Charkoota Rye - New Holland Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A mighty fine smoked beer. Pours dark, with a moderate white head to complement it. Significant smoked aromas, the whole 9 yards of smoke. Above average mouthfeel comes a great with a rolling maltiness, a little rye, a complex array of smoked malt that keeps the interest. Vert drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 22:17:53 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gorgeous garnet red with topaz accents. An increasingly high-altitude pour produced a thick slice of sand colored suds that doesn't have much interesting surface topography and doesn't leave much lace. Oh well, the color of the beer more than makes up for it.

Since the brewery calls this offering a Smoked Doppelbock Lager, then that's what it is. On the other hand, there's easily enough pungent smokiness for rauchbier to be a style consideration. An underlying dark maltiness is appreciated as well.

To state the obvious, Charkoota Rye is good beer if you enjoy doppelbocks, smoked malt and rye malt. I'm not always 100% thrilled with the first, but those last two... definitely onboard. The beer benefits by being on the sweet side, while stopping well short of cloying.

Specifics include darkest caramel, pumpernickel toast, a dollop of molasses, and an ideal amount of sweet wood smoke. I'm reminded of Islay Scotch, but it's probably the fact that that spirit contains peat-smoked barley. A certain earthy tanginess brings the comparison home to an even greater extent.

NHBC did a commendable job using cherry wood smoke as an accent (a heavy accent) rather than making it the 800 lb. gorilla of the flavor profile. This is a well put together large lager that hides all (or at least most) evidence of its ABV on the taste buds. The central nervous system is another matter.

Even though there isn't much carbonation, the mouthfeel easily keeps pace. It's silky smooth and has a light lip stickiness that is enjoyable to anyone who loves bigger beer.

In lesser hands, a smoked rye doppelbock with rye malt might have been a mess. New Holland has the chops to carry it off and has a winner with this multi-faceted lager. If they haven't already, the brewery needs to give serious consideration to seasonal release. Crisp afternoons, burning autumn leaves, college football games... and a bomber of Charkoota Rye.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 14:30:57 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

3.48/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to nanobrew for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a short lived off-white head.

S: Very smokey aroma with a fairly evident rye smell. A light fruitiness hiding in the background with some roasted malts and a little bit of a salty character. Some charred wood in addition to the smoke.

T: Lots of smoke and burnt wood flavor. Slightly salty and meaty with the same light fruit character. There is a bit of rye along with some toasted bread and roast.

M: Medium in body with a moderate level of carbonation.

O: Perhaps a bit too much smoke and not really very balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 07:02:55 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of rmalinowski4. Served in a tulip.

Pours a very, very dark brown with a bit of a mahogany tint to it. Two-finger tan head forms but then dies down pretty quickly. Good partial cap with quite a few bubbles. The nose brings a slight amount of roasted malt along with a good dosing of smoke. Not as much smoked meat; more toward the bonfire end of the spectrum. Some charred wood there. Flavor has a good smoke presence along with a bit of bacon. Moderate roast as well. Medium body with a dry smokey character. Moderate carbonation. Interesting brew; glad to try this.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 23:37:50 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

2.78/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a cola color with a frothy head that leaves a shard or two, though the retention is not that impressive

Smell: Smoky, peaty, and tart; somewhat fruity in the range of cherries

Taste: Fruity, up front, with the tart cherry flavors joined by the peat and the smoked wood elements; increasingly tart, after the swallow, with the smoke/peat elements taking a back seat into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation; rather puckery

Overall: Really disappointing, as the tartness takes the doppelbock in an unexpected and not particularly well-balanced direction

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 22:42:42 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dark brown color beer with a nice thick brown foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of smoked malt is quite intense with light caramelized notes also noticeable. Taste is dominated by a great malt base with loads of smoke notes with some caramelized notes with light molasses. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. This has to be one of the most smoked beer outside of the original German smoked beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 03:11:51 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very sweet, malty, and smokey beer that evokes the pairing of great Bar-B-Que.

The pour brings a rustic brown color with moderate haze, great lightly tanned head formatioh, great lacing and retention. This is one handsome looking beer.

Aromas of smoke and molassas hit the nose immediately. Rich malt sweetness allows for deep caramels, toast, molassas, and brown sugars to thrive in flavor and smell. Rye grains begin with a richly robust malt character and a sharp spiciness leading directly to the hop additions. At mid-palate, the malts waiver just a bit allowing for the spicy rye to linger along with the citrucy and piney hop flavors and bitterness. You don't see that in many Dopplebocks.

The beer starts off sweet, and remains sweet because of the low hop character. Residual sweetness lingers on the mouth surfaces and keeps the beer from the malty-drying finish that classic Dopplebocks do. Still, a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 03:42:59 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A smoked rye doppelbock...hell yeah.Poured a a full deep amber with a large off white head that settled very slowly,just nice to llok at.Aromas are big in fruity malt with a tinge of sharpness I am guessing from the rye,the smoke is faint at first but some hardwood comes through as it warms.Flavors show of the light smoke the most,not much fruit and or sharpness, some molasses and brown sugar come into a lingering finsish,the mouthfeel is light to medium.Iam guessing its food friendly, but it just seems to be missing something.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 20:03:23 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in an Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock glass.

