Sour In The Rye - The Bruery

Jonada

New Jersey

4.09/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750ml bottled 11/23/12. Served in a Russian River stemmed glass

Appearance: Rusty orange in color. Fairly hazy. A white collar forms around the edges of the glass but there's no head to speak of.

Smell: Acidic lemon tartness, peach/apricot, some lactic sourness. Not picking up anything from the rye.

Taste: Hits you with a nice acidic tartness upfront that carries through to the finish. The flavor profile follows the nose but with some additional complexities. I'm getting apricots, lemon, a bit of rye spiciness, and hints of sour cherries. Sourness lingers a bit in the aftertaste with a bready character as well. A bit like sourdough bread actually.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. Medium carbonation. Tart, dry finish.

Overall: Good sour from the Bruery, though as is the case with a lot of their beers, the price tag ($21.99) will make it difficult to justify a repeat purchase.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 18:36:41 | More by Jonada

brentk56

North Carolina

4.16/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a cloudy apricot color with a nice head that fritters away, leaving a few splotchy lace patterns

Smell: Acetic lemon tartness, with an oaky aspect; stone fruit elements underneath

Taste: Aggressively tart, at the outset, with acetic lemon flavors scalding the tastebuds; in the middle, stone fruit flavors (peach and apricot) and a hint of vanilla round out the profile somewhat, with the oak adding some wood in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; somewhat creamy (the result of the rye) and very puckery

Overall: I would like to see something more in the middle with this beer to balance out the acetic tartness but I suspect many sour lovers would disagree as it certainly hit the hot buttons for a tongue assault

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 22:14:52 | More by brentk56

wedge

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

@ Tasty Beverage

Murky auburn capped with some patchy white foam that dissolves to pretty much nothing. Tart, dusty fruit aroma...berries, sweet cherries, vinous notes, ripe fruit, light citrus. More floral as it warms. Super sour, acidic tartness, lactic notes, fruit, mild lemon, and cherry juice. No rye anywhere, as far as I can tell. Very dry and tart. Not the most complex sour, but quite enjoyable. Kind of Flanders sour-ish.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 03:26:37 | More by wedge

smakawhat

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

A real nice muted peach orange, with some hints of red. Fairly opaque. Head forms with a faint light brown cream color, and leaves a simple good puck, and a pretty big bubbled collar around the edges. There's lots of carbonation and it rises all over some fast and small, with lots of occasional large cola bubbles pinhead and white in size also. Very nice looking.

A real nice smelling brew, hits with a good solid funk and sense of fruit peach. Nice wild heat to this and even a sense of caramel sweetness hiding in the back. Biscuity fruitcake quality to this also, very sweet bakery dough. Real nice.

Palate hints with lots of acid. Quick rushing orange and peach sour fruit, with a classic peppery finish. Strangely for oak aging quite wet bodied, Strangely for oak aging quite wet bodied, but does manage to capture the flavors nicely. There is a bit of wet tannic aftertaste in the mid palate though while drinking.

Overall It's not particularly complex brew, but a solid fruit bodied "sour" beer. I wish I could say more about it, but unfortunately that's about all there is.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 22:48:30 | More by smakawhat

Hopstuff

4.71/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Oh My! The Bruery has knock it out of the park. This beer gets started from its sexy looks, then draws you near with its insanely amazing odors. Then you actually get to drinking it, and I have never tasted a beer that so completely encompasses your entire mouth. From front to back this little bad boy reels you in. I have never tasted a mid-section so complete and mind blowing. From its parts that are amiable and tender like a cider, to that last little note of twangieness flexing that tiny muscle under your jaw bone; this bitch comes through like clutch free throw shooter being giving the ball in the last seconds of the game. You know they are going to foul, but you know those points are as good as already on the board.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2013 04:39:07 | More by Hopstuff

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a dark amber color, thin beige head on the top of it. Beige or off white? Leaves a happy amount of lace down the side of the glass despite the lack of head initially, commonplace when dealing with sour/wild ales. Nice tart aroma, can't pull any rye qualities out of the nose, but there's so much sourness, its probably tough to compete in that realm.

