Redhook Sunrye Ale - Redhook Ale Brewery

KajII

North Carolina

2.6/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

[Suggested Glassware: Shaker Glass]

The pour was a clear light amber with just a trace (almost none) of a white frizzy head that virtually was gone in a second or two and produced no lacing to speak of.

The aroma was very faint of a light grain malt, a faint odor of some grassy hops and a mild earthy yeast with a hint of rye and maybe a little citrus (lemon).

Taste was pretty bland yet quite crisp with a slight malty feel and a mild hint of rye, but not much else. The flavor faded from the taste buds almost immediately following the swallow.

Mouthfeel was extremely light in body with a watery texture and a light carbonation.

Overall this was a extremely light beer with a very light flavor and a mild carbonation. That being said it did possess a good smooth and easy drinkability and is ok if what your looking for, is a light beer with a low ABV…

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Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 17:42:00 | More by KajII

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

When we think of Redhook and rye, we have very fond memories of Redhook Rye. It was a cloudy mess of an American Hefe-hybrid rye beer that was perhaps the best in their portfolio to date. We suppose a summer seasonal like this one makes more sense when it comes down to paying the bills.

Crystal clear pale-yellow golden color. A hefty pour produces a quick swelling of foam. The head collapses to a very thin ring of white lace. The light, clean aroma has suggestions of dande- lions, dried lemon peel and spicy rye. Good supply of crispness with a semi-thin body; dry malt flavors induce a soft blanket of spicy rye and bread tones. A touch lemony, with a mild hop bitterness brushing a little herbal and grassy flavor on the palate. Clean and dry finish with a lingering lemon and diminished rye flavor.

A good hot-weather beer? Sure, why not? But putting this one up against the many summer seasonals to choose from, Sunrye sits squarely in the middle of the road. Pair it with a slab of pepper jack cheese and some rye crackers.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 21:01:21 | More by BeerAdvocate

whtguitarguy

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours to a golden yellow, with a head that coats the glass for most of the drink. Not a lot of aroma to this one, but has some yeasty undertones. Taste is bitter but relatively sweet at the same time. Hops are prevalent in the flavor. Not sure about IBUs, but this one is decent.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 03:47:27 | More by whtguitarguy

jbertsch

Massachusetts

2.73/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

I honestly hadn't drank a Red Hook brew in years after I visited their brewery and was disappointed by all the beers on tap. Thought I'd revisit one of them. I don't think I've tried this one before.

It pours a transparent gold, with lots of bubbling action. A minor head dissipates to a light film that stayed for the majority of the time, leaving minor lacing.

Aromas were of rye bread and nuts, and a little lemon.

I thought this was more malty than hoppy - kinda weird. I taste a little adjunct mix of things, and some yeast. Not much else.

I thought this would be crisper than it was, especially with the bubbling action, but no such luck.

Overall, just boring. I'd like to taste more rye.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 02:32:07 | More by jbertsch

mdwalsh

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pour looks pretty BMC, light golden color, white head. The head has a nice structure to it though, a result of the rye, I assume. Little active carbonation though, a result of age, perhaps. Leaves very little, if any lace. There is though, a little haze. Head retention seems to be pretty good.

S: I get a little rye, but also some more adjuncty things, perhaps to balance it out? No hops, no malty sweetness. Overall it's pretty bland and unoffensive, which is what I think they were going for. I think they wanted a summer ale with rye, not a rye summer ale.

T: Hmm, there's something there, but I can't put my finger on it. It seems the rye flavor is about all that differentiates this from a standard macro "summer ale" but then at the end, it boots you a little in the top of the mouth. Not bitter, but actually very close to cooked rye, which I use often. Well, at least the post-cooking rye water. Sorry, not doing enough for me. Really not much more than a lawnmower beer.

M: Thin, watery, but has a taste that makes itself known in the swallow.

D: Good, about what it should be for a summer beer of this ABV

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 03:37:02 | More by mdwalsh

kimcgolf

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured from the bottle to a light pale, just slightly hazy yellow, with thin white head that dissipated quickly to little lacing. Nose was faint but still caught a hint of honey, apples and lemony hops, with no alcohol (swhich at only 4.7% is not surprising. Mouthfeel is light and a tad on the thin side, and the taste carries over the fruits of the nose.

