Ham On Rye - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served at a veggie beer dinner at Local Option, paired with brie-stuffed gnocchi, in a smoked tomato butter sauce, with roasted fennel & onion.

Sampled about 12 oz. of this creative brew. It had a thin skim of foam on it when it arrived, but the head retention was poor. The surface had a slightly viscous look to it when swirled. The color was a saturated golden amber.

Intense smoky aroma of cured pork, proscuitto, smoked ham, even bacon. The intensity is greater than Schlenkerla Helles, but not quite to Urbock/Weizen levels. A very nice smokiness, later on it lessens in concentration allowing some bready malt and rye aroma to show through.

Flavors follow the nose, it has a bready, spicy character from the rye malt, and plenty of smoke flavor too. The finish is fairly dry and woody, but the body is a little flaccid without much supporting carbonation. It was a nice pairing with the course, and was mostly sipped at for about 20 minutes or so.

This is a Rauchbier, and meant to be intensely smoky. The authors of low reviews here don't seem to be aware that this is a legitimate beer style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2008 17:21:56 | More by emerge077

tpd975

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Nice amber colored pour with an average sized cream colored head. Just small spots of lace left behind.

S: The aroma is very smokey with hints of meat and salt. Touches of spice as well, but very earthy.

T: Very bold smoked flavor. Not your normal smoke either. This one is very meaty like homemade jerky. Touches of salt and spicey rye as well. Does in fact taste a bit like a sandwich. All you would need is a splash of pickle juice to make it complete.

M: Medium in body, pretty smooth.

D: They serve it in an imperial. Could easily be served in a 1/2 pint in which they serve most of their big beers. Uniquely enjoyable, but not one to be sessioned.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2008 14:54:36 | More by tpd975

bassmantin

Illinois

1.9/5  rDev -50%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Haha, this beer is hilarious. It tastes exactly like a ham sandwich. There is absolutely nothing else to say about it. It tastes like a salty ham sandwich.

I have no idea how they did it, but it's spot on. Unfortunately, even though they nailed the taste, ham sandwich isn't a very good beer flavor.

I definitely give FFF points for originality and successfully doing what they were trying to do, but other than that, this is not an enjoyable beer.

No big deal, though, these guys have earned the right to experiment. Still the best brewery in the world, in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2008 01:41:13 | More by bassmantin

iconoklaztor

Indiana

2.65/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I HATE to give FFF a review like this but here goes. I did not like this brew. I only had a couple sips because I wouldnt have been able to drink anymore than that. Its seriously like a piece of salt ham. I'm sure thats what they were aiming for but its a very wierd taste! Unless you have food you cant drink it IMHO.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2008 17:01:50 | More by iconoklaztor

kirok1999

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled at DLD 08. Appeared in a nice tulip like glass, a nice amber with white head.
Smell is massive rye notes and nice smokey sweetness.
Taste is a knockout rye with a good malt balance and I suppose some hops. This thing really tastes and smells like a ham sandwich. I'm impressed....but....how? I never wanted a ham sandwich so much in my life. Mild carbonation and very smooth. Feels a little thin and mild. Not sure about drinkability just due to the massive rye. One suited me just fine.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2008 21:18:13 | More by kirok1999

bgramer

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What can I say about the Ham on Rye?? Wow. We all thought we smelled smoked ham when sniffing the glass. There was incredible balance in the complexity - a smokiness that didn't overpower the maltiness and spiciness of the beer. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied and the carbonation was light.

This needs to be bottled and released as a seasonal beer. It's perfect for that weekend afternoon in the fall when you want to grill a big fat reuben sandwich for a football game.

Serving type: growler

04-08-2008 15:51:54 | More by bgramer

jeonseh

Indiana

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

Had this on tap at FFF into a nonic pint glass. According to the menu it has 20 IBUs and was brewed in honor of Henry Chinoski and was a collaboration with Johnathon Cutler of Piece Brewery.

A -- a light magohonoy color with stream of golden light and even seems like there is a bit of an orange color haze that also pervades this beer. It was also mildly opaque as only a small amount of light seemed to go through this beer. There was a small white head that sat on top for a few seconds before fading away leaving on a light white head that sat on the sides of the glass.

S - smell is hints of cured meat; mostly ham more than other cured meats and there is also a light smokiness that seems to come forth from this one.There also is a light hint of orange to me that seems a bit out of place and on the whole, don't think this one is all too fragrant.

T - the first taste is a slightly sweet malt that seems to sit on the tongue and give the taste of almost caramel or maple syrup. However, the main taste comes forth which is smoked kielbasa in my opinion. There is a light bit of sweetness that combats some of the smokiness and it almost tastes a bit like a sweet drizzle on the kielbasa. Have to say that the main flavors are truly a kielbasa smokiness especially in the aftertaste as the aftertaste reminds me of the smoked aspect of the meat and even a bit like the greasy, fat aftertaste on gets from eating said kielbasa. Overall, an interesting and unique brew and can definitely saw they reached their goals of making a beer that taste like cured meat.

MF - a nice, thick and full bodied brew that one can definitely tell they are drinking. Almost makes it taste like you are eating a full meal and would say this beer taste and feels like eating a mouthful of kielbasa and sauerkraut. There is a light amount of carbonation and there is also a bit of a greasy coating that is left on the tongue which reminds me of the feeling after eating kielbasa.

D - a beer that would be a perfect replacement for a kielbasa and sauerkraut meal as the smoky meat taste is so prevalent. On the whole I am not too sure as to how I feel about this beer. It is good and interesting and accomplishes its goal but after a while it started to get old and a bit too much for me. The greasy meat aftertaste started to wear on me and really had no desire to have another. On the whole, I would say this is a beer worth trying but not one that I would try again after having the experience once.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2008 04:05:47 | More by jeonseh