Private Rye Bière De Garde - Jack's Abby Brewing

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Thanx bth86:

Spring 2013 bottle date

Into a pilsener:

A: hazy reddish-amber body, one finger white foamy head that quickly dies, no lacing whatsoever

S: pears and apples in front, some light rye and grassiness coming through

T: spicy yet sweet yet peppery as a fair amount of a nice rye peppery flavoring comes through to spice things up a bit and make it feel more than it should be.

M: medium body, sessionable, adequate carbonation

O: wow, what a nice Biere de Garde that has been lagered enough for it to be considered to be a lager. Good for Jack's Abby, as I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:35:29 | More by kangarooAdam59

Dope

Massachusetts

3.89/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Spring 2013 bottle date (probably 2 months old).

A: A nice clear reddish-amber pour. Big fluffy offwhite head. Fades slowly with little swirls of lacing behind. Excellent retention.

S: Rye bread notes. Light fruits like pears and apples. Some wet grass in there too.

T: Heavy on the spicy rye for sure. Rye and black pepper in fact. Light fruits as mentioned in the aroma but much less here, mainly in the finish along with a touch of grass. More spicy rye and lots of black pepper in the finish and lingering aftertaste.

M: High carbonation, quite airy. Medium body.

O: Interesting biere de garde. Quite crisp and sharp, with lots of spiciness loaded throughout. I had this fresh and I actually prefer it this way with a few months on it. Seems a little more mellow and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:18:15 | More by Dope

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. When opened, a slow rise of foam that would have overflowed if not poured. When poured, head disappeared almost immediately. Color was a nice dark golden copper color. Aroma was a slightly sour fruity smell, that mellowed and developed a bit of malt over time. Flavor was a floraly fruit, with a bit of hoppy bite in the backend. Felt ok in the mouth. A bit of coat, with some tongue tingle going on. Overall, not a bad beer. A bit more complex than I was initially expecting.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 23:16:55 | More by mountdew1

sommersb

Tennessee

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Tasted On: 04-23-2013
Freshness: Spring 2013 vintage
Packaging: 500ml brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Cervoise glass
Purchased: Received in a trade

A big thanks to DrewShal9 for this trade!

Pours as a semi-clear amber beer with an attractive head of off-white on top. Both lacing and head retention are very good.

The smells start with some Belgian yeast funk, with a musty character. I also pick up aromas of citrus orange and then the spiciness of rye grains.

The taste features a strong rye presence - very spicy and a bit harsh at times. Other notes are of bready malts (although this beer is quite dry) and some woodiness. The body seems average and carbonation is on the high side. The finish is very similar to the taste, with dryness and spicy rye malts featured.

Overall I enjoyed this beer, although I think scaling back the rye bill a bit would make for a better-tasting beer and one that was more in line with the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:59:56 | More by sommersb

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Slight haze on a rich orange-copper color. Head is white and creamy with some large bubbles. Moderate retention on a small, clumpy, creamy cap and collar. Some spots of lacing.

Smell: Some mild esters. Fruity and yeasty. A solid hit of clove and banana with some underlying damp basement and grass. Almost floral on the edges. A bit of caramel malt sweetness. Nice building spiciness in the back. Pretty mild overall. Some apple and lager yeast.

Taste: Mild rye spiciness. Some backing lager yeast. Faint esters. Some apples skin and flower petals. Light caramel malt sweetness. Vaguely bready. Grass, hay, damp earth. Vaguely musty. Some minor hints of citrus from the hops layered over the top. Toasted, but lightly. Candi sugar sweetness is mild but works as a nice compliment to the light spicy rye.

Mouthfeel: Higher than average carbonation, but not by much. Medium body with a clean finish.

Overall: I don't see a promotion in your future.

Not the best beer from Jack's Abby, but it has that distinct quality I expect from Jack's Abby. A unique blend of esters and rye and lager yeast.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:13:33 | More by Goblinmunkey7

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: high carbonation, orange-brown in color, 1/2 inch head, hazy

Smell: caramel and rye--not the strongest smelling beer

Taste: big rye that is present but never overwhelming, hay, and citrusy hops

Mouthfeel: crisp, medium bodied, high carbonation, bitter with slight sweetness

Overall: I think this is one of Jack's Abbey's better brews. The rye is nice and spicy but never overly bitter. The rest of the beer is malty and complex. Split a four pack with a friend in no time at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 13:30:50 | More by tigg924

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

.5L bottle served in a tulip glass.

