Rustic Rye IPA - Bootlegger's Brewery

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.49/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A mildly hazy orange amber with a dense, off-white head, this is a decent looking IPA, The nose is quite solid, a moderate rye character along with some grapefruit and pine hops, this also has some tropical fruit character. Malt character is mild, a little bit of caramel is present. The rye is rather bready too.

The palate opens with a blend of rye and grapefruit and a little bit of chalk. Bitterness is moderate, and there's a pleasant blend of fruit and pine. A touch of soap as well. The mid-palate is where the rye comes to play, rather spicy and bready. Sweetness is medium- medium-low with some honey present. Moderately drying and mildly bitter on the finish, there are lingering flavors of fruit and pine, this beer is a little watery. Solid

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 07:38:17 | More by DefenCorps

maximum12

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to kyle2k10 for this bottle, one of about 98 extras from his box that I'm working through. 22 oz. bottle split with my wife after a good dinner out for my daughter's birthday this week...& watching my Twins get crushed. Again. Still. Plus, it's snowing. In mid-April. /end news feed.

Pour is a dull orange that's about fourteen percent occluded; not quite cold filtered. Lowly carbonation. Nose is extremely earthy, mixed with tablespoons of lemon & citrus & orange. I'd say: appealing.

Rustic Rye IPA is like biting into a piece of South Dakota farmland. Earthiness crosses into a swampy with dry, brittle windblown leaves in the mix. Mid-palate the hops arrive in good humor: pine, citrus. Orange, even. Finish is a sweeping, gentle bitterness & a final herbal potpourri. Half a bomber of this will do just fine, thanks.

This veers towards saison territory...well, not real close, but much closer than most beers with 'rye' or 'IPA' on the label. Best thing one can say about the beer is it's...interesting. Pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:52:56 | More by maximum12

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a fairly clear, dark amber, nice head, solid but looks pretty plain though.

Smell is pretty fruit, some oranges and grapefruit, but fairly sweet and malty, not aggressively hoppy. Some rye spiciness too.

Taste is fairly bitter, not as much citrus as on the nose, lots of rye spice again and even more sweet maltiness. Pretty good but needs more hop and less malt.

Lots and lots of fizzy carb, pretty full body, good mouthfeel overall.

Good beer! Not remarkable but a solid rye IPA which is a style I always like.

6.8/10

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 03:33:48 | More by AlexFields

gusman61

California

4.23/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

It is a happy beer. It lightens your spirit. It would be good morning fishing beer. I stumbled upon a nice Irish pub (gallagers) in Huntington Beach and was turned on to this. We were Not disapointed! After having visted a pub that served bud and the like, I was very happy with this find!

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 04:16:23 | More by gusman61

Nixonbrew

California

4.45/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this at the ABC market next to Disneyland.

Always enjoy a good Rye PA so thought I'd give it a try.
Brewery in Fullerton, just up the road from the Magic Kingdom.

A - pours a clear golden with a copper hint. Good carbonation and inch thick head of large bubbles that last for a short period and then disapate back into the beer.

S - After a day walking around Disneyland this is the grand finale of the day. Excellent hop aroma. Fruity, citrus, grapefruit and a peppery smell

T - Tastes as I imagined. Balanced hops, malt, rye fruitiness and pepper with a smooth bitterness. Tastes like a homebrew I made but drier.

O - Worth the price to try a local brew made by a homebrewer recently turned craft brewer.

Wish I could try more from Bootlegger's.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 05:26:49 | More by Nixonbrew

PintOHops

California

4.06/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Glass - Mug

A - Bronze like color with a big Lager like head that looks pretty loose. Head retention was quite good. Tiny bubbles can be seen slowly rising to the top. Nice splashes of soapy lacing.

S - Toasted sugars, molasses, caramel and a touch of rye. Herbal and orange hop characteristics are there but don't jump out at me. Seems balanced and drinkable.

T - Pleasantly surprising orange/tangerine thing going on. Bold herbal and resinous hop flavors through and through. Moderately sweet with just a touch of rye bread. Finishes very bitter and dry with lingering resinous hop flavors.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation and slight chewiness.

