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

saintwarrick

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice brown pour has a soft and very foamy tan head. Aroma is just like a brown ale, lots of sweetness and brown sugar with some light caramel and cocoa notes. Taste starts off sweet with brown sugar dominating; rye adds a bit of dryness but none of its usual spiciness. Very smooth brew thanks to the oatmeal, and the brew ends well balanced on some dry and bitter notes. Not a lot of alcohol shows through and this beer seems like it should be a bit thicker and meatier. Still a very good brew to sip on.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 03:54:17 | More by saintwarrick

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

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

Had to get this one based on the Cigar City description. Very interested to see how they could make this smorgasbord profile work.

A- Mahogany brown with light fluffy, khaki head of about 1 finger. Avg lacing and retention for the style. Beautiful color

S- A little bit of everything- chocolate, citrus hops, resinous hops, brown sugar, charred but not quite burn caramel, smoke, mocha, and black pepper. My taste buds have received the olfactory message and are curious for what's in store....

T- Follows nose. It's as if I'm on a rollercoaster in a dark tunnel- a lot of twists and turns, I don't know what's coming next, but I find myself really enjoying it! A great mix of all the smells led off by a sweet malt, then a dose of hops along with the huge spice of the rye. It's complex and well done. Dark fruits even seem to find there way in the mix. Toasted oats and caramel. Almost seems like it has a barrel aged flavor to it, or some kind of phenols. Maybe the rye again? Whatever...it works.

M- Spicy dry finish. Full body with fair drinkability. Nice carbonation for the style.

O- A ton going on here...and somehow it seems to work. One of my favorite rye beers. Gave it a little bump in overall rating because of the uniqueness and how it finds a nice continuity among the many bold elements.

No bottled on date that I could find

$10.49 for 750 ml

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 16:00:58 | More by Bosoxfan20

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