Rye Hopper - French Broad Brewing Co.

Daktah

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours bright copper with good dose of slightly off-white head. Great lacing left behind. Smell is lots of fresh, crisp rye bread and citrus hops. Taste brings more of the same, with spicy rye notes, citrus hops, a bit of caramel sweetness, and a subtle earthy taste. Perfect balance between malt and hops. Mouthfeel is slightly above medium, and exceedingly drinkable.

This is the gold standard of rye beers for me. Only Founders Red's Rye and the Lenny Bruce beer from He'Brew showcase rye as well as Rye Hopper does. Pair this with some great music at the French Broad tasting room and you have a perfect combo.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2013 14:33:03 | More by Daktah

tdm168

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Village Draft House in Raleigh

Arrived a dark amber with little head. Smells of roasted malts and peppery rye. Taste is predominantly rye, but with a nice malt balance. The rye sits on the tongue and offers a good bite, but isn't overpowering. Reminds me of a good pastrami sandwich. Medium bodied and well carbonated. I don't think I could have too many of these at once, but this one was good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 09:26:36 | More by tdm168

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

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love Rye Beers. I really love Rye beers. When well executed, they have the perfect bready/spice flavor that just makes me happy. This beer is among my favorite Rye beers. So, that means I LOVE this beer. Enjoyed this at Barley’s tap room so much with dinner, that we went back later just to have another.

The beer came with a finger of creamy off white head that left a decent amount of lacing. The beer is a clear brown color that is distinctive to beers made with Rye.

Aroma is balanced with a nice mix of rye notes, some crusty bread and floral hops. The menu said that this was the first beer released by the brewer. I am confident this is their best and it’s great.

Bready, light spice and a wonderful hop flavor. More citrus vs. pine but decent complexity. This is such a fresh tasting beer that has such wonderful depth. The aftertaste is a great mix of bread notes and the hop bitterness. Both linger and are great.

So smooth and almost creamy… Not oily but lays on the tongue. Great.

Did I mention that I love this beer?

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 21:32:20 | More by Reagan1984

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crystal clear light copper color with a fine head and plenty of lacing.

Spicy rye bread aroma. Piney hops balance the rye flavor. Crisp on a medium body. Light on the palate with the carbonation and spiciness inspiring quaffing this one right down.

A good thirst quencher, crisp and sharp.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 17:11:17 | More by CliffBrake

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear reddish amber that is almost mahogany. Malty aroma has a rye overtone and hoppy and yeasty hints. Strongly hoppy flavor has a firm rye tone and only a little bitterness. Texture is rough, fizzy and ragged. This one is a joy to drink if you like a firm, sassy, earthy beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2011 00:40:43 | More by Cyberkedi

ElGordo

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got a draft pint at the CNN Center Taco Mac during a work conference. Pours an amber-orange color, topped by a bit of creamy white head that leaves a bit of pretty lacing on the glass. Aroma is heavy on the malt and rye - slightly tangy, with a touch of caramel and some citrusy hops.
Palate is up front with the rye and barley malt - a blend of mild caramel sweetness and spicy, tangy rye. The hops come through mid-palate, giving a flourish of pine and/or grapefruit before yielding again to the spiciness of the rye on the finish.
Body is light but substantial enough to carry the flavor. Nicely drinkable. I'm impressed with this offering - not a knockout by any means, but a solid, quaffable ale that takes advantage of the rye quality. I should seek out more rye beers - this is interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 23:12:59 | More by ElGordo

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Slightly hazy copper kissed orange with a thin, off-white head that reduced to a wispy veil that left spotty lace.

S-Sharp, spicy zip with notes of citrus and pepper. Malt base is light and moderately sweet.

T-Strong rye spiciness with backing citrus hops. Fairly simplistic and straight forward but it works well.

M-Medium-light bodied with sharp and crisp with a dry finish. Good lingering spicy bitterness.

D-A solid, easy to drink and pleasing palate stimulator. Full of rye dryness, spicy zip and citrus zing. Well done and flavourful. Certainly a beer I could drink with regularity.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 13:23:19 | More by Deuane

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap @ Revolution Pizza (Charlotte, NC) on 9/4/09. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a clear amber, with a finger of soft looking brite-white head. Retains with a creamy and smooth look, that just slathers the sides of the glass with rich lacing. The aroma is floral and piney in the nose, with an earthy spiciness to it, from a combo of the hops and rye. Sweet notes of bread, caramel, and citrus, give this a sticky backing.