O - I gotta say that i'm pleasantly surprised by this beer. Rye didn't jump out at me, but i found the beer to be a satisfying IPA, filled with resins and bitterness. Inviting look, and the price is outstanding. I picked up a mixed 12pack for $14, and can't wait to try the rest. I say try out the mix pack for sure. I'd buy again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:14:33 | More by PintOHops

JosiahS

California

4.04/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

a: Slightly cloudy dark straw color. 2-3 finger foamy off-white head that looks like it will stick around nicely.

s: Smells of lemon rind, flowers, light tree sap, papaya, mango and grain.

t: hoppy lemon, flowers and papaya up front and mid pallete. At mid pallete a nice toasted malt comes through. Finishes somewhat clean but with a small bitter sting.

m: Approaching full-bodied, medium carbonation.

o: A pleasant surprise from a local brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:12:33 | More by JosiahS

lsummers

California

3.46/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a rusty light orange with a one finger head

Smell is very subtle, mild citrus hops with a touch of peppery malty sweetness.

Taste is also not as bold as I was expecting. Mild bite of hops at first, grapefruit, and subtle grass that ends on a sweet malty peppery note.

Overall, it's a very drinkable ipa. Nothing stands out, which would make this perfect for the back yard bbq. But if your searching for the added "Rye", this might not impress.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 06:08:59 | More by lsummers

Therisse

California

4.6/5  rDev +25%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Nothing too special about the looks of this beer. Crystal clear look, tiny bubbles, head sustained well but was small. Honey color.

Aroma: Aroma was pleasant but once again, nothing special. It was also subtle. Specific smells included rye, orange, pine, and honey.

Flavor: The flavor is what got me. I feel it had the perfect balance between piney hops and bitterness. The specific flavors I could taste were pine, rye, orange, wheat, honey, copper, and nuts. Very crisp.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel was also amazing. It was creamy, plentiful amounts of small bubbles on the tongue, and a thick body.

Overall: Perfect type of beer I'd like to drink on a hot day, but would also be amazing slightly below room temperature. This is nowhere near the hoppiest or the most bitter IPA I've ever had, but it is perfectly balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 18:30:10 | More by Therisse

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a very cloudy orange color with an inch of white head. Spotty lacing.

The nose offers a ton of earthy and spiced rye. There is some faint tropical fruits but rye dominates.

The flavors are compromised of a ton of rye. Spice, earthiness, and lovliness. This beer has one of the most noticable and enjoyable rye presence. Some bitter hop bitterness completes the flavor profile including some pineapple and apricot.

The mouthfeel is appropriate, medium with moderate carbonation.

Overall, loved the rye characteristics showing boldly here. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:56:53 | More by ChugginOil

WestCoastLibations

California

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For my first(!) review here on Beer Advocate, I wanted to pay homage to a local (of sorts) brewery, based in Fullerton, Orange County. While I am familiar with DTF, and the trifling nonsense which goes on there, I have always been interested in the city's brewery, which this beer gave me the perfect opportunity to get to know!

Flowing out of the deuce-deuce, the beer came out the same color of the Fall leaves in the recent Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special I just watched, yet when settled in the glass (proper IPA glass of course), the beer took on a darker color, almost Brown. From here, I knew it was going to be delicious.

Sniffing it as the head decreased to mere layer of white, topping the abyss below, it smelled to me almost tame, with the Rye acting as a barrier of sorts from the onslaught some IPA's can bring.

Finally tasting the sweet nectar, I was admittedly surprised by the lack of bitterness, which again, accompany many IPA's. While there was no shortage of Hops, there was still a cacophony of other tastes combined, going to create a unique, and...well...delicious flavor.

Overall, with the combination of appearance, smell, taste, and personal notes, I was happy with the product which was sampled through 22 ounces, and about 15 minutes of bliss on a Friday afternoon. This taste from Bootleggers will most almost certainly bring me up the 55 Freeway sometime soon, to check out the brewery itself, nestled in the forest, known as DownTown Fullerton!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 08:43:07 | More by WestCoastLibations

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Mild aroma bringing a slight spiciness, oranges, and a nice constant sweetness across the board.

Pale orange and clear with a bubbly white adhesive head, about a half finger thick. Looks kind of like a pumpkin in color actually.

