Improv (Improvisación) Oatmeal Rye India-Style Brown Ale - Cigar City Brewing

merlin48

Kentucky

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle thanks to mntlover. Initial pour is 50% foam. Dark brown body supports a large head that becomes pitted and rocky. Lavish lacing.

Aroma is bold and inviting. Pine, tart grapefruit, molasses, roasted coffee, spicy rye, and hints of earthiness and tropicals, all combine for quite a sensory challenge.

Mouthfeel is medium full bodied with moderate carbonation and a pleasant oatmeal silkiness.

Taste s deep, rich, and complex. Solid hops array contributes a meld of pine, citrus, and earthiness which is nicely edged by the herbal and spicy rye component. A hint of brown sugar adds even more complexity. Dark toasted and roasty malt notes work to give a balance. An underlying oatmeal smoothness supports a lot of playful mingling of all that is going on here. No hint of the 9% abv alcohol.

Really amazing that so many flavors and facets come together so well. This one is not for everybody by looking at the ratings but if you like it you really like it a lot. I certainly did.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 20:46:04 | More by merlin48

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-18-2013 03:11:32 | More by FUwolfpacker

michaeljstraub

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-16-2013 19:50:12 | More by michaeljstraub

RayUF07

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-16-2013 02:28:05 | More by RayUF07

MarkyMOD

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-10-2013 16:38:03 | More by MarkyMOD

LEdubs

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-05-2013 12:18:30 | More by LEdubs

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-04-2013 20:42:06 | More by Kelp

hornsup

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-01-2013 18:21:51 | More by hornsup

ajtorres311

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

05-01-2013 15:03:29 | More by ajtorres311

tswater

Colorado

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-29-2013 03:05:07 | More by tswater

beernads

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

04-29-2013 00:03:44 | More by beernads

drewone

California

3/5  rDev -20.2%

04-22-2013 02:26:49 | More by drewone

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub. From notes.

A - Poured dark brown with reddish tints. One finger beige head and good carbonation. Spotty lace and a film of retention.

S - Rich maltiness with dark fruits and nuttiness. Fruity hops and light rye. Lovely aroma.

T - Rye came out more. Rich maltiness again, some citrus towards the finish.

M - Nice bitterness, good carbonation, full body.

O/D - A nice strong, hoppy rye. The rye was restrained, which I like. Nice balance with no alcohol to speak of in the flavour. Good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 11:26:04 | More by tbeckett

Bluecane

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -26.9%

04-21-2013 06:38:53 | More by Bluecane

andthevolcano

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-19-2013 22:48:45 | More by andthevolcano

macrosmatic

Florida

4.26/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed from notes. Had on-tap at CCB tasting room. Served in a snifter glass.

A: Dark reddish brown with a 1/2 finger tan head of large bubbles. Low visible carbonation.

S: Roasty, toasty rich bready malts over some hops (citrus/lemon and grass).

T: Sweet bready roasted malts with big grainy rye flavors, plus the citrus, spicy and pine hops. There is significant roasty coffee noticeable on the exhale. Sticky sweet malt balanced with the hop bitterness at the end.

M: Heavier body than expected, chewy mouthfeel, moderate carbonation sensation. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable, but not overly so for this high of an ABV.

O: Interesting, and much more complex than the vast majority of non-spiced brown ales. Enjoyable and recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 20:07:21 | More by macrosmatic

BMMillsy

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

04-13-2013 03:18:05 | More by BMMillsy

largadeer

California

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%

04-12-2013 18:37:35 | More by largadeer

cyrushire

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-08-2013 21:06:16 | More by cyrushire

JReites

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-06-2013 20:09:00 | More by JReites

drop6301

Oregon

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-01-2013 14:32:52 | More by drop6301

Auror

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

03-30-2013 21:23:13 | More by Auror

agreenman19

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +13%

03-29-2013 03:16:58 | More by agreenman19

wyatt13

Illinois

3.86/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

My Dad picked this up from Cigar City after we toured the brewery. Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a Cigar City snifter.

A - Pours a very dark reddish-brown that borders on opaque. There's a half finger of off-white head that dissipates rather quickly. Minimal lacing.

S - Caramel dominates the smell, with brown sugar there as well. Some hops poke their head in if I really stick my nostrils in there.

T - Sweet and malty up front, with the roast characteristics of a milder brown ale. The finish is the really interesting part though -- slightly bready & boozy, with a spicy aftertaste that really lingers long past the swallow. I'm assuming this is the rye shining through.

M - Rather thin mouthfeel that leaves some residual sweetness in the mouth. A bit dry, which encourages additional sipping.

O - A very unique beer that seems to be the collision of several styles. In my opinion, this beer is on the level of the phrase "jack of all trades, but master of none." There are some complex & intriguing things going on here, but it doesn't all come together. If you've ever been to an improv comedy show, you understand the irony of this beer's name.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:37:45 | More by wyatt13

biga7346

Michigan

3.49/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Viscous, turbid brownish, mahogany, caramel, huge coning tannish head, lots of lacing.

N - Pie cherries, sugar, biscuity, licorice, some alcohol and phenols, dried fruit, maroschino cherries, fruit juice, toast points and strangely enough - kahlua liqueur.

T/M - Chewiness throughout, some rye bread in the finish, thinner than I expected, bakers chocolate, coffee beans, freshly baked bread, chocolate wafers, carraway seed and black licorice; it's grainy, chewy, dense; nice texture throughout.

D - Lot of this to blanket the palate in a 750ml bottle, pleasant drinking imperial brown ale, would be great with dessert like chocolate mousse.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:01:15 | More by biga7346