Taste wise, this pulls down lots of depth and has a consistency that is thicker than the vast majority of any wild ales out there. Gritty at times. Its like a much better flanders oud bruin. Much more sour, much more viscosity, earthiness. Nothing like the usual rye ipas I have, this one is thicker, less 'spice' notes to take note of. Any fruit leanings would be lemon and dark cherry, but those aren't as if they are in full force like in a kriek or full fledged fruit beer or anything. Lactic. Oakiness is just right. Good alcohol warmth that isn't a distraction, but hearty enough to do some damage.

Have had this in multiple variations, year to year, on tap etc. . . and they've always been good and consistent. Very good. One of my favorites, can't wait to try the peaches version!

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 17:34:09 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Treb0R

Oregon

3.79/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I did not enjoy this one as much as the Russian River and Cascade Brewing sours. The Bruery's Sour in the Rye lacked complexity, despite the enticing allure of promising complexity written on the bottle.

Served in an Ommegang Chalice, the color was a hazy burnt orange with very little head and lots of yeast sediment despite a careful pour.

Very low discernable smells of oak, vinegar, and fruit on the nose. It is mostly a muddled malty sourness.

Taste was decent. It has a funky sourness. It has that signature sour punch, but it's kind of one note. I didn't get much of the rye character. I am normally not a fan of sweetness, but this beer can afford to have some more caramel malts and head retention malts for further development of cohesive flavor and a nicer head.

Mouthfeel was nice and moderate to full. Carbonation was not over the top.

Overall, I want more complexity and a tad more sweetness to tame some of the sour. It should still be a prevalently sour beer, but this is bordering on severe heartburn/acid reflux.

The price of $19.99 is also way too high to pay for a beer of this quality. It has to be a solid 5.0 for that price. Cantillon is deserving of it; The Bruery is not.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 17:19:19 | More by Treb0R

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.41/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried on tap at the Bruery itself. A great place to visit.

Pours a nice dark orange color with a flurry of bubbles rising to the nice ample ring of frothy white head, leaving some great lacing on the glass.

The smell is small but contains some great fruity berry tart notes and oak, with some obvious yeast overtones, clean water obviously used. The taste is very nice, lots of sour up front, some fruit in the mid palate with a cereal barley malt lingering flavor with a touch of the wood. A composed complex flavor, a strong sour offering. Some vinegar overtones with some warm vanilla to even it out.

The feel is pretty well bodied for a wild and has a very good carbonation level for my palate, a little stiller than most sours of this style which personally I like.

A great beer and one of the better sours they produce in my humble opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 00:48:01 | More by Dreadnaught33

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, bottled on 11/27/12, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a hazy rust/copper color, topped with a white head, leaves spotty lacing.

S- Tart aroma with lots of acetic and lactic tartness, fruity notes of grape and cherry, a bit of oak.

T- Similar to the aroma, very tart with nice fruitiness and some musty funk towards the finish. The rye is pretty mild but works well.

M- Medium-bodied, moderate to low carbonation with a dry finish.

O- A nice sour overall, has great fruity and tart flavors and is very drinkable, I finished the bottle with little difficulty, this is definitely worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 09:54:34 | More by WillCarrera

bonkers

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured from a bomber into a Cigar City snifter. The pour is hazy orange, light white head, no lacing. The aroma is sour apples, apple cider vinegar. The beer is acidic, tart, vinegary, lots of green apple notes, drying finish. The body is light, carbonation medium. A solid sour, I did not pick up much of the rye.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 23:57:56 | More by bonkers

dbc5

Ohio

4.66/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

750 ml poured into 10 ounce Kentucky Bourbon Stout snifter.

A: An orange/amber color with a foamy, off white, 2 finger head off following a moderate pour. Beer is slightly hazy and very attractive in the glass.

S: Acidic sour up front with underlying mango, peach, and apricot aromas. Picking up some rye spiciness, although it isn't prevalent. Mainly sour and the aforementioned fruits.

T: Mouth watering peaches meld beautifully with mouth puckering sweetness. I much prefer the level of acidity in this one relative to other Bruery sours (e.g. Tart of Darkness). The peach presence in this one is the star, which was an unexpected surprise. Being honest, this presents as more peach forward than Fantasia, which is hard to believe but welcome.

M: A dry, tart, and crisp finish, which is exactly how I like my sours. Pleasant, moderate carbonation.

O: One of the more impressive sours I have had recently. Still trying to wrap my head around the peach aromas and flavors I am picking up in this one. Fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 02:31:50 | More by dbc5

nlmartin

Ohio

3.59/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer was served in a tulip and lightly chilled.

