Rayon Vert - Green Flash Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I didn't like this bottle, fresh from Pizza Port Carlsblad store. So if you disagree you needn't read any further. A light golden body with a white foamy 3/8" head, lacy. Funky aroma - armpit sweat, menthol, my socks wt and used. The taste is comparable to floor wax, foot liniment, and pepper. Lots of menthol build up as I drink further into it, but it is not all that drinkable and I am forcing myself. Crazy stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 00:16:26 | More by northyorksammy

womencantsail

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light amber color with a huge white head. A really nice Brett character. Heavy on the fruit (especially apple), a bit of pear, lots of straw and grass, and a mild spice. Some bread and cracker and a light citric quality on the finish. The flavor is slightly tart and citrusy with lemon and lime notes. Light tropical fruit character as well as some pear and apple. Good bread and a mild spice note to it as well. Really nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 20:52:06 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Rick's in Alexandria. Served in a Green Flash Rayon Vert chalice.

Pours a nice, fairly-clear amber color with a nice off-white head. Good retention of the foamy white head. Some lacing on the way down and a good cap and collar throughout.

The nose carries some moderate hopping as well as a nice fruitiness and light earthy character. Great presence in the nose, really serving to complement the hops.

Flavor brings a nice bit of fruity hops along with some earth, light malt, and some Brett through the background. Body is light-to-medium with a good bitterness and a nice bit of Brett and earth to really round things out. Quite dry through the finish.

This is a really fantastic beer and I'm beyond excited that it's year round. This is finally an off-the-shelf year-round beer that is worthy of sitting beside sixers of Two Hearted in my fridge. Bravo, Green Flash.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 03:05:44 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy goldenrod, with a fluffy head that leaves plenty of lace

Smell: Spicy light fruit tones, with citrus, grassy hops and yeast funk

Taste: Opens with a touch of sugary malt, with a move toward spicy, peppery fruit and grassy hop flavors that dominate the mid-palate; nicely balanced, after the swallow, with the sugary malt, the grassy hops and the Brett each adding an element

Mouthfeel: Medium body with high carbonation that refreshes the palate

Overall: A tremendous achievement for Green Flash; although I enjoy a lot of their hoppy beers, I had no expectation that this brewery could produce a beer like this one

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 02:26:35 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky honey orange with a 3 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a thin cap. Thick chunks of lace stick to the glass on the drink down. Smell is of herbal and grassy hops with some funky Brett aromas. Taste is of herbal hops, some grains, and earthy flavors on the finish from the Brett. A quick band aid flavor comes and goes quickly. There is a mild bitterness and slightly funky aftertaste with each sip. This beer has a crisp carbonation level with a bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is an interesting beer for sure. I read they might have been going for an American Orval but this one just isn't as good.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 05:38:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy golden color ale with a rather large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of funky barnyard notes with dry hoppy notes with light floral undertones. Taste is a wonderful mix between some Brett notes with its characteristics barnyard notes which are well integrated with the dry hoppy notes with a solid malt backbone that is not overly sweet. Body is quite full with great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Great balance between the different aspects of this beer while retaining some very good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 20:27:58 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First off, I don't have a clue as to what "Rayon" or "Vert" mean. But if it means that they are attempting to recreate an Orval type of beer, then they have named the beer very well!

Rayon Vert opens with a hazy golden and copper blend that has an intriguing heavy look. A creamy, slightly yellowish head receeds to a heavy sheet across the beer and leaves behind rings of foam that denote each sip.

Aromas of zesty oranges, lemon, crabapple, and red grapefruit lead the nose with a bright and citrusy hop/ester fusion. Spicy with a white pepper note that creates both soft and sassy spring to the nose. Nearly musty and doughy- the yeast impact to the aromas are bold and rich.

Malty flavors of dry caramel, light breads and dough allow for a rich initial taste that accompanies elements of brine, metal, and bitterness. Hoppy with flavors of citrusy orange peel and ruby red grapefruit pulp- all backed by a soft sandalwood note and the slightly funk-notes of Brettanomyaces. Deeply compelex in taste yet zesty and bright: a tough combination that works effortlessly here.

Creamy textures early on are attributed to malty richness and soft carbonation. The semi-rich body reduces to semi-dryness at mid palate, which ushers in a smooth citrusy dryness and acidity that allows for a dry and warm finish and an aftertaste of lime bitterness and musty shaddows.