Sweet almost candy-like orange flavors right up front and through the finish. It's almost like those gummi orange wedges covered in sugar. Nice spiciness from the rye hits the sides of my tongue and dances around. Slick mouthfeel, almost feels a bit wrong, but it works. Carbonation is low to moderate.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:24:36 | More by tlazaroff

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel malts and rye with some grapefruit and citrus hops and a touch of pine hop.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet caramel malts with some grapefruit, orange, and citrus hops with some bitterness. Through the middle, some light pine hop comes through with a bit more bitterness and some rye spiciness. The finish is a mix of sweet caramel and biscuit malts, rye spiciness, and some citrus and light pine hops.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, bitter, and lightly spicy finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice Rye IPA with a good balance of hops and some nice rye spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 04:02:16 | More by ngeunit1

UCLABrewN84

California

3.43/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy orange with a 1 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt/grain/rye and some very mild herbal hop aromas. Taste is slightly sweet and is of malt/grain/rye up front with some herbal hops on the finish and a slight alcohol kick with each sip. There is a mild hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but the smell is pretty weak in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 03:42:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

Philousa

California

2.7/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Clear pale orange in appearance with one inch of head. Some lacing as you drink. Surprising amount of tart yeast prevalent in the aroma to start. Very grassy, weedy hop aroma, not much pine or bitterness apparent. Pale malt is hiding behind the mildly spicy rye malt. That rye malt is very apparent in the flavor. Again, mildly spicy, full of flavor. I get a little butterscotch diacetyl, which I realize was in the aroma too, but I just couldn't place it. That grassy hop aroma comes out in the flavor as well. Not as bitter as I would expect an IPA to be, but it's definitely got some bitterness to it. Balanced feel, slightly dry finish.

Interesting, but I'm ultimately nonplussed by this beer. Rather spend my money on something else.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 04:48:27 | More by Philousa

Auracom

Illinois

2.23/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Big thanks to Derek for the extra! 12 oz. poured into a Stone Old Guardian glass on May 16th, 2012.

A - Lightly-hazy, dark-golden coloring. One and a 1/2 fingers of a vanilla-white head. Poor retention but good lacing.

S - Relaxed aromas of citrus, notably orange juice and overripe lemons. There's just a hint of rye-like spices. Tiny bit of hop-cone pine tree, but it doesn't smell all that west coast.

T - Further citrus and light pineyness. Spices are non-existent here. At rear palate there's a weird, exceedingly-bitter, warhead-candy sourness that feels very disjointed from the rest of the drink. It went from being subpar in reference to the typical to bizarre and atyipcal.

M - Light-medium body, moderate-high carbonation. Astringent but doesn't finish very dry.

D - I refuse to believe there's rye in this when I think back to other rye IPA's like Alpine Nelson. Not likely to visit this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 21:10:02 | More by Auracom

Drinkerofales

California

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is clear, golden amber, with a huge light tan head that leaves tons of spiderweb lacing and takes a while to dissipate.

Smells of grapefruit pith, warm malts and some rye as well.

Taste is not quite as big, lightly bitter pith throughout, with a rye aftertaste. The two go well together, but the flavors are a little understated.

Texture is light-medium bodied, a light bite, with a semi long dry finish. Medium drinkability, I probably wouldn't want more than one or two of these.

The taste is somewhat lacking in actual hop flavor, as the only aspect is the citrus pith. Other than that, it's what it says it is, and does a pretty good job of it.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 18:49:39 | More by Drinkerofales

azdback

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Spaten tumbler. A bright, clear orange color. Swarms of large carbonation bubbles lead to a large three finger head that is sea foam white and the same in appearance. Lace seems to be very sticky at this time.

Smell is kind of lemony, with some bread or yeast and rye spice.

Taste is bitter of a yellow grapefruit, some sweetness too. There is just a bit of rye spice to this but not at all in the front.

Mouth is crisp and the carbonation is round to spritzy. Body is delicate and the finish is average and dry.

Overall I am a little confused by this one. I couldn't get a lot of rye in the taste. This is a must try if easily obtainable but don't go beating down the trading forums for this one. Thanks to nycwinter for the chance to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 07:28:51 | More by azdback

Florida9

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Clear amber - looks like watered down whiskey. Forms a small white head that has little retention and leaves just a minimal lacing.

S: Smells of rye, toast, some peppery spice, grass and a bit of butter.