L - deep copper color with a off-white head that thinned to a layer leaving some spotty lacing.

S - sourdough rye bread with some citrus fruit.

T - sourdough bread, rye spice and a little lemon tartness on the finish.

F - light/medium bodied with lively carbonation.

O - a very enjoyable beer well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 21:12:34 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Gatch

Massachusetts

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Spring 2013

A: Copper-yellow in color with a thick, fluffy, off-white head. Decent lace and not much retention. Give it a good swirl, though, and the head reappears quickly.

S: Lightly toasted malt, some barn/hay aromas...I hate to say it, but it smells like an American Macro Lager.

T: The malt flavors are unique and delicious. Some fruity, barny, and earthy qualities. I'm guessing there were cereal grains used because they stand out. Delicious, satisfying finish. As my pint glass became less full, this beer grew on me. Didn't get much rye nor candy sugar nor French farmhouse style.

M: Very light yet creamy body. Carbonation is spot-on. Super easy-drinking. Went through the bottle way too fast.

O: I haven't had many beers of this style but I expected it to be a little funkier and unique. Basically a light American lager with a bit of wild character to it. I'd say the weakest offering from Jack's Abby that I've had so far. But still pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 21:24:19 | More by Gatch

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Poured into a snifter from the 16oz bottle with a dark golden-orange, coppery body. A foamy, creamy head forms atop of this to a finger or two in size and has fairly good retention. A frothy ring stays around the sides of the beer and leaves a lot of legs and some patchy lace.

S- Spicy and yeasty are probably the two words that would describe this best for me. Raisin, citrus zest, peppercorn and spicy rye bread are prominent notes. Caramelized sugars, banana, clove and some herbal hints as well.

T- Rye is noticeable right off the bat, the malt character is very nice overall. Rye spice, cereal grain, caramel and some dark brown sugar notes from the grains. The yeast used in this beer is also quite interesting especially with some warmth. Raisins, spice, banana, clove, fig and citrus zest hints. Some herbal and spicy notes in the finish that could come from both yeast and/or some hops.

MF- Very silky smooth as one would expect from a beer with 30% rye in the grain bill. Carbonation is high but the creaminess of the beer offsets any harshness and allows everything to blend together nicely. Slight bit of warmth is quite nice with the flavors present.

I once made a rye beer with about 30% of the grain bill as rye, the mouthfeel and rye flavor present resembles that beer a lot actually. Beyond that the yeast is quite nice and I am curious as to what kind of process or strain they used. Another solid offering from this great local brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:12:35 | More by cbutova

MasterSki

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Greg (Reagan1984) for sending a growler of this my way. Shared while filming the party scenes for Ale Obsession. Served in a tulip.

A - Generous white foam settles to a thin cap, thick collar, and minimal lacing. Hazed dark golden orange body.

S - I'm not clear on whether this uses a traditional Belgian yeast strain and is lagered, or if it actually uses lager yeast, but I'd guess the former? There's definitely fruity and lightly pheonlic yeast character here. Rye is present, with a bready malt backdrop, and a low amount of candi sweetness.

T - The taste is very bready, with a sharp and spicy grain character to it. Again, there's lightly fruity yeast notes and a touch of buttered biscuit sweetness as well. Less, overtly Belgian here, and a more of an American-style rye beer.

M - Slightly toasty and grainy texture, medium body, with moderate carbonation, and a dry, crisp finish. No alcohol of which to speak.

D - Solid stuff, and a good take on a style by which I've been largely underwhelmed. The lagering seems to have restrained the yeast presence and let the malt come through a bit more than other American Bière De Gardes I've had. A bit high ABV for a table beer, but this drinks like one - we finished the growler with minimal problems.

Serving type: growler

03-12-2013 03:38:23 | More by MasterSki

tkelley

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a large tulip glass.

A - copper / caramel color with a beige head with light lacing. Hazy.

S - can really smell the yeast and the malt, backed by the rye spiciness.

T - light tasting lagerbeer with a good malt backbone. Spicy from rye. Not choppy really, but the hop presence is evident. Earthy and kind of fruity.

M - medium body. Not a lot of carbonation but the bubbles are bigger.

O - very enjoyable. Its like a regular drinking lager but a bit offbeat.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 00:54:21 | More by tkelley

MCG

Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Another fine beer from Jack's Abby. I would certainly recommend it, as I would with most of their offerings.