Of course this beer is not the classy Orval, but is a classy diatribe of the original in its own right. Though it's not as complex or as dry as its mentor, it's a great substitute especially when considering the difference in cost.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 05:39:40 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a large tulip glass a hazed peach infused light golden with a sticky one and a half finger white head atop.Alot of citrus fruit in the nose with lighter yeasty spice and funk notes,the citrus fruit really jumps out.Fresh orange lemony citric flavors domante the flavor profile,refreshing and sharp,light phenols and funky brett are kept in check pretty well,the alcohol provides a little sweet punch as it warms.This is top notch and dangerous with its refreshing citrusy flavors,it's too easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 20:33:10 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rayon Vert - interesting name. 7.0%, ehh? It's very hoppy, which is to be expected from Green Flash. It's peppery and citrusy. There's also yeast and mineral. As usual, the aroma carries into the flavor and they're very similar here. The yeast really stands out with it's mineral and leather character, but the fruitiness is pretty strong as well. Additionally given the fact that this may be spiced, it's hard to tell exactly what the yeast has contributed and what's coming from the hops and the spice. It's complex, but at the same time it's the same complexity all the way through. Still, it's an interesting and bold beer that you can't ignore - think Orval with west coast hops on steroids.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 14:01:10 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Green flash Rayon Vert Belgian-style Pale Ale, Green Flash Brewing, San Diego, CA. "If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would be our flagship brew. A bold layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert IS Green Flash."ALC. by VOL. 7%.

Highly hazed, golden appearance, beautiful, gigantic white head, overflowing effervescence. Leaving loads of lace.

Aroma: laden with spice and fruit, flush with Belgian yeast character. Invigorating. Angelic. Impressive.

Taste: Ah! That's the first thought that drops into my mind, nothing but "ah!" Light -bodied, lean, but tons of hops, loads of fruity/funky/spicy yeast character. We've got peach, tangerine, orange, lemon, all ending up dryly on the tongue.

Juicy, malty, delicious. Here's a Belgian pale ale done right, one of the best American versions I've ever tasted. These guys know what they're doing!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:26:32 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a dark golden/amber color with a towering white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great! It has a light and refreshing pale and Carapils malt scent along with a mild hop nose and a wonderful yeast aroma. The yeast dominates the nose and provides a multitude of complexity. It has an earthy farmhouse feel with hints of black pepper and horse hair funk. The taste is good. It has a crisp, pale malt flavor with a touch of hop bitterness. It goes down smooth with no sign of an elevated alcohol content. It finishes dry and funky with tons of yeast character. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a solid beer with excellent yeast character. It's complex, yet incredibly easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 20:58:24 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle gifted by Thorpe, thanks buddy. Served in a Russian River goblet. Beer is yellow with a haze, big white head, nice carbonation, some retention but low lacing, looks good.

Aroma is strong Brett character, minor hop and malt contributions.

Beer is light and airy on the palate, heavily carbonated, strong beer overall, I like the finish, not too dry, yeast dominates the palate overall, a very strong funky beer. Decent I'd have it again. Much better than Treasure chest.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 18:43:10 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a golden-orange color with a white head. The aroma is very nice. I get a ton of brett, as well as some nice leather notes. Hidden in the background are some spice and orange citrus notes.

The flavor is more of the same. What stands out the most is the brett and orange notes, but there is also quite a bit of leather and white pepper mixed in. The beer is very dry.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Very, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 03:37:16 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.54/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a hazy, bronze color with a three finger, tan head of long-lasting, bubbly foam. It left sticky patches of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled funky with phenolic notes. It had some yeasty notes with caramel sweetness.

T - Very phenolic flavor with funkiness and spicy hop bitterness. Good sweet caramel backbone.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is fantastic. It's my favorite beer of the year so far.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 00:57:53 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is hazy yellowish orange in color and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high white head that reached all the way to the top of the snifter glass. The head slowly died down but consistently left a thin head covering the surface along with lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of Belgian yeast in the nose along with notes of sourness.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of Belgian yeast, pale malts and a light amount of bitterness. A light to moderate amount of sourness is also present and persists through the finish.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied and relatively dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a really pleasant beer to sip and savor and the addition of brett really makes the taste very interesting. No traces of alcohol are noticeable in the taste. I would definitely have this beer again and would even consider getting a large bomber or two to age.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 02:22:47 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to thetomG for the share. Served in a FFF/Intelligentsia snifter.

A - A big white foam that settles to a thin collar, leaving behind minimal lacework. Hazy peach juice body with a hint of transparency to it.

S - Big earthy and dirty brett, citrus and tropical fruit hops, somewhat musty with a bit of plastic and playdough, some yeasty bread.

