Rye Hopper - French Broad Brewing Co.

detlefchef

North Carolina

2.35/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours an enticing copper color with attractive beige head that dissipates into moderate lacing. So, in other words, nice enough to good. That, unfortunately, is where the charm sort of ends.

Smells a bit like tomatoes, which, mind you, I tend to find in Rye ales. But this one was less an accent and more pronounced, which I didn't much like. The flavors are particularly grassy and somewhat cooked, which makes me wonder about the condition of the bottle (mind you, it was in the cooler of a very, very popular beer store). The texture itself was a bit washed out and the cooked nature of the finish certainly had ill-effects on the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 20:40:00 | More by detlefchef

Snow81

Minnesota

2.48/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy muddy orange

Head: Light tan head that dissipates quickly

Smell: Funk and big bright hops

Taste: Funk! I have now had a total of four different beers with this odd note and can’t pin point the flavor name, anyways there’s also a bit of bitterness I get in the back

Weight: Medium body with a low carbonation

Finish: Funk on the finish with a hint of bitter and the rye sticks on the end

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 03:46:41 | More by Snow81

mbrown26

North Carolina

2.73/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: The appearance was good with an orange to amber color that had some bubbles and a nice white head. There was a bit of haziness to the color.

S: Loved the smell as it was very fresh without having citrus notes.

T: First beer with rye and the rye was upfront. It was a little bit too "dry" for me.

M: A little bit too much carbonation for my tastes. Not sure if this is purposeful with the style... The rye and carbonation was prominent on the palate.

D: I had a hard time finishing this one. I'm still learning what I like and may have to revisit this one day when my experience grows.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 13:20:37 | More by mbrown26

PhillyStyle

Georgia

2.83/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle
5.9% abv
59 ibu

The beer appeared a deep, dark red, very much not what I expected, but for the better. A small off-white head was produced that was not all that well retained.

The aroma was a nice toasted rye aroma and a hint of hops, but overall, the aroma was lighter than expected.

The taste was extremely, overly bitter and there was not much rye flavor at all. Definitely reminded me of a DIPA.

The beer had a nice body to it, medium body with good carbonation.

Drinkability suffers from the bitterness. The beer also had a dry bitter aftertaste. Overall, it appears that I should give this beer another shot based on the other reviews.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2009 23:37:21 | More by PhillyStyle

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

picked up a bomber at a specialty beer store on Hilton Head Island.
poured a nice amber with a decent tan head and nice lacing as the head whisked away.
Smell was ok with spiceiness from therye possible coming through...some hoppy aromas as well. Malt is evident as well.
Taste seemed a bit off here. Have to wonder of the freshness of the bottle??
Just seemed to have metallic notes that really got in the way of the comlexity of the beer.
Couldnt find a date to confirm, but wouldnt seek this out again at this point.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 12:02:45 | More by dmamiano

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A deep copper, with some head and lace retention.

S - Amber and rye. Slight tabacco

T - Sweet, malty, maybe a little touch of bourbon? Definitely has some alcohol up front at the finish, which is surprising for an under 6% brew

M - Full bodied, lots of carbonation

O - An average rye beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 03:29:09 | More by BeerDawgs

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I got this in a recent trade but I cannot remember who sent it to me, thank you whoever you are! Dark amber color but not brown and yet not orange. Smells pretty nondescript, I was expecting hops given the label. The label also led me to believe I would taste rye in this beer but I got almost none of it. I did get a bit of oxidation though. Overall this was quite an average beer, not bad but not special at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 22:41:31 | More by ArrogantB

Cresant

Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served this 22 oz. brown bottle in a Sierra Nevada hops glass. No date. The body was amber and clear. The nearly white head left a healthy amount of lace in the glass.

The smell was of hard candy. Sour, leafy, spicy, and sweet. Dark bread, rye.

The taste was sweet and grainy first and then grassy bitterness. The bitterness lingered, ebbs and then returns in waves. There is some modest spiciness here as well as apples and other fruitiness. I would rather it not have as much breadiness, but more earthy happiness. No bad, but not one I would seek out again.

The mouthfeel was thinner than expected with a medium to thin body. Modest, but adequate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 13:51:15 | More by Cresant

SLeffler27

New York

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

There is a mere hint of a head above a hazed, ruddy-amber beer with an orange glow when held to the light. Slight rings of lace are deposited on the tulip glass.

Light pine sap aroma with very subtle orange. Altogether there is little going on.

The flavor is almost entirely dominated by grapefruit with high bitterness and a long, dry finish. Each sip includes a bitter bite that lingers.

A full body with soft texture and light carbonation. This one is very dry from the beginning through the end with light alcohol.

This is a decent beer, but should be consumed with a meal.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 18:38:32 | More by SLeffler27

Khazadum

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Insanely carbonated beverage here. Gentle pour created two fingers of head in my ten ounce pint glass. Get outta town with thgis one. Top is creamy, awesome, like freshly made styrofoam before you rip into it with rage and dismay at the direction your life may have gone.