Pours a deep, mostly clear dark brown, with ruby tints evident when light is present. The soapy head dissipates rather quickly, leaving a weak bit of lacing. The nose showcases a battle between smokiness and sweetness (sorta syrupy). The taste shows that smokiness has the upper hand, giving a campfire-side impression for the tongue. That sweetness, though, remains in the back, keeping that initial conflict alive on the tongue. The moderate body slickly passes through the body, allowing for a fairly high drinkability (especially if, if you're like me, you enjoy a good smoky beer).

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 00:47:33 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock Lager, New Holland Brewing, Holland, MI

Off goes the cap, then the foil, then the glug, glug, glug...

Dark brown coloration, slim head.

Aroma: all about the smoke! Big time bacon! Sweet and smokey, huge malt, rich, full, and never without the smokiness! Rich, thick, and yummy. Fills so good in the mouth, over the palate, and all up and down the gullet.

Finish: long, thick, rich....bacon wrapped around a yummy stick of malty goodness.
Rich malty goodness. Nothing but yum meets yum, wrapped in bacon, smothered in smoke, dripped with deliciousness. Mmm, mmm.

I love it.
i won't stopped loving it.
And it loves me.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 05:08:13 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a dark, brownish-red with a cream colored head. The aroma is smoky and smells somewhat like burnt plastic. The flavor is roasted malt, meaty BBQ smoke and some chocolate. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. An interesting doppelbock that I hope to try again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 22:06:55 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a dark, dark brown color with a small, light brown head of foam. It left some soapy trails of lace.

S - Campfire aroma with notes of wood and smoked meats.

T - Smoke flavor is less strong than the aroma. Good caramel maltiness that you'd expect in a dopplebock.

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

D - This is an interesting brew. Light on the smoke flavor with a nice caramel presence.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 14:06:55 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color and poured with a thin beige head that quickly faded away, leaving a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are strong aromas of smoke in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste is filled with smoky flavors and has some hints of spices from the rye in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a bit thin and watery on the palate with a light amount of carbonation.
O: The beer goes down rather smoothly and isn’t that difficult to drink because the smokiness is not overpowering.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 00:59:47 | More by metter98

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.13/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2010 Vintage pours an effervescent chestnut with a finger of tan head. Average lacing & some head retention

S: Oak & beechwood smoke, cherries

T: Follows the nose, dryness, some figs & raisins up front. Smoked flavors start to over power this as it warms, a touch cherry charms blowpop & pipe tobbacco as well. Finishes dry, oaky, smokey with more weird cherry notes

MF: Chewy, moderate carbonation

This was underwhelming, this brewery is very hit & miss. This one misses, a chore to finish

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 00:46:31 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a New Holland high gravity glass @ Bad Apple.

This dark brew glints scarlet in the light. A very attractive tone, jewel like with a tight cap of khaki foam topping it off. Retention is pretty good too, lasting for the duration.

Aroma is smoky, peaty with a pronounced sterile gauze/band aid note. Not a fan. This carries over into the flavor too unfortunately. At room temperature, there's an underlying warm maltiness and light rye spiciness. Even carbonation and a full body. A sipper probably best paired with cured meats. Not the best use of smoked malt, hope they reformulate with less band-aid in the mix next batch.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2009 01:19:04 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a dark reddish brown color with a healthy 2" head.

Smell: smoke tones are easily detectable.

Taste: big caramel, roasted nut flavors, dark fruit sweetness, moderate bitterness, and loads of smokey goodness here.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth from start to finish. There is a dry finish.

Overall: this is a great beer for a BBQ or big juicy steak. The smokiness is nicely balanced with the other flavors in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 19:00:48 | More by Gavage

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.38/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

(Served in a tulip glass)
A- The dense brown body glows a slight brownish-red glow when held to the light. There is a thin tan head that fades to a ring quickly.
S- The full aroma of plastic band-aids dominates with some notes of dark brown malt coming through when the beer is warm
T- The taste of big band-aids has a hint of bacon without the sweetness to support it. There is a faint chocolate malt that comes through when my tongue gets used to the band-aid. The finish is watery with a roasted bitterness and faint chocolate note lingering after each sip.
M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat.
D- I like smoked beers that put some beer flavors with the smoke. This beer is all smoke and all band-aids with other flavors buried. It was tough to get through a full bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2009 23:00:17 | More by rhoadsrage

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Crystal clear dark cherrywood appearance. Bubbly beige head caps it off. Loods very inviting...Aroma is quite nice. Just what I was expecting...rich malt mixed with some thick smoke. Smoke and malt enter the mouth side by side with a lot of authority. They work together quite nicely. The malts are fairly rich. The smokiness is really the main player. The rye doesn't contribute much to the flavor in my opinion. The mouthfeel is nice and round. Full body. Low carbonation, which is good. Quality stuff here. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 00:06:52 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at Kraftwerk during their New Holland event on 2/5/11.