Fairly long lasting, thrist quenching finish. Not a bad summer ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 02:21:12 | More by kimcgolf

jnezda

Texas

2.05/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Enjoyed from the bottle on a trip from Boston to Maine. The trip was much better than the beer. Sunrye was bland with little to no rye flavour. Slight yeast smell with some hoppiness but faint at best. The carbonation was good but, other than that the beer seemed bland and as some of the other reviewers said this is reminiscent of a macro with an inadequate amount of flavour in any category. Having tried a few Redhook beers this was similar in style but did not live up to expectations at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2009 21:29:13 | More by jnezda

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.88/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sprecher weiss glass. 080109 stamped in the label.

A - Sunrye poured a brilliant clear and effervescent gold with a moderate white and foamy head that disappeared quite quickly and left nothing but a ring.

S - Dry rye and wheat overwhelm the nose with a roasted corn sweetness following up. A drop of orange citrus with a dab of cream finishes off the aroma to this so-far mediocre summer beer.

T - Roasted corn adjunct flavor with dry wheat and a light grassiness on the finish. A very small citrus drop and no hops to be found. The flavor is mediocre at best and more like a BMC. While it doesn't offend, its horribly sub-par.

M - Light, crisp, and refreshing but watery and slick with a carbonation bite to the finish.

D - As the first Red Hook offering I've had, I'm not happy. I could substitute a BMC in for this and I wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference. Drinkibility is good but it's just a standard beer. And from a "good" brewery I've only heard good things about, the outlook is sub-par thus far.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2009 23:59:59 | More by BeerFMAndy

Tone

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, golden color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of yeast, pale malt, rye, slight hop, and slight sweet malt. Fits the style of a Rye Beer. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an high carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, slight hops, slight citrus, pale malt, and slight rye. Overall, a rather poor body with only slight complexity. There is an easy drinkability, though.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 04:37:21 | More by Tone

bsp77

Minnesota

2.23/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into tall glass.

Appearance: Light gold with a quickly forming but rapidly receding head. Ultimately, looks like a very flat macro (at least those usually aren't flat).

Smell: Sweet, some citrus and light floral character. I smell no rye or spiciness.

Taste: Where is the rye? Some light citrus and wheaty malt. Not sure if there is wheat or not, but seems more likely than rye to me. Funny, sticky sweet aftertaste.

Feel: Pretty high carbonation (especially considering the zero sustained head) and light body.

Drinkability: This aftertaste is killing me; I need an American Adjunct to wipe this taste away (and I don't care for that style either). Seriously, where is the rye?

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 21:04:35 | More by bsp77

barnzy78

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. Second time trying this one. Poured a bright golden color with excellent clarity and was topped with a decent white head. Aromas were of toasted grains with a slight hop scent. Tastes were also of toasted grains, maybe some pilsener malt, and very subtle rye. Hops were nearly non-existent and the I expected the rye to shine though a little more than it did. Mouth-feel was thin to medium bodied, but was better than anticipated. I expected a little more flavor out of this one, although this is definitely sessionable and was also very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 21:48:33 | More by barnzy78

dmamiano

West Virginia

2.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

clear yellow with a whispy white head and no lacing.
Spicey nose..reminding me of walking through a morning forest with heavy dew.
Almost wheat like in the taste...yeaty. This may be the rye?
Mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side, but it is accepatable.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 21:25:37 | More by dmamiano

Kromes

Georgia

3/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear fizzy yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells like honey and malt with some citrus hop and floral notes. Decent aroma. The taste is OK at first. It's sweet and malty with a little bite of peppery, citrus hops and a peppery fruity/floral aftertaste. The aftertaste that lingers is a little bit harsh....a sweet, almost peppery acid citrus flavor. It seemed a little thin and watery at first then the carbonation kicks in and fills it out. Actually there is alot of carbonation, it's starting to build up the more I drink. Making my stomach hurt a little. Thus, I would say this is not a very drinkable beer. If you had 10 of these, you might just blow up.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 19:51:00 | More by Kromes

grayburn

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours substantially lighter than expected, but definitely appropriate for a summer seasonal. I cracked one open with a sundown temperature of about 85 degrees...it's been a hot one. A crystal clear golden hue with a nice little persistent white head atop it's liquid goodness.