Nice golden honey body that is clear reveals constant streams of bubbles from the bottom of the glass. Retention time is very appropriate, strong puffy lacing lingers around the edges making perfect circles.

Smells of pine, mild citrus, and a bit of spiciness that could only be the rye. Pretty simple build. Minor astringency of spices and plastic comes forth on the back end as it warms.

First impressions are mixed and confused. Seems to have the hops dominate the front while the rye spices up the back end? Interesting mix-up here. Again the opening is a bit citrus, a whole lot of pine, and a nice spiced back end. Nothing amazing, just simple.

Mild body has a very crisp opening, dry finish ( and middle for what its worth ), and mild lingering potential in the cracks and crevices of my mouth. Drinks easy, and I'm glad to have tried this. Probably wouldn't suggest this as the be all end all rye beer, though.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 23:22:39 | More by Khazadum

SilentSabre

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nice looking orange bronze body with a finger and a half craggy, foamy head that falls to a spotty blanket of frost in about a minute or so; laces the sides of the glass nicely.
Smell is nice, being comprised of rye bread and sweet, citrusy hops. There's also a touch of caramel hiding deep down, but herbal / grassy nuances dominate this one.
Flavour, too, is rye and sweet, citrusy hops with a pleasantly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel is rather average being neither offensive or spectacular. Weight is about what one would expect from something in the 5%-ish range, and carbonation is just enough to give your mouth a very gentle tickle. Certainly not my style, but a decent beer nevertheless. I would imagine the IPA crowd would like this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 00:28:51 | More by SilentSabre

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

APPEARANCE: Dark brown and transparent in color, no copper, no red, just straight brown. A very unusual color. The head was about a quarter-inch thick, lively and had decent retention.

SMELL: Hops, oak and rye dominate the nose, it smells complex, but not very strong.

TASTE: Not at all what I expected, like the color, this one tastes like a brown ale with some rye added. Very nutty with some toasted malt flavor, of course, the rye. A hint of smokiness also enters the picture towards the end and it sort of finishes like a dry porter.

MOUTHFEEL: Surprisingly light for what tastes like a brown ale, it is crisp and refreshing, which is good, cause I just finished an intense shift at the bar and I'm exhausted and thirsty. A nice finish to the day.

OVERALL: This is a unique beer. It isn't something I would go for all the time, but when I was in the mood for something a little different the Rye Hopper would do the trick.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 07:31:02 | More by StoneTSR

womencantsail

California

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing this one, Bobby.

A: The beer is amber in color with a white head and a touch of haze.

S: Slightly sweet on the nose with a nice hoppiness to it. It has a bit of grapefruit as well as orange zest and lemon. Some other fruit notes, though they're a bit less obvious. And there's toasted bread on the background.

T: The malt components are a bit more on display on the palate. Toast, bread, and plenty of rye to start off. The hop flavor is mostly grapefruit with a touch of lemon zest and only a moderate bitterness. While the flavor isn't bad, I don't really enjoy it much for some reason. Perhaps it's the hint of chocolate on the finish.

M: Medium in body and medium in carbonation.

O: Not something I'd really look to have again. Not my kind of beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 14:03:38 | More by womencantsail

drummerben

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis.

Deep amber color with two finger white, frothy head. Was surprised by the creamy white head on such a deep amber-colored beer.

Smelled of rye and pine. Taste was less hop and more spice than expected. Heavy on the rye, but not the best rye beer I've had. Light hop notes, but predominantly rye with a nice malty balance. Good mouthfeel with medium body and nice lacing. Smooth finish with a bit of a kick.

As much as I like rye, I didn't love this one. Might pick up a bomber to compare, but won't seek this one out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2009 01:16:04 | More by drummerben

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark rusty orange with a thin white head on top. Recedes to just a sheet across the surface. Some lace is left behind after each sip. I don't know what to make of the nose. At first whiff, I get sawdust, grain, and sour fruit. But as I'm sipping and taking a breath, this resembles wet gym clothes and locker room. Seriously. It smells odd to me.

Good crisp clean mouth. Fair carbonation. Refreshing finish. The rye really makes itself known in the flavor. Grainy start but gives way to slight souring notes, and a dry finish. I've wanted to try this one for awhile, and finally pulled the trigger. I'm not sure it's one I would make a regular buy, but I'm glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 19:30:07 | More by Onenote81

Brenden

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a 750 after enjoying this beer on tap at the brewpub.

The color is a deep gold verging on more of a pale amber. A soft, fluffy but sturdy little white head forms, fading to a foam that leaves light, spotty lacing.
The smell is a clean balance of hops (citrus), caramel malts, and rye bread.
The taste is where this one differs from the tap; not only is it not as well balanced, the rye is tangy with an astringent, metallic tinge that makes for a bad aftertaste. I don't know what happened here, but it was in a bottle from the brewery itself and one from a local store.
The body is medium and carbonation is moderate. There's a nice smoothness after an initial crisp nip.
This is still a good beer if you can try to get over that aftertaste, but I'd recommend it from the tap.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 14:51:44 | More by Brenden

sommersb

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at the Corsair taproom in Nashville.