The taste is sticky sweet, with a spicy and drying nature to it. A moderately sharp bitterness, lingers long and steady. Nice soft tang to this, from the malts and citric notes. The mouthfeel is medium bodied (maybe a tad lighter in spots), with a softer and slick creaminess to the carbonation. A bit more of a prickly nature rears it's head in the back, giving this some pop towards the back of the swallow.

Nice. Solid blend of hops character, spicy rye, and sweeter malts here, wrapped up in a sleek and drinkable body. I didn't quite expect to like this one nearly as much as I did. A winner from French Broad.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2009 16:45:11 | More by Kegatron

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

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

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Lightly hazed, mahogany-hued body with a small-sized, ivory-hued head.

Smell: A scent of slightly toasted, nicely spicy rye bread, citrus-minded hops, and a few oh-so lonely drops of pristine caramel.

Taste: Sweetened, lightly toasted malts with a meager hint of dry caramel. Ah, there's my spicy-tasting, damn-near peppery rye. Earthy, lightly citrusy hops with a moderate amount of bitterness spurred on by the endearingly spicy rye qualities. Becomes increasingly dry approaching the finish. Touches of spice and earthiness linger into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: "What some rye? 'Course ya do." Rye Hopper maintains a more than pleasant balance between the sweetish malts and the spicy rye and bitter hops. Pleasantly drinkable and good expression of rye in beer, though, I will admit, I'm a bit partial to Terrapin's Rye Squared.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2009 01:48:19 | More by ChainGangGuy

shivtim

Georgia

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BSP.

Served in a pint glass. Dark copper, mostly clear but a slight bit of haze. Nice little whitish head fades quickly.
Nose is hoppy. Not much of the rye there.
Taste is spicy rye, interweaving pine hops and malts, and more lingering bready rye. Nice combination of flavors.
Pretty decent mouthfeel and drinkability. Nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2009 21:57:01 | More by shivtim

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Brick Store Pub in Decatur GA. The beer was hazy dark copper color, thick rich looking off-white head, lots of wet lacing on the glass. Spicy rye and earthy hops in the aroma. The taste had a nice bite of rye and bitter hops, caramel malt througout but the spiciness sets the overall tone. Very good, as drinkable as any rye beer I've had to date.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2009 01:37:22 | More by TurdFurgison

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of grassy hops and robust caramel malts with a hint of spiciness from the rye.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Caramel malt flavors up front are soon joined by grassy and piney hop flavors. Near the end of the sip a good amount of spiciness kicks in before a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a very nice thickness with solid carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I had no problem finishing my glass and could have a few of these.

Overall this is a good and hoppy rye beer (as the name would suggest) that does a good job of integrating the rye. It falls short of the best rye beers out there, but is still worth a shot.

Note: I tried this side by side with the bottle version and the tap version is thicker with a cleaner hop flavor. Definitely try on-tap if possible.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2009 02:05:11 | More by glid02

wcudwight

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Amber in color with no head and no lacing. This could be more from the pour than the beer itself.
Nice aroma of earthy hops and rye.
Sweet caramel malt backbone with a healthy dose of rye. The hops are more subdued than expected given the name of the beer. But they are there and of the earthy variety. This beer is more rye heavy than hop heavy imo.
Mouthfeel is medium with a bit more sharpness from the rye which I like.
Overall it's a good beer that you should give a try if you have the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2009 22:14:44 | More by wcudwight

tmoneyba

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft sample at KBJ08.

Poured clear copper color with an average fizzy off-white head that mostly lasted and produced good lacing. Moderate rye & citrus hoppy aroma. Medium body with soft carbonation. Moderate bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration.

My expectations where met and I hope this was not a one off.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2009 23:26:08 | More by tmoneyba

GJ40

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at the Mellow Mushroom in Asheville.
A - An amber, caramel color with good clarity. It had almost no head and very little lacing.

S - Mostly toasted malt. I was expecting more hops but there wasn't much.