The smell and taste, while nothing to write home about, are both perfect to break the heat. This really isn't a rye beer, the pepper isn't dominant. It's more of a blonde ale with some rye. Not bad at all, nice and bready, some light floral notes, and a nice peppery finish.

The mouthfeel is heavier than expected, nice and creamy. There is enough pepper bite and carbonation to really offset and make this quite refreshing.

I could drink this beer all day, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 04:43:18 | More by grayburn

u2carew

Massachusetts

2.38/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A) Fairly transparent. Pours with a half inch head then settles quickly. Nearly no lacing. Golden straw in color. Visible carbonation.
S) The aromatics are very light. Some dry grain. Just a touch of citrus. Overall barely noticeable scents.
T) Slight rye taste. A bit of citrus - more lemon than orange. A faint hop bitterness in the end. Once again overall barely any flavor.
M) Very light - borderline sparkling water / club soda. Crisp and dry.
D) Tough to drink when one expects some flavor in their beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 23:59:33 | More by u2carew

MadTown1000

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass. Pours a really yellow yellow. Usually I want to saw "straw" or "amber" or something, but no, this is just yellow. A little less than an inch of white foam that quickly dissipates. Really no detectable smell out of the bottle or the glass.

Looks more carbonated than it tastes, and tastes heavier than it looks. I wasn't really what to expect out of a rye beer, but this really wasn't it - there's no flavor that I would usually associate with either rye bread or rye whiskey. I little bit of a bitterish grain flavor that I suppose is the rye.

Not one I'd recommend.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 01:53:46 | More by MadTown1000

katan

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz into a pint

A - Pours a dark golden color. Very well filtered, no hazing or yeast suspension. Bubbling. No head formation at all either - only a tiny white film hanging around.

S - I get a bit of sweet pilsner dry malt scents - no rye. I was hoping for something more direct than this.

T - Starts off with a dry malt flavor with only the lightest hint of an astringent rye flavor. Mid-stream starts to sweeten - no balance or hopping present. Finishes with a grainy pilsner malt flavor. Aftertaste just about zero.

M - Moderate body - no carbonation bite. Full body and clinging. Probably the one area of this beer they did okay with.

D - Easy drinking beer. Low abv, flavors are light. But, it also means this beer is awfully boring.

I guess I'll look for another rye beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2009 21:03:36 | More by katan

Docer

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a 6'er of this for old times sake... as about 15 or so years ago.. it was a favorite summer sessional of mine... but my how times have changed, and Red Hook hasn't! I do however remember a stronger rye ale as well...

- Light straw yellow, clear... bubble and light... not much to go on here...

- Grain... a bunch of grain.. bit of spicy hop... citrus zing, lemon peel.. wit.. smells like a pale..

- Grainy flavor.. light.. bit of bread, wheat... very light rye presence... bright and sourish...

- Bit dry.. leaves the throat parched... but ok..

- Could maybe go through about 20 of these as it is a very light session summer brew... but I wouldn't... it is however very drinkable.. but overall just an average pale ale as the grade suggests..

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2009 19:59:41 | More by Docer

bill93063

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my new fav summer brew. I have never gotten overly excited about warm weather brews but this one is far beyond your garden variety Ubiquitous German lagers or Pilsners. It possesses nice lemon notes that are perfect for a summer ale. It is fairly unique as it is an ale that does not hit you over the head with bitter notes or too many flavor mixes which in a summer brew is more desirable. It is very drinkable and one of Redhooks best brews IMO. It may be a little on the weak side where flavor is concerned but overall summer beers/ales should be drunk between 40 and 45 degrees and to include large complex numbers of flavors is defeating the purpose of a thirst quenching warm weather brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 15:31:11 | More by bill93063

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm afraid corporate lagers have given any ultra-filtered yellow beer a bad name, because this isn't the worst beer ever yet it looks like it is. Very little head and even less retention, and the color is indeed a sunny piss color, fortunately helped out by leaning toward a copper tint.