A clear, dark amber colored beer with a small white head. Very hoppy aroma with a citrus character. Taste is crisp and bitter with the rye and hops dominating over the malt backbone. Medium body that finished dry and bitter.

A good beer but probably not something I'd choose again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2011 21:16:04 | More by sommersb

glazeman

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber courtesy of Macky20 in a recent trade. Poured into a snifter. Thanks a lot Matt!

A: Dark amber in color with a hint of orange. There is a fluffy 2 finger white head that has excellent lacing and moderate retention. Overall, this is a beautiful beer.

S: The weakest part of this beer in my opinion. There is not much going on here, and the nose definitely leavings me wanting more. I get a little bit of rye, but not much, and a tad of cherry.

T: Thankfully the taste is way more interesting, deep, and complex than the smell. Lots of rye up front, and as the beer warms, the bitter hop profile comes alive at the finish. This is a very nicely balanced beer.

M: Spot on mouthfeel. There is a nice aftertaste, a medium body, and a nice level of carbonation.

D: Pretty high drinkability, although as this warms that bitter hops become a little too pronounced for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 01:57:26 | More by glazeman

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Color is a dark shade of amber, nearly brown. Head is average, but a nice amount of lacing is left on the glass. The smell is herbal, floral, and malty, and pleasing to the nose. The taste is malt-forward - nutty and bready - with rye also playing a big role, adding spiciness and a tingle on the tongue. Hop flavors are in the background, and are mainly floral. I think it would benefit from more citrus hop flavors to provide better balance. It's a decent rye, but not a memorable one.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 19:23:36 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a woody mahogany amber color. There is a sparkly character from the steady stream of tight champagne like bubbles though virtually no head just a film of white bubbles. Though it leaves thick lacing against the glass with every sip.

S - nose is simple yet pleasant. Strong malt character with noticeable earthy rye. Theres also notes of tree nuts and toast. Bright aromas of candied orange peel round out the nose.

T - lots of nutty flavors and multigrain toast up front. The center is rich with malt flavors of toffee playing off of bright citric hop notes. Finish is quick and dry.

M - medium bodied with a creamy, smooth texture. High carbonation with tight scrubbing bubbles.

O - a very enjoyable ale. Balanced and flavorful. Great for a cool evening.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 01:57:10 | More by Teleweizen2

rajendra82

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is the first French Broad (love the name) beer I have ever picked up. The Rye Hopper was poured into a standard pint glass, and it looked darker than I was expecting. The body was a deep shade of copper and clear, and the head atop was foamy. I did not see any carbonation streamers. The smell was sweet and fruity, which is odd for a beer named Rye Hopper. The taste was also sweet and mildly bitter. The bready taste was followed by a bit of spiciness. The body was soft, but this beer lacked the carbonation to make it feel creamy. Easy to drink for sure, but not the most memorable beer made with Rye.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2009 04:47:56 | More by rajendra82

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange amber with a half inch of white head and some very nice lacing.

S-Malty, a hint of sour rye graininess and a bit of earthy hops.

T-Nice. A bit sour in the front and some nice sweet malt and some mild hop bite in the finish.

M-Light to medium bodied and a bit dry.

D-Tasty, sessionable,

HV

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 01:27:13 | More by sholland119

katan

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz into a pint

A - Pours a clear, golden to brown color. Somewhat opaque, but no floating materials. Head formation is light, off white in color. Starts at 1mm, breaks down to a film.

S - A big time grainy, somewhat sweet, rye nose. The astringency of that malt is very apparent. Some american hopping is noticeable, but only in the background.

T - Starts off lightly sweet, 2 row malt, clean barley. In comes a very earthy, grainy rye note - astringency begins to grow. Mid-stream gets more stinging, biting grain notes. Finishes with the first recognizable hops.

M - Higher carbonation, moderate beer body. Stinging carbonation overcomes any shortcomings in the body. Finishes with a grainy astringent tongue grabbing film.

D - Moderate drinkability. This beer's rye-ness is probably good to style, but not good for sessioning. A bit abusive to the tongue, could be more balanced. Higher carbonation can be filling.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 03:20:15 | More by katan

tastybeer

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a bad looking brew. Woody auburn color topped by an initially large tan, finely bubbled head. Aroma is of decomposing leaves, wood, mulch mixed with cocoa, orange pulp, sweet grain and spice. Taste is interesting. Earthy cocoa + mulch, root veggies (perhaps beets and/or potatoes), rye tartness, and a little caramel. Texture is slippery smooth, undisturbed by the extra fine carbonation. All the while, various flavors slide around within a medium body. The slickness makes this go down very easy, leaving the the mouth thinly coated.

This is an interesting brew. A nice change of pace from the all the IPAs I've been drinking lately.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2009 01:14:01 | More by tastybeer

aubuc1

Florida

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

draft poured in to a shaker pint glass.

pors a light amber with a steady off white head.

smell is sweet piney and bitter.

taste is smooth chalky bitter. not as clean as i hoped.

mouthfeel is good and beer is pretty drinkable.

an above average beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2009 19:07:21 | More by aubuc1