T - Pretty similar, with tropical fruit hops, pale malt sweetness, and some musty, medicinal brett. A bit of dirty funk and plastic - don't care for the house brett strain much.

M - Medium-bodied, lower carbonation, chewy and sticky texture, and a slightly dry finish.

D - Reminded me a lot of Green Flash Treasure Chest. It's fairly easy to drink, but the house brett strain produces some flavors I don't enjoy - too medicinal, with more plastic and band-aid than I like.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 14:55:47 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.38/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Incredibly well carbonated, a steady pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a four-finger thick, pale tan colored head, that only slowly subsides and leaves a substantial, structural mesa as it does so. The beer is a darkish amber color that shows some haze and a bright orange-amber hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of citrus zest and phenolic, Brettanomyces signature funk, both of which are backed by a solid, supporting grain / malt character. More specifically notes of Curacoa orange zest, touches of tangelo, with an ample, slightly plastic like, musty, not quite sharp, funkiness and a grain character that reminds me of crackers with just a hint of caramel malt. The citrus laden, American hop character is quite nice here and definitely works quite well with the Brett character.

Aggressively carbonated and quite effervescent, my first sip has a biting bitterness and a sort of tartness that is accentuated by the citrusy hop character. The beer has a fairly light body, with almost no viscous heft, though it doesn’t come off as being watery. The citrus hop character provides flavors of tangelo zest, touches of ruby-red-grapefruit and even a citrus like pine needle character. The finish is quite dry with a pale cracker like grain character as well as a touch of nutty, toasted malt character; the dryness is also accentuated by a phenolic, sort of funky, slightly musty and even slightly musky Brettanomyces character that is also found in the finish. The bitterness from the hops combines with the phenolic, sort of plastic like character to provide even more sharpness to this beer.

One can’t help but compare this to Orval type beers, this is far, far better than the latest incarnations of Matilda (the last really good batch I had was 2005), and even gives Orval a run for its money (though I wouldn’t put this on that level quite yet). I can’t wait to see how these age, but I wonder that the Brettanomyces character is already so pronounced; this can’t be that old yet, and the Brett is extremely noticeable already, young Orval is barely kissed by the Brett, so I will be curious to see how these age. My one worry is that the plastic character from the Brett will get a bit out of control as the beer ages. Visually this beer is about perfect, from memory it seems a touch darker than Orval, but I could be wrong, and the extensive, long lasting head is quite impressive. This beer sets itself apart from Orval in its use of expressive, fruity and citrus laden American hops; as a sucker for many an American hop, I can’t help but love this beer more for that.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:47:42 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a super effervescent amber with 4+ fingers of cream colored head. Stays hazy, good head retention & lacing

S: Slight funk, that builds as it warms, some green apple

T: Follows the nose, a touch breadyness & caramel, some green apple skin up front. A bit of caramel sweetness mingles with pear & green apples as this warms, along with dryness & a touch of grapefruit hops. Finishes fruitty & funky with sme fairly assertive grapefruit, almost pulled a 4.5

MF: Medium bodied, fairly firm carbonation

Very true to the style, nice bit of funk in this. This got better as this warmed, may have to revisit this

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 02:28:04 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, I finally found this on the shelves in the Southland,

A: Pours a gorgeous burnt orange into an Orval chalice, with a pillowy full white head, leaving very good lacing, great head retention.

S: Great yeasty nose, tangerine and lemon peel with white pepper.

T: White pepper and citrus peel, lots of yeast character, some bitter melon hop flavour as well. On the hoppy end for its style, but very well balanced.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy carbonation, nice long aftertaste, soft feel.

O: This is fantastic beer as I've certainly come to expect from Green Flash. Really like America meets a Dupont/Orval collab, very well done. I liked this a lot. At $9/4-pack it's a true steal this day and age. I've seen a ton worse for $10+/750 mL that's for sure. This is just really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 05:55:48 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright and deeply saturated orange color, compact and creamy head of foam. Some rising carb trails visible, flecks of spotty lace inside the tulip glass. Bright clarity without pouring the yeast dregs.

Brett aroma right off the bat, fruity dried pineapple, fresh herbs, and the appropriate mustiness of old books.

Tangy, dry, and effervescent. Lingering bitter root earthiness and dry herbal bitterness. Smooth with some wet hay and dried wildflower notes. Brett complexity is big, but the wildness is reigned in. Orval-esque. Everything is pretty nicely balanced here. Cellaring this would likely bring out the funkier side of the wild yeast. A nice introductory Brett beer that i'll definitely drink more of.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 01:58:40 | More by emerge077

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz quasi-stubbie single bottle. Pretty stoked about this brewer's wares finally being available in Alberta.