Aroma is completely unremarkable, and I'm not even sure it's there. Very polite straw smell with a gentle sway into some kind of sweetness - at best. It's not offensive so I won't rate it lower, there's just really nothing here of note.

The flavor isn't much more remarkable, but again, there's nothing offensively bad here either. That signature rye flavor is incredibly faint, but I do taste it, and there's a slight corn-like sweetness backing it up. Some watered-down honey-lemon tea comes in too. That's about it.

I like the mouthfeel enough, it has a little more heft and presence than I would've predicted. But...uh...life is too short to comment any further on a beer like this one's "mouthfeel," isn't it?

Could easily rate drinkability a little higher than I have, but why? Drinkability has to account for taste, and there's just not much of that here. Sure would be easy to pound six of these in an hour and hardly feel it, but that's not advocating, is it? Not desired either, not by me anyway. I could've passed on buying the 6-pack, and you probably can too.

[A lame little joke for all the metalheads out there: What is Barney Greenway's favorite kind of bread?
Answer: (growl this out) RRRRYYYEEE!!!]

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 21:43:22 | More by Metalmonk

Pencible

Virginia

2.58/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This poured a clear bright gold with a bit of white head. It smelled like wheat and sour yeast, with some rye and dirty lemon hops. It tasted like bland wheat and barley malt with light lemon hops and stale bready yeast. It was watery with moderate carbonation, and had a mild aftertaste. Overall this was very disappointing. I really enjoy other rye beers, but this was barely better than a Bud or Coors. It didn't smell or taste good, and the body was weak. The rye character was barely discernible. It's laughable to me how this is classified as a rye beer, and Hop Rod isn't. I suggest avoiding this beer - it's not even worth trying once.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 16:38:41 | More by Pencible

beer2day

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a basic yellow gold with a one-finger head, no retention and no lacing.

Nose is basic malt. Faint sawgrass. Some sour apple. Nothing to get excited about.

Tastes a little too sweet for a rye, but I'm guessing that's what they were aiming for. Nice for a hot day, but I miss the rye dryness.

A little heavy for a beer this style, too syrupy.

Suprisingly drinakable on a hot summer day, though.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 02:12:17 | More by beer2day

blackc5

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured at 40F.

A- A bright and light yellow that just looks drinkable. Very little head, moderate lacing for what there was.

S - Going to just give this an average score. The smell seems mild, but Im fighting off a cold which probably hinders my sense.

T- Crisp and refreshing, yet pretty tame in terms of taste. Some sweet maltiness, but not as much rye as I expected. Somewhat herbal, mild bitterness. Almost a lager...

M- Smooth and well carbonated. Light-bodied.

D- Can finish one of these off in about 3 minutes. Not a sipper by any means, but nice on a warm day.

Was expecting a bit more from Red Hook on this, rye-wise, so will call it an average brew, but surely passable and good for handouts at a party.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 06:59:55 | More by blackc5

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.28/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle - $1.49 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. Bottled on: 04 23 09.

Appearance: Pours a brilliant, bright yellow body with just under two fingers of white suds.

Smell: Soft, mild nose of light pale malts, herbaceous, spicy hops and just a mere hint of lemon.

Taste: Sweetish, simple maltiness with maybe a slight wheat character to it. A drop of two of lemon juice. The one really lacking component is the purported rye grain. Heck, the spicy hops are providing more spiciness. Finishes dry, vaguely spicy, but nicely crisp.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: Fairly light, easy-drinking, refreshment apropos to parties by the pool or grueling yard work. I'm sorry, Redhook, but when it comes to my refrigerator, Oberon has already booked that summer gig.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 02:04:46 | More by ChainGangGuy

froghop

Washington

2.73/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

pours a very clear pale yellow with medium size white foamy head, and active carbonation, some lacing.

smell is faint, grass, grain, malt, a touch of honey, and some citrus.

taste is light, watery yet crisp, rye bread, honey, grain, malt, and a touch of citrus.

really not much to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2009 16:39:27 | More by froghop