T: Lots of caramel malt and butter mixed with just a bit of pine and citrus hops. Rye spice on the finish is overpowered by unpleasant diacetyl flavors.

M: Medium bodied, but with a very "round" mouthfeel to it that is likely a byproduct of whatever is causing the diacetyl. Lower carbonation levels. Mild bitterness.

O: Simply put, this is just not a very good beer: Very little rye or hop character with an overwhelming amount of off-flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 00:37:21 | More by Florida9

n2185

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a slightly hazy copper with two fingers of beige head that fades into a frothy cap with no lacing.

S: Some light and sweet citrus notes up front followed by dry pine and grassy aromas.

T: Very dry pine flavors dominate with some slight grassy notes. The finish is moderately bitter with some resin notes as well.

M: Medium body with sudsy carbonation, this beer feels about as dry as it tastes.

O: An alright IPA overall, though nothing special. It's a super dry IPA, though it'd be nice to have more depth of flavor and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 04:04:57 | More by n2185

mactrail

California

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lovely dark amber in the tulip glass. Nice foam and pleasing carbonation in the mouth. Modest aroma of browned barley with some bread.

Medium body with a rich, spicy flavor. Just the right amount of rye to give it that sharp grainy taste with a touch of perfume.

Hops provide a fairly bitter backdrop. Like an IPA but restrained enough to make the hops a deep part of the flavor profile without stealing the show. Resiny taste along with the browned biscuits and spicy tang. Nice malty flavor provides good balance.

Compares favorably with the tasty Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye, I think. From the 22 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 06:54:57 | More by mactrail

Seanibus

California

3.05/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An adequate if not distinguished Rye beer. Pours a clear amber with a decent head. The aroma is sharp and toasty. The flavor is extremely sharp, dry, and toasty, with that characteristic mouthpuckering rye edge, but without the countervailing malt sweetness that distinguishes a great rye beer. The final effect is astringent and bitter. This beer takes the rye thing too far and too seriously.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 02:10:17 | More by Seanibus

inlimbo77

Delaware

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber bottle poured into a DFH snifter. No bottle date is located on the bottle from what I can see.

A: Pours a really pretty orange color. Crystal clear look to it. Half finger of bright white head. Good amount of carbonation from the looks of it. Off the bottom of the DFH glass it's just rolling up. Not getting tons of lacing.

S: I get some of those fruit and citrus hop notes, over ripe peach and mango. But then I get the grain bill notes. Sweet maltiness.

T: I will start with this, I am sick and my taste buds are a little off. I do get some spicy notes on the tip of the tongue from the rye. You get those hops in the middle of the mouth. Nice balance of the spicy grains and the fruity hops. Also this is a very easy drinking beer. The lower ABV is nice.

M: Medium bodied like most IPAs in recent memory.

O: I like this one. It's a nicely balanced beer. Like the rye spicy marrying the fruity hops they used. Thumbs up.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 01:35:00 | More by inlimbo77

TouchOfEvil

California

4.35/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle poured into a Pint Glass

A: Beautiful Deep Golden / Orange/ Red in color with a huge white head and some sticky lacing.

S: Citrus hop aroma with some spice and caramel malt.

T: Large, but not overpowering hop presence up front & nice spiciness from the rye.


M: Medium body and the carbonation is spot on. It leaves a slight velvety coat on the palate. The finish is bit dry with just a little bitterness, but very nice.

O: One of the first beers I had from Bootleggers and a great Rye IPA that I keep stocked in the fridge.

Audio for this review: Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 00:18:52 | More by TouchOfEvil

HalfFull

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass, showing a deep golden color with a bit of orange/amber hue with a touch of haze. Sports a sturdy inch of foam which offers good retention and lacing.

Light hop nose with citrus and a bit of spice. Touch of caramel as well. Rather clean and almost lager like in stillness with an almost additive quality to it. With warming the additive quality disappears and an earthy funkiness arises and adding more depth.

Somewhat coarse on the palate likely given the rye component, otherwise showing the same citrus and caramel of the aroma. Offers an odd floral component that seems to come and go. Still a bit too malty with respect to hop flavors and rather reminiscent of an English IPA.

Decent and smooth feel yet without the texture I would expect from a Rye IPA. Easy drinking and unotrusive with a flash of orange citrus and a light to moderate bitterness on the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 05:48:11 | More by HalfFull