Schell's Emerald Rye - August Schell Brewing Company

jsprain1

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Dark amber, large off white head. Head has decent retention.
S- Smell is bold enough but kind of muddled. Noble hops with some bready notes as well.
T- Clean malt flavors with some earthy and slightly piney hops. Clean and smooth flavors.
M- Medium light body. Smooth carbonation.
O- Interesting flavors and very easy drinking. This is one I could enjoy regularly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 19:50:43 | More by jsprain1

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Freshness dating reads
121012
049499

A= Pours a translucent deep amber sort of brown color wiht a nice looking finger of off white head that holds steady retention and lacing on the glass.

S= For Schell's I would say this smells really nice. A good hop character that is interplayed with a litte rye. I was expecting to be underwhelmed but this actually doesn't smell too bad. A nice light aroma but you can for sure get hops and rye.

T= The taste similar to the smell is a nice mix of rye and hops. It starts with a nice bitter hop punch before some spicy darker rye comes in to take it over. Both components are there and both let themselves be known. This is actually really good.

M= Nice carbonation. It's not overpowering which I was a little worried Schell's may do.

O= What the hell has Schell's done now. I've always respected them as sort of a nice into to craft beer. They make a nice mix pack for someone who may want to dabble. This on the other had is among the best ryes I've ever had. It isn't quite as outstanding as Summit's unchained rye but it is definitally up there in tastyness. I think of it as sort of the Unchained Rye only a little more clean.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 03:59:37 | More by jjanega08

bsp77

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Despite the rye, I am entering this as an American Amber/Red Lager, as the rye is only 10%, and really is not focused on the rye, despite the name. Edit: Of course it was changed to a Rye Beer; the style classification on here is ridiculous at times,

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pint glass.

Appearance: Robust reddish amber with thick light tan head and great lacing for a lager.

Smell: Fruity and spicy, with some bread and citrus.

Taste: Strong malt backbone of dark fruit, toast, caramel and bread. Quite fruity actually. Great layer of hops on top, with straw, citrus and a great deal of spiciness (partially from the rye I am sure). Pretty bitter finish.

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium body, crisp, dry finish that fits the beer very well.

Overall: This is the kind of beer the Germans should be making, if they were willing to step outside of their self imposed boxes. This is also exactly what Schell's needed to make - an "extreme" beer, but on their terms (lager, German influenced, more moderate alcohol). The Lager IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:50:17 | More by bsp77

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep brownish amber orange with a lot of rising bubbles. Big four finger off white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A good scent of rye spice and earthy hops upfront. Hints of citrus orange and lemon. Malts with good hints of toasted bread, biscuit, caramel, and toffee. Even smells a little dank with some earthy pine resin. Kind of smells like a spicy IPA with a big toasted malt background. Pretty good.

Taste: Like the smell indicates, a spicy and hoppy start with a bready finish. Big taste of rye spices and earthy hops up front along with some notes of oranges, and lemon. Some light pine resin adds to the rye spice. Midway comes a big bready taste of malts with notes of biscuit, toast, caramel, and toffee. Even picking up a subtle hint of dark fruits. Complex and very good.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and very smooth. Finishes somewhat dry.

Overall: A pretty impressive take on a rye beer. Great balance of spices, hoppy bitterness, and malt sweetness. Glad to have this as a new year round option.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 04:29:04 | More by MattyG85

Mdog

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Brown-amber, good head.

Smell: Rye spiciness, grass.

Taste: Sweet toffee to start then lots of rye bread. Slight citrus tingle then a bitter finish.

Overall: An interesting mix of rye and hops in a lager. A good beer, not quite in my wheelhouse, but well put together and flavorful. Glad to see Schell doing some innovative brewing from the German baseline.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 19:21:28 | More by Mdog

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to duff27 for just giving me a bottle fo this beer to try! Thanks duff!

poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: medium amber bodied beer with 2 fingers off white head. Spotty lace.

Smell: caramel sweet malts and a touch of spicy rye!

Taste: It honestly reminds me of sam adams boston lager with a nice rye kick instead of that cereal note that I dislike. A touch of grassy hops and citrus hops in the finish. And more rye bread notes! Its a really tasty beer!

Mouthfeel: low end of medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Crisp lager feel and really drinkable.

Overall: This is a really enjoyable rye beer! Nothing crazy, but it would be an awesome beer on a hot day!

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:09:25 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another great local sent by Aaron (thanks man) poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Dark caramel color, off-khaki head with decent lacing and only moderate retention.

S: Spice and herbal hops, orange, citrus rind, malty and bready, some caramel and toffee.

T: Right in line with the aroma, starts with spice and rye and finishes with a flash of toffee...pretty malty and bready but also balanced with a moderate herbal hop presence and bitterness.

MF: Dry, medium body with appropriate carbonation levels...creamy, moderately bitter and dry.

O: A good rye beer for sure.

Cheers Aaron!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 16:13:03 | More by Scotchboy

Buebie

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewing as a rye beer based on the brewers notes

Rigorous pound me hard pour producing a 3 inches (what I could do with three inches) of head, Off white color.
Thick fingers of lace up top and a coating below.
Across the pond leaving a few large bubble islands.
Color is eleganteh, that's Spanish for elegant. Ron Burgundy in color, dark, mysterious and tall, probably having some money in an off shore account.
A swirl of the glass brings that Vienna malt forward and a toasted pumpernickel with a dry hopped hay likeness, as well as some roasted grains.
An ever faint dark fruit aroma too.
Mouthfeel is bodacious kowabunga. Slick, creamy and full bodied. Loving it. mash temp or rye? Not sure which but gave some nice body to Mr. body's body.
Flavors of toasted grains, mild rye spiciness and a little sourdough yeast flavor. Crisp lagared flavor, not at all fruity and drying through the finish.
This is an assertive full flavored full bodied brew. Loving it.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 00:45:06 | More by Buebie

yamar68

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle to pint:

Nice copper gold body with steady, consistent beading and a dense finger or two of white froth. Decent lacing.