T - Starts malty and sweet but quickly goes to a nice hop flavor with grapefruit. Some rye flavor joins in but not a lot. Slightly tart and bitter in the finish.

M - A bit thin with a nice low carbonation.

D - Very smooth, balanced and drinkable. I really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2009 03:16:42 | More by GJ40

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on draft at both the brewery and at Barleys in Asheville.

Dispensed from the tap a chocolate brown color with a small white head. Not much in the way of lacing or head retention.

Aroma is clearly rye and some hops. Not much else. Some chocolate and coffee but rye seems to be the star of the show, and that is fine with me.

Very nice flavor. Chocolate and rye greet the tongue immediately. Medium body and such a smooth and sweet drinkability. I really enjoyed this: so much so that I had the same beer in two different places. Well done!

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2009 02:31:22 | More by SaCkErZ9

ckeegan04

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Barley's in Asheville.

A - Dark brown with ruby red highlights. Very thin tan head that quickly dissipates to a thin layer. Very good lacing.

S - The nose was the most disapointing part of this beer. Faint spicy rye aroma and some darker caramel malts. Very little hop presence.

T - A somewhat medicinal spiciness initially, priamrily a rye spiciness. Caramel sweetness comes through quickly providing a nice balance. A lightly spicy bitterness comes through mid drink before the medicinal spiciness comes back through.

M/D - Very dry like a good rye beer. Medium bodied and very crisp as well. Easy drinking but not the best rye beer I have had. Still not sure why they chose to highlight hops in the name.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2008 04:22:50 | More by ckeegan04

rtratzlaff

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 20 oz Draft of a clear amber body below a thin white head that dissipates quickly.

Aromas of bitter hop character with a slight hint of rye.

The taste is great with a balance of malt, hop bitterness and a slight rye spice. A caramel malt character that gives some sweetness lies just beneath the surface of flavor.

This is probably one of the best rye beers I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2008 21:56:51 | More by rtratzlaff

ByTor2112

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Asheville Pizza.
Poured up a light brown, almost copper color, with some reddish hues escaping with the light.
No head, minimal lacing.
Aroma- malty with some very faint piney hops notes.
Mouthfeel- I found this to be rather bold in the flavor profile- mlaty with some caramel, hops are medium but the Rye, oh the Rye doth give this one an edge! me likey! Finishes with a bit of a medicinal bitterness. I'll agree with the previous review this one does not get crazy with the hops but the Rye really makes it a bit more aggressive on the palate. I could session this one but it feels like it might have an ABV of at least 6.5%. Good brew

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2008 16:11:03 | More by ByTor2112

ncvbc

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one is a brownish hue with amber and ruby shades. Minimal head and retention isn't the greatest. Smell is nice but not what I had expected from a beer with Hopper in the name. Bigger on the malts than anything. Some caramel, chocolate, and a distinct nutty scent. Very light to no hops present, though still very enticing. Taste is much of the same. Reminds me of the malt profile of many Catawba Valley brews. A definite malt presence. Oh so yummy chocolate and caramel malt. A good nutty flavor to compliment. A hoppy flavor shows up toward the finish but could have done wonders if used a bit more liberally. Of course, there is a light spicy flavor, though like the hops not as present as I had imagined. Still, very nice and interesting to say the least. Mouthfeel lacked the bitterness that again I had expected from the name alone. Smooth, good carbonation, though lacking a certain bitterness from the "hopper" in the name. I could have a couple, if not a few, pints of this. A good beer that just didn't live up to my hop head expectations. I still want to give it another go.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2008 03:20:03 | More by ncvbc

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.76/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass, dark amber brownish with a short tan light head that dissipates leaving little lacing, clear

S: spicey pepper from the rye, pine hops

T: nice rye presence without being overpowering, peppery and bready with a crisp hop finish, bitter pine resin at the end

M: thinner with lower carbonation

O: rye is present but not outlandish, balanced well with the hops but neither flavor is powerful

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 02:08:50 | More by M_C_Hampton

GPHarris

Alabama

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a - poured a one finger thick off-white head into a snifter that left great lacing throughout. the body was a clear and bright amber color.
s - citrus, sweet malts, rye.
t - piney and citrusy hops with a bit of spice.
m - crisp and medium.
o - solid rye beer with a lot of hop punch.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 18:30:51 | More by GPHarris