Blacken Your Rye - Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon

jampics2

Ohio

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

On tap @ Fat Heads. Served in a pint glass.

Described as "A collaboration beer brewed with Stone Brewing Company's Mitch Steele at Fat Head's Brewery. Aromas of intense hops, chocolate and rye spice. The first sip is dark chocolate goodness and then a blast of citrus hop bitterness hits the palate with a nice underlying rye spiciness and a hint of caramel malt. Finishes clean and bitter. "

So, this is the beer Mitch Steele and Matt Cole collaborated on at Fat Heads during Cleveland Beer Week. The idea was to take a black IPA and use some citrus hops and 35% rye in the bill.

The beer looks amazing in the glass. It's just shy of perfect with a dark black body with subtle shades of brown and a touch of red around the edges. It features a nice white one-finger head and really nice lace is left behind. This is a great looking beer.

From the smell, I can tell this was well-formulated. The main smell that first reaches my nose is chocolate, then some spicy rye followed by huge grapefruit hops. I can tell at this point that the hop bill has a bit of a Stone influence; this is more of a grapefruit citrus nose that the typical Fat Heads beer that has more tangy and tropical notes. Big and bold, the expressive nose is as close to perfect as I've had in a Black IPA except for Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous.

The taste is right-on, bridging the gap between tradition and experimental. Right off the bat, I get a beautiful burst of chocolate, then grapefruit bitterness rushes in with just a touch of pine. The rye starts to add some spices to the mix, giving it depth and a well-bridged peak of flavor with spicy rye and bitter hops reaching the pinnacle of the flavor experience together. Finally, there is some more chocolate from the roast lingering at end with some sweet caramel and a bit of residual bitterness.

The rye hasn't bulked up the mouthfeel too much, but the beer is medium-bodied and isn't a "west-coast" style by any means. Here too, there is a ton of creaminess and a nice strong carbonation that enhances the drinkability without being too sparkly. The lingering chocolate sweetness helps mask any bitterness from getting out of hand. I was there when this beer was formulated and got to watch the brew go down. Mitch and Matt were adamant that they wanted to make a big beer that broke down some genre lines but was still very drinkable. I believe they succeeded and this is easily one of the best Fat Heads beers I've had this year.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2010 20:44:47 | More by jampics2

sitarist

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-28-2012 03:20:20 | More by sitarist

Tyrawlings

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.3%

02-12-2012 16:58:33 | More by Tyrawlings

BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes from the Stone night (where Mitch Steele signed my killer Stone's growler) at The Lackman.

A. Pours an amber brown with a tan creamy head that leaves bits of lacing down the glass.

S. Piney hops with a characteristic roasted/chocolate bitterness.

T. Nice rye spiciness with chocolate malt and some nice citrus and piney hop bitterness.

M. Medium bodied with creamy carbonation.

D. Damn fine. My favorite of the style so far.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2011 20:34:41 | More by BeerAndBourbon

udchemist

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had it on tap here in cincinnati @ lackmans bar. Tastes fairly hoppy on the front, but not sure there's a lot of complexity to this beer. Lighter mouthfeel, lower head retention, but there's something interesting on the tailend - adds a little bitterness not associated with the hops. Overall a good solid beer. Def tastes like a pale ale to me
Color - burgaNdy!

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2011 00:05:17 | More by udchemist

brew3crew

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-mocha head with an amber body
S-hoppy yet not overbearing. Little bit of wood
T-hops hit and are present throughout. Little bit of malt. My first rye beer so that may be it
M-medium body with almost a coffee aftertaste. Maybe that is the rye?
D-very drinkable. Wish i could have more!

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 23:18:29 | More by brew3crew

beerphan

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @fatheadspgh- > 12oz snifter

Arrives mostly black with a small tan head that settles to a ring before expanding to three milky way galaxies of film. Dotted sticky lace up and down the glass.
Nose: Piney citrus. Mild spice.

Medium full body, travels down smooth. A strong malt caramel base with hints of cocoa beans with herbal spice. Hops kick in with a citrus bite that is spicy and bitter. The rye lends a simcoe liike flavor, or perhaps Simcoe was used? No doubt the the rye bill sets this Black Ipa from the standard. Enjoyablely palate destroying spicy bitterness makes me feel all warm inside.

Word is Glenn is saving a barrel of this rare brew for a
Stone night hopefully to include a rare firkin! Can.t wait to cut out of work early for that event. If you can get down here and try this before its gone.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 16:46:24 | More by beerphan