A- The body of the beer was a light orange coloration. The head quickly resolved and disappeared. The beer looks nice but where is the head?

S- The aroma of the beer is lemony tartness and a bit of funky herbal grain spiceyness. Vinous notes with sour apple or possibly apple cider vinegar.

T- The flavor of the beer has sour grapes and very tart apple fruityness. Combined in the flavor is a very acetic and lemony oak flavor. Nicely sour throughout the flavor.

M- The body of the beer is medium and very smooth very low carbonation. Nice dry finish and not a hint of alcohol. The beer needs about double the carbonation.

O- The aroma and the flavor are nice. The beer needs at least double the carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 05:27:34 | More by nlmartin

chugalug06

Colorado

4.49/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Slow growing white foamy head, brew is mango-peach colored and reasonably clear. Moderate lacing.

Strong tart vinegar-y apple. Some light rye and light kicks of vanilla too.

Whoa. Flavor is much different than scent, crazy! Pear, apple, extremely tart, wet, high carbonation, oakey, spicy, peppered, uptight sweetness. I feel flavor will develop very well in the years to come and carbonation should settle out a bit too. More barn funk come as it opens rye is still reserved, but present.

Very unique brew, worth $25/750ml. Recommended even at that price point.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 02:18:15 | More by chugalug06

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance
Slightly hazy amber/orange with golden highlights. 2-3 fingers of white head with good retention. Low carbonation.

Nose
Peach, nectarine and apricot. Notes of lactic sourness and white wine vinegar. A light mustiness with some caramel and spicy rye in the background.

Taste
Wow! Big, smooth sourness that's almost puckering. Lactic notes upfront with juicy peach, nectarines and apricots. Caramel, white wine vinegar, Sweet Tarts and black cherry. Some light tannins, French oak, chestnuts and rye mingle in the finish.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, smooth and desert dry.

Overall
Good bit of sourness on this one unleashes a plethora of soured stone fruits. Very dry finish from the oak aging. Hints of chestnuts and vinegar. The Bruery is really getting their sour game on.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 17:32:05 | More by justintcoons

ehammond1

California

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle (2012)

The Bruery Provisions
Orange, CA

(Aged for 1 year)

Darker than anticipated, even after having this beer a number of times. I simply don't remember it being this dark: a hazed dark amber and an off-white head of creamy foam. Leaves the glass very messy with irregular spiderwebs of lace. A gorgeous American rye sour ale. I can't mark this down for anything.

Sharply sour aroma, definite citrus, some white pepper, and a bit of a rye spice, though I probably wouldn't name rye without the obvious steering. There's just a touch of funk and some white fruit elements in the aroma. Wonderful. As the beer warms, a very nice vanilla character emerges. Surprisingly delightful.

Very sour, lots of complementary fruit flvaors (citrus, pear, and juicy green grapes), some white pepper, and vanilla combine exceptionally well.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

I always held off on reviewing this one because I didn't actually believe it was as good as I thought it was. I wanted to sit down with a full glass of this beer and really contemplate it before giving it such high marks. A year after release, I'm finally doing just that, and this beer is exceptional. It's one of my favorite American sours. I suppose if I had to find a flaw, I'd want more funk, but the flavors that are here are just too extraordinary to worry about complaining about anything.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 04:20:24 | More by ehammond1

monkeymagic72

California

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a snifter.
Pours a really attractive deep gold. Frothy head that disappears pretty quickly leaving little to no lacing or head. The initial smell is of apricots and sour mash. The apricot smell weakens as it warms. Tastes exactly as it smells; slightly funky with a bit of apricot. I can barely detect the oak. The rye is also faint. Mouthfeel is medium. I really enjoyed this sour and look forward to getting more.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:17:54 | More by monkeymagic72

merc7186

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber into snifter.

A: Murky Golden Straw Hue, Passes Mild Light, White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Sour Mash, Rye, Apricots

T: Rye, Sour Mash, Apricots

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Drying, Semi Funky

Overall, very nice funky drying flavor, Nice grainy rye with solid funky taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 03:17:24 | More by merc7186

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle graciously extra'ed by leschkies (thanks so much man!) poured into wine glasses with the wife...

A: Murky dark apricot appearance...off-white head recedes at a moderate pace, which is actually pretty good for a sour. No lacing.