A: Golden, brownish, and quite a bit of haze. A sold tight-bubbled head.

S: The aroma is sweet, yeasty, and certainly a little bit of funk.

T: The taste is quite nice. Malty sweetness, bready, and a rush of rye on the tail end. The sweetness is more reminiscent of a Belgian than anything, but it fits in nicely.

M: A pleasing mouthfeel. The aforementioned rush of rye leaves a nice lingering dryness.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:00:49 | More by MCG

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A-Pours a hazy dark orange hue. Head is a thin layer of foam. Thick sheets of lacing.

S-Yeasty with some underlying sweetness. Lightly funky. Some candied fruits. I am also getting some green grass too. Definite rye. Interesting.

T-Starts off full of lager yeast and light barnyard funk. The middle is predominantly where the fruity sweetness lies. The rye is long and spicy. The flavor finishes with a potent grassy hop bang.

M-Medium bodied. Mild bitterness. Drinks like a smooth lager. The rye adds a pleasurable element to the feel. Soft bubbles.

O/D-Another supremely unique brew by Jack's Abby. I prefer their hoppier offerings but this is a damn good brew.I could turn a bunch of people (even newbies) onto this beer. Will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 22:07:23 | More by VelvetExtract

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

500ml bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Red-orange in color with only the slightest haze. The creamy off-white head stands at a solid two fingers and looks very appetizing. Great retention. Spotty lacing.

S: Yeasty aromas waft out of the glass. Banana, tropical fruits, pepper and spice. Layered malt scents are a deft balancing act of creamy and coarse rye. Peaches and cream. Very slight musty scent. Perhaps a slight suggestion of spicy hops.

T: Coarse wheaty taste up front gives way to a wave of dry, spicy rye. Slight phenolic bite of clove. Creamy impression; banana, peaches and cream. Subtle tropical esters. Subdued notes of white and black pepper. Supporting grassy/herbal hop bitterness. Dry finish of spicy rye and fading yeast.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied. Lush and filling in the mouth. Extremely creamy. Small amount of prickling carbonation slightly accentuates the spiciness. Very smooth.

O: An interesting combination of flavors. Not a hard beer to drink, but the rye doesn't quite seem to fit the rest of the flavor profile. In fact, it starts to dominate after a while and wears on the palate just a little bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 20:50:42 | More by ryan1788a5

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours an ambered copper with a huge yellowing white head of creamy bubbles. The beer’s body is lager clean but with a darker haze, and tiny carbonation bubbles can be seen racing up to replenish the fat head. The beer leaves behind a lovely network of dry sticky lacing, almost like the layers of the earth with tree roots running between them. On the nose, the beer smells of light spicy bread with a touch of saison funk, but with a very clean feel on the nose. The rye malt is the most prominent thing in the nose, and gives some wonderful spicy rye bread notes. On the tongue, the beer tastes clean with a light flavor palate of bitter and salty dry bread with a faint touch of sweetness. The beer begins with muted bread notes that slowly open into spicy rye bread with a nice hit of grassy hops. The finish is strong with the grassy and hay-like hops, while the aftertaste lingers with very muted rye spice. On the mouth, the beer feels medium light in body and leaves the mouth slightly astringent yet wet on the sides of the tongue and dry on the roof of the mouth. Overall, this isn’t a bad beer. I haven’t really had a Bière De Garde , so I don’t know for style how to grade this beer. I can say that it is very muted in flavor compared with other Jack’s Abby beers. It’s tasty, just not as in your face as others. I like this beer, but it didn’t blow me away.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:10:34 | More by Maxwell

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I sometimes enjoy a biere de garde when done right, but most of the ones I've had before are meh. However, one of the few breweries I would trust outside of Northern France to do it right is Jack's Abby.

Pours a nice fizzy almost 2 finger head that gets kinda thick and fluffy and fades fairly slowly, nice fluffy lacing too, quite clear slight amber autumn-leaves orange auburn color, quite a few bubbles streaming up from the bottom. As the head fades and collapses it turns to a very thick frothy head.

Nose has some nice farmhouse funk, wheat grass, straw and a bit of wet hay even, plenty of wheat itself, grassy herbal dried straw and a touch of herbal spices, a bit of dried grass, light leafy herbal but mostly grassy hops, which gives way to the spicy rye in the middle, distinct spicy grainy rye aroma, and a little bready yeast with a fruity touch.