This beer pours a slightly hazy medium golden amber hue, with a tower of fluffy, tight foamy white head, which leaves some crooked chain-link fence lace around the glass as it agreeably sinks away.

It smells of sharply bitter grapefruit and lime rind, equally pungent earthy, musty farmhouse yeast, an evolving pear/apple fruitiness, some understated pale grainy malt, and a further spicy, leafy hoppiness. The taste is more of the same hefty Belgian yeast and pale malt, married shot-gun style to a west coast hop full frontal - bitter fruits from across the grocery store display, skulking funky yeast, a twinge of green pepper, some tame indeterminate spiciness, and underappreciated, but still plucky, earthy, leafy hops. No real sign of the elevated ABV, another cribbed Belgian specialty.

The bubbles are understandably more than a bit frothy and sassy - there must be some bottle refermentation going on here - the body a not too shabby medium weight, and smooth enough for all the carbonated play. It finishes a bit off-dry, mostly beholden to the semi-sweet pale malt, softly neutered citrus notes, and lingering earthy yeast.

San Diego swagger meets Senne Valley heritage, with predictable results - both hold up quite well, and I would proffer that the Belgian influence wins out in the end, keeping this offering from edging too close to IPA territory, Belgian or otherwise. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:42:59 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oh I should have bought more. This tastes like not fresh, but somewhat young Orval for the creeping Brett character. Right now it provides a gentle tang and is beginning to roll over the mild caramel malt taste and Belgian spice. I mean it's clearly a Brett beer. There's the trademark horsey farmhouse funk, but it hasn't overun the ale yet. Very cool beer. Admirably balanced for an American craft brewer, I've had too many failed attempts at sours by domestic breweries. I don't think this beer is at it's most complex yet, but still check it out, this is a very cool beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 03:06:22 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Slghtly hazed copper orange body with a bright white head forming thick and billowing above the rim of my chalice. Fine speckled lacing left behind in the glass. Aroma has a bright lemon/citrus nose with some wild barnyard floral notes as well, amplified compared to some other Belgian pale ales. The brett is really kicking in this beer, especially in the flavor with a bitter layer of earthiness, perfume, lemon zest, horse blanket, barnyard funk. Really unrlenting with the brett, either you dig this or you don't but this is heavy on it. Usually brett flavors tend to develop with age this one seems to have had some time in the bottle already to develop those wild yeast flavors. Mouthfeel is a bit rough with some moderate bitterness, noticeable alcohol, and unrelenting brettanomyces guided phenolics. Carbonation is effervescent much like an Orval with a medium body they really nailed the texture of the mother of all BPAs. Overall this beer lacks the finesse and diversity that Orval has but makes up for in true American style, with aggressive citric hops and noticeable alcohol flavors. Decent but I'm not sold on all of this brett.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 02:38:13 | More by WVbeergeek

Billolick

New York

4.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness indication.

Pours clouded medium apricot tinged amber, nice puffy off white head, dissolves to a fine film and leaves espectable spotty lace.

Nose is full of basil, pepper and Belgian yeasty fumes.

Flavorful and full of intrigue. More fresh basil, some barnyard, more pepper, light leather, layers of Brett charged phenolics and musty/funkyness, add a hint of smoke, a slight bite of ginned up alcohol, and some near dank hoppyness...yeah complex and tasty.

Nice Belgian inspired, San Diegoacized brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 01:48:17 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received 2 bottles of this as extras from Nugganooch; thanks Dane! 12 oz. bottle poured into my Gulden Draak Belga Café tulip.

a - Pours a murky yellow orange color with three fingers of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident. Head lasts for several minutes and leaves a lot of spotty lacing on the glass.

s - Smells of pepper, spices, Belgian yeast, apples, fruity malts, brett, and some earthy notes. Pretty nice Belgian characteristics, not a lot of hops.

t - Tastes of brett, spices, Belgian yeast, fruity malts, citrus hops, pepper, floral hops and earthy notes. Again, some nice Belgian qualities going on, but more citrus and fruity in the taste, and a ton more brett. Really nice, and a step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation. Super smooth and creamy, and very easy to drink.

o - Overall I've never seen or heard of this beer, but liked it quite a bit. I thought the body was great and the taste was really nice, with a good mix of brett, citrus, and fruit. Glad to have another bottle of it.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 00:41:57 | More by mdfb79