Schell's Emerald Rye - August Schell Brewing Company

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was a little slow to get on this one. So many new breweries and beers in MN to try. Since it's a yearly, no harm no foul.
Nice crunchy rye aroma with a soft hopping. The distinct Schell aroma (from the yeast or water - I can't tell), is in the background and blends nicely overall.
Nice dark amber of bronze and very clear. Dense tan head that settles out relatively slowly and leaves some drippy lacing.
Very nice and enjoyable complex flavors in a drink that is clearly a lager with clear crispness and clean feel. Some really nice hopping with a clear hop flavor and long soft bittering on the finish. Yet it doesn't mask the wonderful malt flavors with a nice crunchiness/nuttiness and bite of spice from the rye.
Fullness from a reasonable soft carbonation. Moderately light feel overall in a lager way. Another piece that works well overall.
This truly great beer pushes the limits in so many ways without passing to the point of excess. So many times I'm at the point of "that's rich" and yet soon enough there I am desiring and then taking another pull.
Well done, well done, well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 18:09:55 | More by garymuchow

elec

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-13-2013 02:44:03 | More by elec

barongearmu

Florida

3/5  rDev -23.1%

05-10-2013 01:28:27 | More by barongearmu

wagenvolks

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -42.3%

05-09-2013 04:23:38 | More by wagenvolks

SaxmanRick

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-06-2013 18:49:39 | More by SaxmanRick

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle with no date into mason jar

look is a dark amber-brown, with a white sudsy head. smell is light grain, woodsy hops, and some pepper. taste is bitter and piney at first, with a lot of peppery rye at the end. heavy emphasis on the rye. medium feel is perfect.

great addition to the year-round lineup.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 09:00:08 | More by jimmah120

j-rod18

North Dakota

2.5/5  rDev -35.9%

04-12-2013 21:17:45 | More by j-rod18

KWMiles

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-03-2013 14:50:04 | More by KWMiles

Seefeldt

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

04-01-2013 22:58:15 | More by Seefeldt

Pacioli1445

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-28-2013 00:11:26 | More by Pacioli1445

dhannes

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a Sam Adams' Perfect Pint.

A=Darker reddish amber; head was bright white (almost too white)...appealing.

S=Caramel and molasses with hops.

T=Complex...this is the first I've had of the style...this is the 5th bottle that I've had of the 6-pack--much more sour now than what I remember, as well as a sharp tang...sweetness present.

M=A bit watery, but probably necessary due to the sour presence.

O=I don't think I will buy this again, simply because there are more beers out there that I like better. Still, if you like rye beers, this may be one worth trying IF you like sour and hoppy beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:37:25 | More by dhannes

pweis909

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Amazing red color, crystal clear, with thin head.
Slight metallic aroma; no strong beer smells.
Bitter taste, something different noticed. Rye? Light sweetness balance. With slight grapefruit bitterness in the finish. For not smelling like much, there are some interesting things going on in this beer.
Mouth feel has slick character, but not overly so. Light carbonation prickles the mouth to give a crisp finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:58:11 | More by pweis909

blakelive784

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to maximum12 for this extra!

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a pint glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a semi-translucent dark red/amber color with two and a half fingers of soapy, light khaki head. Retention's average. Lively carbonation. Appealing, but unremarkable.

S - Heavy spicy and toasted rye. The spiciness of the rye works nicely alongside sweet crystal malts and nutty/toasty notes. Buried floral hops notes. Subtle and well balanced. Looking forward to it.

T - The rye character is prominent, but far from overpowering. Toasted malts comprise the body. Pepper. Burnt caramel and light bittering hops. Clean lager yeast are unassuming, but present throughout. Well balanced.

M - Well carbonated. Medium bodied and slick.

D - Sessionable as hell, especially at over 6%. It lacks a bit of depth and complexity. Not a huge fan of the style, but I'd definitely have it again. I look forward to trying more from the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 01:26:54 | More by blakelive784

richkrull

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-11-2013 23:21:14 | More by richkrull

Ish1

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

03-07-2013 02:46:53 | More by Ish1

Chucker17

South Dakota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-04-2013 03:33:05 | More by Chucker17

sacrelicio

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-26-2013 07:21:18 | More by sacrelicio

bismarksays

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

02-25-2013 09:29:48 | More by bismarksays

Cramerican

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-21-2013 21:11:59 | More by Cramerican

darky

South Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-20-2013 02:42:47 | More by darky

gatornation

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-15-2013 22:37:01 | More by gatornation

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I've been overlooking Schells in favor of newer Minnesota breweries, but I'm trying to give more of their beers a shot. Best by 30 March 2013. Tasted 10 Feb 2013.

Pours a deep cherry-wood reddish brown. Clear, allowing me to see the thin curtain of bubbles rising up. 1.5 fingers of off-white head, dense and lasting. Relaxes to a thin layer of foam, leaving amazing lacing. Wow.

Smell is faint and warm. There are hints of something I could really like, some light spice, but I have to dig for them.

Taste starts out somewhat dull - warm and grainy - but then surges through with lovely rye spice. The middle to late part of the taste really showcases rye, bringing bright grains and deep chipper spice, about as well as any beer I've encountered. Unfortunately the rest of it doesn't measure up to that very impressive standard.

Feel is good. Medium-light body, a fuzz of carbonation that lasts throughout. This works, and helps to bring out that spice.

In general, I'm impressed with this beer. There are two pieces that really stand out - the appearance and the middle of the taste. If the rest of the beer could measure up to those two aspects, it'd be an amazing beer. Still pretty darn good as it is.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 04:30:31 | More by zeledonia

Eric908

South Dakota

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-10-2013 23:29:32 | More by Eric908

WhatAlesMe

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +28.2%

02-10-2013 21:15:26 | More by WhatAlesMe

Ejayz

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

02-07-2013 03:30:05 | More by Ejayz