Taste starts with the lager qualities, a little fruity lager yeast flavor, light grainy bready yeast taste, etc. Then quickly comes the farmhouse flavors, farmhouse funk, grainy malts, wheat-grass again, dried grass, straw, plenty of wheat flavors again. The grassy malts get juicy even, toasty grainy malt, etc. Rye is there as well, spicy and bready, that even adds a light fruitiness like the lager yeast does. There are light grassy hops too, a little herbal and spicy, just a bit, but mostly grassy again. The mild sweetness blends in well, and continues onto the finish although it dries quite a bit, a nice big rye spicy flavor on the finish, with more farmhouse funk that's much lighter, bit more grassy hops and some grainy grassy malts and straw.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, nice carbonation, fairly soft feeling.

Overall a nice beer, good farmhouse flavors and aromas, a nice rye kick, grassy grainy straw wheat malts, and a light grassy hop character even. Overall a nice beer quite drinkable and tasty, would be much better in late spring, but still a well done beer to be done in U.S. However, if I could complain, maybe a bit too sweet and sticky.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 02:29:31 | More by jlindros

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jack's Abby - so many new beers, so little time...

Cool color on this one, a hazy light brownish-orange. White head retains as a thick ring and a partial cap with some lace left.

The saison feel really comes through in the scent. Tart, farmy yeast and lager graininess combined with some spicy and lemony notes.

Taste once again brings a nice combo of saison yeast and lager flavor. Light crisp Belgian yeast that is fruity with a bit of tartness to it, grainy and bready malts, a bit buttery. Light fruit, rye, and earthiness there as well but hops are kept on the down low.

Light, crisp mouthfeel with highish carbonation and a full body.

A very interesting beer, not very familiar with this style and this was definitely a cool experience. A little on the simple side, but quite unique and enjoyable, a nice change up for Jack's Abby as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 16:27:10 | More by Chico1985

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

aroma is a little light and somewhat musty and metallic ...maybe?
color is copper and fairly clear and a little hazy when pouring the rest of the bottle.
the taste is a marriage of rye spiciness and light fruit. almost white grapes and melon and pepper and a little caramel sweetness. very little hop presence. It drinks really easy and seems appropriate for the coming springtime. enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 00:07:39 | More by MRsojourner

davey101

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Spring 2013 vintage, .5L bottle into a snifter glass.

A - Pours a dark red/burnt orange body. Not as hazy as the description led me to believe. Visible carbonation slowly rises from below. Two fingers of fluffy off white foam. Lasting and sticky lacing.

S - Its a sort of a spicy rye with a caramel malt/Belgian yeast finish . Just a touch of fruit and subtle skunked lager notes. Not particularly exciting, but its nice enough.

T - Clean Belgian yeast and caramel malts with a light spice and fruitiness. Hop bitterness is apparent on the end. Tasty and unique.

M - Medium bodied with spritzy carbonation.

O - A pretty unique beer. I'm not too familiar with biere de gardes, but this does come off as Americanized saison with a nice rye spice and hoppy finish. Certainly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:11:46 | More by davey101

mdfb79

New York

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From 02/09/13 notes. had this on tap at Bukowskis in Boston, MA.

a - Pours a murky, deep orange-auburn color with two inches of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of oranges, wheat, spices, lightly funky, earthy notes, floral hops, bready malts, light citrus. Nice nose; like the oranges and citrus mixing with light funk.

t - Tastes of wheat, oranges, fruity malts, spices, pepper, rye, bread, some earthy notes. No real sourness or funk like the nose, though still nice. More rye coming through here in the taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Overall pretty easy to drink.

o - Overall a decent biere de garde, though I liked their brett one better. Nose is a nice mix of light sour and funk and fruit, though the taste is less complex. Easy to drink, would give it another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 18:05:28 | More by mdfb79

thebigredone

Wisconsin

2.68/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to jaasen64 for including this as an extra in a recent trade. Always love to try new beers.

Poured from the bottle into a Brewery Vivant tulip.

Smell is slightly funky, slightly sour. Gives the impression that this will have a nice sour bite.

Wow, the taste is just a hot mess. I get very little of the sourness I was initially expecting. Instead, the palate is overwhelmed with a spicy, barnyardy funk that competes with the tinge of sourness in this beer. Also has a weirdly medicinal, off-putting finishing taste. No cohesiveness in the flavors of this beer whatsoever.

