Sassy Rabbit Rye - The Tap Brewing Company

jacksback

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

For no real reason, I was expecting something like a rye IPA. Doesn't look that way...

pours reminiscent of hop rod rye- deep, dark amber. Nice color, not much head.

nose shows a lot of dirty, earthy pepper notes. A good deal of sweet notes as well- dark fruity bits and a decent bit of chewy caramel. Muddled.

flavor doesn't really improve on the nose. Big malty sweetness without much weight. Peppery rye spice is certainly noticeable- but hop character...isn't. So you've got the rye- but that sits on an overly sweet yet still thin malt body with little to no hop character for balance.

mouthfeel is on the thin and weak side, with minimal carbonation to help liven things up.

overall, a rather disappointing beer. It's got the rye, but the rest seems confused ill-formulated.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:12:49 | More by jacksback

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

05-18-2013 16:24:18 | More by Davepoolesque

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

05-05-2013 02:30:54 | More by In_Control_Mike

jayhunter357

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

05-05-2013 02:30:40 | More by jayhunter357

shehateme

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

05-05-2013 01:56:27 | More by shehateme

sabman

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.4%

04-29-2013 02:16:13 | More by sabman

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

04-16-2013 12:26:49 | More by hoppymcgee

PatGreer

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

04-07-2013 16:19:32 | More by PatGreer

DelicateDelirium

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

03-31-2013 23:09:50 | More by DelicateDelirium

Mullen2525

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.4%

03-18-2013 23:45:54 | More by Mullen2525

nicholas527

New Jersey

2.25/5  rDev -37.3%

03-16-2013 19:48:34 | More by nicholas527

MAbeerNE1

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.4%

03-14-2013 23:32:45 | More by MAbeerNE1

jbertsch

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

03-10-2013 01:17:44 | More by jbertsch

Larrydoherty

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

02-25-2013 17:19:01 | More by Larrydoherty

greaserchevy

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

02-11-2013 22:39:45 | More by greaserchevy

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at New World Tavern--Plymouth--served into a tulip glass

Appearance: 3/4 inch head, red-brown in color, clear, moderate carbonation

Smell: caramel, bark, and piney hops

Taste: caramel, bark, earthiness, and piney hops

Mouthfeel: sweet start with a light bitter middle and a stronger bitter end, dry finish, medium bodied, moderate carbonation

Overall: An average to slightly above average beer. I really did not get much rye here other than some hoppiness. Not bad, but probably nothing I would get again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 16:25:09 | More by tigg924

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

01-24-2013 01:30:27 | More by kwjd

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a light fizzy almost 1 finger head that fades fairly slowly, but leaves miles of lacing, a bit darker colored than I expected, but very clear coppery dark apple cider looking beer.

Nose starts with fruity aromas, the rye really gets fruity on this one and less spicy, light apple and pear like fruit, the kicks in the hops, a fresh hop but quite earthy and a bit spicy and a touch of a fruity hop, with a nice darker malt underneath light caramel and toasty sweet aromas, there's also a fresh mashed malt like aroma, and hint cereal.

Taste starts with plenty of malts, chewy caramel and a bit of a nutty toffee, and bit more brown sweet malts. Then cuts in with hops big time, not super bitter at first but plenty of spicy chewy hops, a bit earthy, etc. That fades back into the creamy malts, a light creamy caramel cookie like malt flavor. The rye is mostly background this time, with a light fruity flavor, and what could be spiciness that seems to be drowned out by the spicy chewy hops. Faint hint of baker's chocolate in the back as well. Finish gets a bit more bitter as it dries, mostly dry slightly sticky, lingering spicy chewy hops, little bit of the spicy rye in there that almost presents itself as booze and esters but I know better, as well as some lingering creamy brown malts with caramel and hint of mocha toffee flavors.

Mouth is med bodied, slightly creamy, decent carbonation but a bit lighter than I expected.

Overall an interesting beer, nothing done wrong, interesting flavors blended together to a nice flavorful beer, and balanced well. The hops drown the rye just a bit though so that could have been balanced a bit better.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 03:17:20 | More by jlindros

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

New bottle art from Haverill. I hope they keep the pinup girl motif from their 6 packs. Better yet, I hope they transfer the pinups to the bombers.

Dark auburn with amber highlights. Creamy fingers width head is fairly sticky.

Toasted cereal grains and juicy grapefruit aroma.

Tastes like toasted Chex with a touch of grapefruit and a lingering minty tobacco aftertaste. Some tropical passion fruit comes through as it warms. Mildy spicy, certainly not the rye bomb that the bottle label bragged about.

I like Sassy Rabbit but not for the reasons I expected. Less rye and more juicy hops – not necessarily a bad thing. I rarely finish a bomber by myself but that wasn’t a problem this time. Granted it took me the entire Pats game.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 16:28:40 | More by donkeyrunner

PEIhop

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

11-22-2012 04:17:28 | More by PEIhop

Thomas_Picton

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

11-18-2012 23:16:22 | More by Thomas_Picton

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a cloudy rusted copper. Head is short and rocky. Head laces beautifully (as I have noticed, most Rye Ales do). Pretty.

S-Hoppy and spicy. The rye isn't overly aggressive. The beer's description leads you to believe it would be a rye bomb, but it is not. A hop-forward ale with a solid rye jacket. Hops are squished citrus flesh and peppered vegetables. Spicy baked bread.

T-The front portion of the label says it all. "Spicy and Hoppy". Floral hops, pine and citrus too. Rye dances all along the palate, but it never comes on too strong. Hops are also a bit soapy. Sweetness is hidden by the strength of rye and hop.

M-Goes down easy. Light/medium hybrid in body. Whirring carbonation. Sessionable. Medium bitterness. No booze.

O/D-Haverhill Brewery...ahem...The Tap Brewing Co. has retooled their brand. New brews. New bottle format. I am digging it. They make Leatherlips IPA, so I know they have huge potential. This brew is quite solid. I like their new label art much better too. This was a legit deal at about $3.75 a bomber. I will try Leatherlips in its new bomber format (pray to god hey didn't change the recipe), then probably come back to this. Sassy indeed.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 04:52:28 | More by VelvetExtract

merc7186

New York

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer on cask at Stoddards in Boston MA poured into a pint glass.

A: Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Caramel, Dry Malts, Rye, Floral

T: Rye, Caramel, Malty, Mild Floral

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Dry, Semi Bitter

Overall, a solid rye pale done justice on cask.

Serving type: cask

07-21-2012 23:36:33 | More by merc7186

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

07-17-2012 18:24:52 | More by wdarcy77

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Modest bar- pour head, but it leaves extensive ring and spotty lace. The brew is dark copper and appears to be clear of any cloudiness.

Nice combination of earthiness, dry caramel and floral hop.

Dry start with the earthy flavored dominating. The hop bitterness shows up quickly and distinctly. Dry finish with a near lip puckering astringency. Medium body with a below average carbonation. Decently complex.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2012 21:17:01 | More by smcolw