Obvious rye bits on the nose... earthy hops, very fresh smelling and a solid malt backbone.

Great rye and bitter hop character. Tremendous level of balance.

Easy drinking. Smooth. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 21:56:42 | More by yamar68

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

Greggy

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a 1.5 finger pillowy off white head. Body is amber-brown, crystal clear. Lacing is present.

S- Herbal/Earthy hops, lemon, grapefruit, orange peel, spicy rye.

T- Starts off with some caramel backbone, a bit of biscuity notes and then the rye kicks in, slightly spicy. The finish takes the rye and dries in out with a nice astringent hoppiness.

M- Mouthfeel is light and spritzy. The body is silky and the long finish is enjoyable.

O- Overall, an intersting Rye beer. Not overly complex but Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 02:50:05 | More by Greggy

herman77

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear dark amber/light brown with a small off white head.

S: Toasted carmel malt, mild earthy hops and a bit of that rye spice coming through.

T: Nice balance of hops, malt and spice. Some hop bitterness lets itself known at first, then some mild rye spiciness comes. A nice toasted carmel malt backbone all the way through. Nice crisp finish.

M: Lighter body. Average carbonation. Nothing too special here, but not bad.

O: A delicious hoppy lager with a nice mild rye kick to it. Great drinkability. Glad to see that this will be year round.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 22:51:12 | More by herman77

GeezLynn

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Body is a reddish brown with good clarity. Big off-white head is well-retained.
S: Aroma starts malty and fruity, with some mustiness and sharp noble hops in there.
T: Contrary to some reports, the rye is very obvious. Brown malt is light, with bitter pine and citrus flavors standing out. A spicy rye kick shows up midway, followed by a sharp hoppy bitterness that carries through the lengthy finish.
M: Feel is surprisingly soft, with medium-low carbonation and a lighter body.

The heavy hop and rye combination provides plenty to contemplate here. Nice to have a local beer of this variety available in 6-packs. Schell’s might not always be high on style, but the substance is there. I’ll be drinking plenty of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:04:12 | More by GeezLynn

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

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

deebo

Minnesota

3.29/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

An older bottle with a BB date of 1/28/13

A-Poured into a pilsener glass this beer is super foamy, a fistful of off-white frothy head with good staying power and great lacing. Just a bit of chill haze and amber in color.

S-Clean malt aroma, some spicy rye character. Non-descript hoppy character as well, more noble than NW US in aroma.

T-As the aroma, a spicy flavor (rye and hops intertwined) dominates this brew.

M-Medium bodied, fairly highly carbonated with a medium length finish that is drying and slightly bitter. Alcohol well hidden for such a high ABV lager.

O-An interesting brew, one for the fans of rye and hop forward brews this is a drinkable beer from Schells.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 03:06:15 | More by deebo

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

TheSSG

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a large, dense, thick head that has some serious persistence and some really nice lacing. Nice burnt umber color. Nice floral/grassy hops in the nose, with notes of grapefruit and malt. Starts off with a fantastic grapefruit hoppiness, moves into a medium bitterness with notes of pine, and finishes with a bold rye spice maltiness that blends well with the lingering hop bitterness. If you give it enough time, the bitterness becomes more mild, and the sweet biscuit can be found.

Holy hell, this is fantastic. The mouthfeel is amazing. This is a lager, but it's thick and luscious across the tongue.
This is like Cane & Ebel, Jr. The clarity that the lager brings to this really just lets the hops and rye burst through.
This just lept to the top of my all-time favorites list.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:25:25 | More by TheSSG

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beer poured out from the bottle and into a pint glass. It was deep caramel in colour with an orange/reddish tinge. Had good clarity to it. Smelled of peppery rye with slight malt. Distinct hoppy rye taste with a clean finish.

Would I buy this beer again? Maybe.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 22:13:24 | More by NilocRellim

fizzy

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh my gosh!!! This is from a small ancient, craft brewer in central Minnesota? This is the same brewer that was spared destruction during the Sioux War of the 1860s because the Indians had no beef with the Schell family. What a history, and now to complement they year round offering with Emerald Rye. There is nothing more to say about this brew except EXCELLENT.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 17:44:39 | More by fizzy

theHoff77

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Edited 12/6/12
Poured into a pint glass. Appearance is a dark amber with a one finger head. Not much lacing.
As far as smell and taste I really only pick up on the rye. Reminds me of pumpernickel bread. Very easy to drink and it reminds me of something I'd drink in the fall and winter. This is a solid Rye beer. It has become a staple in my go to rotation due to its drinkability, quality, and affordability. Goes great with anything you eat, especially ruben sandwiches and pizza.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 03:08:35 | More by theHoff77

joshcmn

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally got my hands on twelve pack of this for $11.99 and excited to try this new beer from Schell's.

A - Mohagany hued body, 1/2" slowly dissapating white head with decent lacing.

S - Rye and slight tropical fruit.

T - Bitter hops, rye, more bitter hops which accentuate the spicyness from the rye, then very slight alcohol (for a 6.2 ABV) before palate is wiped mostly clean by the lager yeast leaving some of the hop oils on your tongue.

M - Carbonation is just right, relatively thin but not watery. Finish is clean with a lingering but not overpowering bitterness.

O - I am really enjoing this beer. It's basically an IPA/Lager cross and Schell's has done a nice job with this one. I don't think I've ever had a beer quite like this one but that's a good thing in this case. I've been consistently impressed with the quality of the beers coming out of Schell's this past year. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 07:10:33 | More by joshcmn