Overall, this was a very, very big dissapointment to me. I disagree with all the other reviews, the spiciness of the rye and hops do not play well with slight sourness, and the flavors simply clash. In addition, this brew is a lager, but there is no cleanliness or crispness to this. IMHO, a fruitier ale yeast may have been able to pull the seperate elements of this beer together. In the end, I took about three drinks of this, kept trying to like it, and then drainpoured the rest of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 14:13:43 | More by thebigredone

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle served in a tulip. July 2012 indicated on the back label. This beer looks beautiful in the glass. Pours a hue that is slightly more orange than cider with a latte-like, creamy-colored half inch head embedded with ringlets and with clusters of raised craters within the froth. Thick, concentric bands of lacing are revealed during the tasting. I love the nose on this beer - tart, light fruity esters (perhaps grapefruit) as well as a suggestion of funk as expressed by some medicinal phenols that are revealed behind the initial citrus character. Taste reveals a sour mash quality, less citrus than anticipated, some more of the medical/funky qualities present in the nose, as well as a some oak notes expressed as a slight butteriness. Not as tart as initially suggested, but there is a slight citric acid quality in the flavor profile and some light, bitterness towards the finish that gradually dissipates between quaffs. Mouthfeel is light in body with a pleasant, even, effervescent carbonation and a slight acidity that light stimulates the sides and back of the tongue. Overall, I have to say that I am really impressed by the beer. There are many subtle nuances here, and as with all of their other brews, the pricepoint for the quality is exceptional. I'd be curious to see what some age does to this beer and hope to pick up a few more bottles to experiment with. Another observation I have to make is that there are definitely some Orval-esque qualities to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 16:44:29 | More by Jwale73

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Sunset in Allston. Poured into a tulip.

It sports a slightly hazy amber color. The pour I received had a sudsy white head about half-finger in size.

Loved the aroma. Slightly funky Belgian-like yeast is prominent, a little JuicyFruit gum, and a little hop spice.

As for the taste, I remember saying “wow, I’m really loving this” more than once as I drank it down. A little barnyard sits in the middle of the palate and is surrounded with notes of rye, spicy hops, and just a touch of citrus. It has a little saison character to it.

Mouthfeel was fine. A lighter feel to the body, without tasting light. Carbonation was normal. Extremely drinkable.

In my mind, JA’s batting average is sky high right now. I really loved this one - a low ABV brew with the flavor character of higher ABV Belgians, but with added drinkability that’s off the charts. I will be seeking this out again, and you should too.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2012 14:22:32 | More by jbertsch

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap a bukowski- pours a golden copper color with a creamy white two finger head with decent retention and lots of great lacing.

Smell is pretty mild- pale malts, a good dose of yeast, and a little rye sharpness.

Taste is consistent- pale malt sweetness up front, followed by a little rye and some yeast, finishes with some hops and it's nice, long and dry. A little grapefruit.

Mouthfeel is good- light body, moderately carbonated. Definitely like it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2012 23:46:49 | More by Hopdaemon39

taez555

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a hazy brown body with a nice fluffy white head.

Nose is a mix of fresh grain and some typical saison or Belgian farmhouse sort of funk and spicy
hops.

Taste is medium to light bodied and very smooth. Starts off with some very mild Belgian farmhouse funk and then a very firm bitterness that really takes hold almost immediately. There’s actually this fresh malty, almost 6 row malt, type undertone that runs throughout, which is probably more to do with the Lagering. There’s a nice strong Rye flavor that sits almost on top of the Biere de Garde, that sort of tastes like your normal Biere de Garde or Saison, but leans much more towards an American style Rye. The bitterness of the rye though really works well as a compliment to the style, which normally is more of a hoppy leafy sort of flavor. The bitterness isn’t overpowering at all, but it’s definitely very prominent.

Another unique and stylistically complex beer from JA. The rye malt is the perfect complement for the Biere de Garde style. The mild funk and sourness of the Belgian farmhouse style combined with the bite and bitterness of the hops and rye. Seriously, tasting this is one of those “AH HA” moments, like it must have been when someone tasted chocolate and peanut butter for the first time. It just works, and it works really well. It’s like someone made a black and tan using De Ranke XX and Founders Red Rye. It’s such a cool combo.

Serving type: growler

03-16-2012 20:40:03 | More by taez555