S: Moderate sour and lacto upfront, with a touch more malt presence underneath than I was expecting to find...though its not sweet or bready. Lemon and a hint of tart berry, stone fruit, apricot and virgin oak.

T: Really follows the nose, there is a malty base but it isn't necessarily identifiable as 'rye' to me as its buried under a decent layer of sour...lemon...lactic bite...apricot again, and oak underneath it all. Nice and refreshing and not overdone.

MF: Lighter medium body with some puckering sourness...creamy tones, with proper carbonation.

O: A pleasant, enjoyable and balanced sour - something I would call an 'everyday' sour. Boy the wife loved it too. Good beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 14:57:43 | More by Scotchboy

maximum12

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to the generous lurchingbeast, who sent this bottle along as an extra in a BIF. Big 750 ML bottle split with my wife.

Pour is cloudy dark orange with ample carbonation. Nose is an oversize kick to the post of sour...there might be a touch of rye, but that might be my imagination. Or that is said "rye" on the label. In big font.

Sour in the Rye suffers from the shortcoming of most sours - where's the variety? Big lemony bite in the forefront wrapped around an acidic edge; pretty standard issue stuff. There's a tiny edge of spiciness, & a nice splinter of oak on the end. Not as mouth-wringing as some sours, pretty easy to take down.

Fairly standard issue stuff, & a pretty good brew. I'd have liked the rye to see its shadow more than it does. Can a brewery please make sours with some other tastes in them? That would great. 'Kthxbye.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 04:24:07 | More by maximum12

mdaschaf

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review from notes.

A: Poured a hazy orange with a small off-white head on top. Minimal head retention, leaving a small cap on top. Small wisps of lacing.

S: Nice tartness, some vinegar and light fruit. The rye comes through in the middle a little bit, but it is sort of drowned out by the tart aroma. Some lemon and a little bit of cherry.

T: The flavor profile is similar to the aroma with a touch more of the rye coming through. nice, strong lemon flavor and a little bit of oak.

M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation with a nice level of sourness.

O: Another solid wild ale from the Bruery.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 15:32:48 | More by mdaschaf

sweemzander

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks Shane!

(A)- Pours a hazy amber-sienna color. Some tan froth.

(S)- A deep oaky spice (carraway seed?) rye aroma.

(T)- A hefty dose of oak and rye spice. A nice acidity in the middle mingling with the spice component. Finishes dry and oaky.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A good balance too, but again, very hefty rye and oak-like spice.

(O)- One of the more unique wild ales I have had recently. Almost reminds me of a flanders, but cleaner and far spicier minus the deeper fruits you can get. Very fun and unique.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 15:02:58 | More by sweemzander

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.98/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml
Tulip glass

A: Pours a deep amber orange color. Only about a ring of white for head. Some lacing bits.

S: Smells nice and sour. But that the spice and oak character really come into play.

T: Nice sourness on the tip of the tongue. I like the rye character, adds some nice spicy complexity. Really pull the barrel character, hints of smooth soft vanilla. The finish is fairly dry and leaves your mouth watering.

M: Medium bodied. Nice coating of sourness.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 14:44:57 | More by inlimbo77

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 8.10.12.

A - Pours a hazy medium orange with a small off-white head that fades but the last bit lingers around.

S - Subtle rye and slight sour nose.

T - Sour rye, oaky, woody, all very nice and subtle.

D - Good carbonation with a medium body.

O - Sour, subtle wood and rye bread. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 03:48:13 | More by HuskyinPDX

ptykozoon

California

3.83/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cherry color, thin head, little caramel action going on, light lacing.

Apricot, peach, light funk.

Tastes how it smells albeit more subtle and subdued. Bits of spice and lemon. Very tasty.

Very carbonated, ABV seems like what it is.

Fairly simple beer. Very good though, the light fruit element works well

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 06:21:04 | More by ptykozoon

jsanford

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark amber with a very thin white head. Nice aromas of brown sugar and toffee. balsamic vinegar, cherries. rye malt, and oak. Similar to the nose, lots of sweet and spicy rye, red wine vinegar, oak, currants, and cranberries. Kinda reminds me of Oude Tart, but with rye. Mouthfeel is smooth and slick, with a medium body and fairly low carbonation. Another nice Bruery sour, the rye addition is quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 00:36:44 | More by jsanford