Pours a deep dark brown color that appears almost black in the glass and completely opaque with slight mahogany edges when held to a light source. One finger beige head that quickly fades into a thin ring that doesn't leave much lacing to speak of.

Nice smokey aroma but this isn't a complete smoke bomb. Nice roasted smokey character with hints of charcoal, BBQ, bacon and a campfire scent. Although it's smokey, the sweeter malt notes are evident with hints of rye, caramel and toffee.

Medium bodied with a good bit of smoke character that lingers throughout into a sweet yet dry finish. Hints of charcoal, bacon, BBQ and campfire but there's a nice balance of sweeter malt notes, especially caramel, toffee and vinous dark fruit. There's some cherry flavor from the wood aging as well as some grape, fig and plum. Well balanced and very drinkable. Not as smokey as I usually prefer but this was a good example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2011 09:12:08 | More by corby112

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

- Smoked doppel bock lager.

A: Black show in the vessel with a thin frothy peanut shell colored head. A quick lapse of retention showed no rewarding lace coverage.

S: Smoky, smoldering campfire, charred wood, smoked jerky with some freshly scorched pine wood. Good level of awareness.

T: Freshy wet charred woodiness for flavor speaks first, very smooth. Smoked jerky, glazed burnt ham, burnt molassess sweetness rings through as well. Good level of smokiness, yet the grain base remains recognizable with a dry, cris, husky nature. Things round out with some roasted peanuts, smoked dark fruit skins, (plums) and some smoked cherrywood.

M: Full bodied, thick and chewy substance with an oily texture and a nice farewell of burnt charred woodiness.

O: Overall nice drinkability, good level of smokiness, smoothly balanced. Most smoked beers are conservative, this one leans more towards the aggressive side but finds the sweet spot and balance just right, worthy repeat.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 22:09:37 | More by beerthulhu

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Super deep blackened blood maroon tone in color. A light sandy brown soft and fluffy foam grows up to a thick finger high. The cap floats off shortly, leaving a thin ring and a few blobby strings of lacing flung about.

Fat smokey maple soaked bacon on the nose. Tangy molasses seeps within with a slightly sweet BBQ sauceyness to it. One hell of an appetizing aroma! You'd swear someone was mesquite grilling some bacon in your glass.

Taste is more set in its Doppelbock center with the smokey bacon sitting just around the edges as more of a duller raisin, smoother date, softened caramel, and lighter molasses sets the overall taste. Smooth and steady malt tones thoughout. Finish is clean and touched well with the sweetness of tangy BBQ sauce, applewood, and a bit of dark orange oil.

Smooth and easy going cleaner medium body with a slight pick up in malty girth in tone, a hike in flavor and body as it settles very evenly after each swallow. Builds a nice subtle smokey sweet touch as it literally smokes its way through to the finish.

A pretty solid brew that has the distinct smokey character of how smoke would really act. It just finds its way around the edges and builds lightly to fill the center of the palate. Fans of Smoked beers will most likely enjoy this balanced Doppelbock take of the style by New Holland. I know I did.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 01:37:02 | More by tavernjef

mactrail

California

3.28/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

The beer that leaves you breathless-- or speechless.

Beautiful ruby mahogany color, clear, but little head. The aroma is a mystery. Iodine with Concord grape juice and a touch of that smokin' bone you get at the dentist when you haven't been flossing enough. Flavor is so complex and strange, but all I can think of is carrot juice with a dollop of barbecue sauce. No, it's A-1 Steak Sauce with cherry cider. And a shot of cheap rum. Rather sweet and a hard candy flavor like artificial orange. Hops? What for?

I can't even imagine what they did to create so much bizarre flavor. Weird beer lover, rejoice. Put away a couple of bottles for when one of your wife's blow-hard relatives stops by.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 03:45:35 | More by mactrail

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

New Holland Charkoota Rye

Pours a deep brown color, off white head forms and leaves wispy lace. Aroma is malty, peaty, and somewhat sweet smelling with mild campfire suggestions. The flavor follows the nose to a point, with brown sugar, caramel, munich malts, molasses and a touch of smoke. I did not find the smoke to be overbearing, it melded nicely with the rye notes. Smooth and almost creamy, a well made lager that I would definately have again. Would be a great candidate to marinate pork as well.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 21:20:31 | More by Stinkypuss

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep amber to black in color with a light tan head. In the aroma, caramel and maple syrup. In the taste, maple syrupy and a small smoke presence. A small bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry and smokey kind of aftertaste. Syrupy and smokey, a bit sweet but it is OK.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 14:26:13 | More by OWSLEY069

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark ruby color with a quick beige head and pretty good bubbling too. The aroma is of heavy smoke, meat, campfire, and some smoked apricots. The taste is super smokey of charred meet up front. The a more woody iddle with some carameled candy and camfire. The finish is of faint caramelized apricots and cherries, hint of burnt sugar and smoked oak barrels. The palate is smokey, rich and warm, but not hot or boozey. Don't really pick up any rye notes with this RYE dopplebock, bu its still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 01:37:50 | More by scruffwhor