Rye-on-Rye - Boulevard Brewing Co.

tewaris

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had heard a lot of praise for this beer and never had a chance to actually try it so I was very glad to find it on tap at Stub's. Served in a 10 oz wide mouthed glass.

Pours dark mahogany with a creamy tan head. Great lacing as the glass empties. The aroma is not nearly as potent as I was expecting. Smooth malts and some barrels, maybe. Ample hops in the taste but gels well with the overall profile of the beer. Warms one up as it goes down.

Frankly I was confused for a while about the beer I actually got but soon enough the rye comes forth... maybe the only element that keeps the bitterness in check on a warm beer. I started to like it finally and it is certainly a well made beer. But I didn't really enjoy it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2013 05:35:53 | More by tewaris

NovoAleMan

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A fine rye ale.

Appearance is nice, rich, and orange. Pleasant to see.

Smell...well, you can easily smell the rye. It is pleasant to the nostrils, not too lingering. Also has a very slight hint of fruit.

Taste is excellent. Rich, not overbearing.

The mouth-feel is quite smooth. It is a relatively drinkable rye ale.

Important to note it is a strong beer. 12.0% ABV means one should not trifle with it. Still, an excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 02:02:18 | More by NovoAleMan

jimnastic

California

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Best beer I've drank in 2012!
There is nothing wrong with this beer, and shame on anyone who's rated this below a 5.0.
To truly appreciate this beer, you must appreciate the bourbon barrels in which it was aged...
Templeton Rye Whiskey (http://www.templetonrye.com/home/) is something special, even when not coming from the Branch River. Distilled in Iowa, by the distiller above, as well as continued by the original bootleggers of Al Capone's time, I've had the chance to taste both side by side (age only difference). How and why Boulevard got a hold of barrels, I'll never know. A special rye ale + aged in special rye barrels = taste bud enlightenment.

I believe Jim has outdone himself here...now if I could just get my hands on the Irish Ale I hear is aging in the same barrels...I may say different.

On tap, this beer is too drinkable. Masking the 11% beautifully with wave after wave of eye-opening flavors; the balanced sweetness of complex malts and whiskey notes, the richness of the tamed rye, while accompanied by a surprising overall lightness in both color and weight.
I highly recommend this on draught, if you can find it...now if I could only find a bottle...or 12.
Cheers and enjoy--Nastic

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 03:07:00 | More by jimnastic

DCon

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on-tap @ the Royale in St. Louis, MO for $7. Tapped from the Black Tap Handle w/ a Fuscia colored Square on top & Rye on Rye labeled into a 12oz Smokestack Series Tulip Glass.

Aroma- A very rich and deep nose is present but subtle at the same time? You know what I mean. Sweet, tons of rye, and a bit of booziness on the finish. Nice overall!

Appearance- Received with a 2 finger, frothy head that has great retention. Has a deep brown and ruby colored body with depth. Leaves the thickest lacing behind. Eye candy.

Flavor- A ton of complexity makes this one up, almost too much at times! Strong alcohol and light bourbon are mixed with dark fruits and a sweetness that follows nicely. Finishes with a medium bitterness level.

Mouthfeel- Medium-Full bodied, Medium-High Carbonation, Smooth, and has a great finish made up of alcohol, figs, rye, and malt.

Overall Impression- A very rich one from Boulevard! Enjoyed every last sip and will be enjoying my bottle of this very shortly. I suggest enjoying this on-tap and wouldn't tell you not to grab one of the last bottles available.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 19:37:11 | More by DCon

geom

4.48/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was great. If you enjoy whiskey, especially rye this beer is for you. It was the initial punch of a sip of rye but then mellows in your pallet to what I would describe as being as close to rye as possible but still maintaining its beer roots.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2012 20:45:59 | More by geom

FanofHefe

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap in a tulip at Bigelo's Bistro in Edwardsville, IL. Hazy, dark brown body with a crimson hue. A one-finger light tan head the dissipates fairly quickly leaving very little lacing.

The aroma is very light overall but has notes of rye, of course, and sweet caramel malt in a dominant way, with much lighter hints of raisin and banana.

The flavor is superb and very complex. I didn't check but this has to be a Belgian yeast with the flavor mix. Rye, whiskey, fig, caramel malt, banana, raisin, and a slight note of hops makes for an excellent flavor mix.

Very smooth mouthfeel and way too drinkable for the high abv. Might be the best Boulevard beer I've ever had. Highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2012 17:35:30 | More by FanofHefe

Treebs

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Wild Monk in LaGrange. 2012 vintage. Served in snifter.

A: Pours a deep amber body, slightly hazy, with some plum like hues running through middle. A thin, light tan head forms on the pour and subsides to a thin collar and film. Some soapy splotches of lace of left down the glass.

S: Rye spiciness is with the whiskey coming through is prevelant up front and through each smell. As it warms more of the dark, bready malts and the barrel sweetness start to come through.

T: The barrel really takes over the taste here. Big rye whiskey flavors, some light oak and vanilla. Dark rye bread malts with a touch of some mild hops on the finish mixing with some alcohol. As the beer warmed the malt bill opened up and some caramel sweetness showed itself as well.

M: Medium bodied with some slight warming in the throat. Medium carbonation. The barrel presence really has a lingering effect on the palate.

