace to match. The lace is pretty sticky. Looks solid in the glass and almost has the look of a fine Belgian Tripel. The nose delivers the typical spicy rye notes but it is pretty restrained and much less intense than many others that use the grain. The tastes reflect the nose and its light touch as well. The beer...
Rugbrød
750 mL bottle from Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA. I approach this with some trepidation since I am not the biggest fan of rye beer in general. Pour is a very good looking, chocolate brown body with a solid, dense, well formed head with good retention and lace. Nose is medicinal, clean and semi-sweet. Not a great deal of rye in the taste, which for me is a good thing. Plenty of baker's chocolate/cocoa with some mild rye in the finish. Aftertaste gives more chocolate. Mouthfeel...
Brooklyn Manhattan Project
Two draft pours at The Brick Store, Decatur, Atlanta, GA, USA. Delighted to come across this; an unexpected and happy surprise. Beer forms a not especially attractive, Dubbel brown body but is topped with a wispy, white head that is sustained well to leave great lace. appearance redeemed. I was NOT looking forward to this because I am not a fan of rye at all. HOWEVER, there is absolutely ZERO rye character present - I mean NONE! I guess that may disappoint some people, but for me it was the...
Scratch Beer 18 – 2009
12 oz bottle. Hazy orange body sits underneath a white, bubbly head that forms quickly on top. A thin film is left on the beer as the pour settles. No lace in the Terrapin snifter. Nose and tastes are dominated by citrus hops. The rye takes a back seat, and at first I would not have put his down as anything other than an American IPA. The dry finish gives the rye away somewhat, but outside of that the beer takes on a typical, fairly harsh American IPA stance. It's a pretty aggressive beer in...
Terra-Rye’ZD Black Rye Lager
$7.99 form Green's on Buford, Atlanta, GA, USA. 22oz bomber. Pour is impressive with a high, towering tan head and nice ruby red, highlighted black/brown body. Lace is fantastic; sticky, copious and thick. So far so good. Bags of great malts in the nose that a coupled with a sweet, cereal (oat-like) note. Reminds me of an oatmeal stout. Mouthfeel is also very nice with smooth, fine carbonation rolling easily across the tongue. Creamy nature. Again, almost stout like. Sweet, nutty start but...
Route Des Épices (Ale Rousse Au Poivre)
A dark brown, reddish hue to the brew in the Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs Chalice. Small head that fades to give a spotty film. A small amount of lace. It's difficult for me to remember a beer where the tastes match the ingredients so well. Rye upfront very obviously AND the finish, well it's 100% peppercorns - dramatic!! The pepper is STRONG too - really strong! Look out if this is not your thing. That sums it up - there's LITERALLY nothing else required to describe the beer! Perhaps some...
Reunion ’08
22oz bomber from Green's on Ponce, Atlanta, GA, USA - $4.99 (I think). Delighted to have the opportunity to help a good cause, not so much bothered what the beer is like. Amber body - good clarity; thin looking with a lack of significant head and lace. Thin in the mouth too. Some rye in the taste, but I have had one or two rye beers that have MUCH greater rye character (Terrapin). I like the somewhat muted rye notes. Sweetish, sugary toffee/caramel nose. A bit popcorn like. Despite the fact...
Sunrye Ale
On tap as part of the $5.95 sampler at Wild Wing Cafe, Marietta, GA, USA. Pour is a very clear, urine yellow with good clarity and a small white head. Lots of carbonation. Nose and tastes have some rye character but it is VERY weak - very muted. Finish is dry and mouthfeel is rather weak as well. Put this against a full bodied Terrapin Rye and it's like drinking soda water! I dunno, this seems like a half-assed effort at a rye beer that falls very flat. Grain characteristics, but no real...
Founders Red’s Rye PA
Thanks go out to Brian700 for the trade. Fantastic looking pour with a massive rocky head that has great retention. Copper red body with a lot of clarity. Lovely sticky lacing left behind. Looks? It's a 5! Big hops, but it's really mellow - not astrigent at all. Couple this with magnificent malts and a subtle rye flavor and you have one delicious beer. Beautifully full hop burps are induced as I gulp this one down. Very satisfying and smooth the mouthfeel is both silky and light, but it also...
Cane & Ebel
Thanks to Beerinator as part of XBIF 39. 22oz Bomber. Excellent mahogany red color with a super head and plenty of lacing. A real nice looker. Aroma is sweet hops. It's all here. Plenty of rye character from start to finish and the hops are delicious and full. A double IPA type feel, without the abrasiveness of mega-hops, and a sensible, but still satisfying 7.0% ABV. Very full in the mouth, with plenty to contemplate as you consume it. Has the unusual effect of being thirst quenching and...
Founders Black Rye
OK, but not much more than average for me. Dark, Porter like pour that promises a rich experience but comes up a little short. Good size tan head with some nice lacing. Mouthfeel lacked body. Some hop bitterness comes through but it sits against the back-drop of thin feeling brew. This was on the brink of being a really nice beer, but fell a bit short for me, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied. Neede more malty a body to balance the rye promise. In terms of Rye, if you get a chance try either of...
O’Hanlons Organic Rye
Super. Much less Rye in the taste than others that use it, in fact this really sits in my own category of classic English bitters. Two separate reviews in one here. First the pour without the yeast; lovely, quite lively carbonated, golden pour. Small head and lots of smooth bitterness up font. Delicious balance with a biting finish and warming aftertaste. Secondly the pour with the sediment; obviously alters the appearance and cuts back on the bitterness, but still absolutely delicious....