O: As the beer warmed it got progressively sweeter and more complex. This does need some time to mellow out as the barrel is really taking over the base beer and you lose out one some of the fine qualities of the rye beer itself. Overall though, this was a nice beer and I will give the one I have in the cellar a solid year to see how it develops.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2012 14:43:18 | More by Treebs

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at New World Tavern—served into a pint glass

Appearance: red-brown in color, hazy, 1.5 inch head, moderate carbonation

Smell: whiskey barrel and light rye

Taste: light rye that becomes more present as the beer warms. followed by huge sweet caramel/vanilla/ and toffee with big whiskey oaking through the finish

Mouthfeel: very sticky sweet but not cloying, moderate carbonation, medium bodied

Overall: Amazing. Maybe the best from Boulevard that I have had and certainly one to revisit. I love the oaking in here especially the way it combines with the caramel malt. My only complaint is I wish the rye was more pronounced. That said, as long as I do not expect to get a rye bomb, this is phenomenal.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2012 12:59:51 | More by tigg924

taez555

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on tap at the horseshoe pub in Hudson MA.

Poured a clear tan body with a small off-white head.

Nose was amazing with a strong caramel malt, but loads of rye whiskey.

Taste is along the same lines. Big body, but not over the top. No hint whatsover this beer is 11%abv. Lots of absoultely delicous caramel and bready malt mixed with layers of rye whiskey. Flavor. Oak, mild touches of vanilla, some leather. Your typical barrel aged sort of flavor.

What an AMAZING beer. I could drink this all day. (Technically I did). :-) I really wish this was a full time brew from Boulevard. Awesome stuff. I ordered a second round, then went back later in the day to order a 3rd and 4th. Seriously, awesome beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2012 00:23:01 | More by taez555

bump8628

Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear amber, nearly brown, thin head of white foam. Tons of oak with vanilla, burnt toast, and dark cacao coming forward. Caramel and toffee malt run deep. Smooth hop bitters with some biting tannins at the end. Not nearly as complex or rye-forward as the bottled version, but a really nice beer nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 21:01:05 | More by bump8628

kcillini77

Kansas

4.58/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Martin City Brewpub - $7 for a tulip glass.

I bought a bottle of this that's sitting in my refrigerator, but wanted to try it on tap.

Whiskey is the dominant aroma, but the spicy malt dominates the taste with a nice whiskey backdrop.

Extremely flavorful and pleasant to drink. Wouldn't know it was 11% if I wasn't familiar with it. Looking forward to my bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 02:04:27 | More by kcillini77

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.11/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

thanks merc for cracking out this vintage 2012 brew

The beer pours a dull, hazy orange/red amber with a thin halo of tan head, loose lacing, and plentiful sediment. The nose is buttery whiskey barrel aged caramel sweetness, slightly boozy, with a touch of rye. The taste is definitely whiskey barrel forward with a generous amount of rye spice in the finish. It's medium bodied, barleywine-esque, slightly spice, heavily barrel aged and boozy (but not as much as the BBQ). Wow, what a good beer that presents huge barrel aged sweetness along with excellent rye spice. It's more of an evening sipper at 11% and with huge rye spice, but very tasty and impressive. I'd certainly try this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 20:06:07 | More by ThePorterSorter

merc7186

New York

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 Bomber poured into snifter glass.

A: Reddish/Mild Orangish Hue, Passes Some Light, Off White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Rye Bourbon Barrel Sweetness, Honey, Rye

T: Rye Bourbon, Honey, Rye, Mild Sweet Bread

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sweet, Mildly Boozy

Overall, you really get the rye barrel taste and the rye grains seperately but they mesh well together too. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 20:00:17 | More by merc7186

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.26/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml of the 2013 bottling, generously sent to me by laymansbeerfan, and split into tulips with my brothers...

A: Dark gold, nearly amber, with a huge off-white head that leaves a spiderweb of lacing behind.

S: Big-time toffee, vanilla, and a moderate rye-whiskey component right upfront, along with a clear citrusy character, hops maybe? Big malty body with grainy, spicy undertones.

T: Moderate caramel and big toffee right upfront...barrel character is really nicely blended here, little bit of vanilla and a pulling charred oak component...toasted grains, distinctive fruitiness and spiciness is apparent as well.

MF: Creamy medium/full body with moderate carbonation. Warmth is apparent but welcome. Carbonation is spot-on.

O: A really pleasant BA rye beer, unique and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 15:15:59 | More by Scotchboy

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.59/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle

pours a deep amber with 2 fingers of off-white detergent-like head which dissipated slowly and gave off a good amount of head. smells of vanilla, bourbon, toffee, caramel, banana. very sweet malty flavor at first (caramel, brown sugar) followed by harsh burn of alcohol leading way to vanilla, banana. and bourbon flavors. this is a very sweet and booze heavy beer. full body with medium carbonation, definitely a sipper with lots of alcohol burn.

overall? yeah this was well worth hunting down on r/beertrade, and well worth waiting to drink. one of the best barrel aged beers i've had.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 00:36:41 | More by facundoCNB

Immortale25

Florida

4.06/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Saint Somewhere wine-style glass. Batch Number/Best By Date: 2012-1/02-2014 Much love to Slvrmon82 for hookin a brotha up.

A- Pours a light brown color with a 1/2 inch tan head that retains well before dropping down to a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a light center patch of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing slides down the glass leaving splotches behind.

S- Woody, somewhat boozy aroma. Also toasty. Semi-astringent. Not a whole lot there.

T- Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Mildly sweet caramel flavor melds nicely with the spicy rye and oak notes. Alcohol is very well-masked. The astringency found in the aroma is just as apparent in the flavor but there's more to work with here.

M- Pretty standard feel with some sharpness from the booze and rye with medium carbonation and a medium-full body.

O- Not necessarily complex since what you have is a rye beer aged on rye barrels but it's certainly drinkable and enjoyable if you're a rye fan like I am.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:28:09 | More by Immortale25

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.71/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A story of rye, for the rye and of the rye.Enormous head on beige body. Mild rye spice aroma. Above average body, Decent surprisingly smooth drinkability. The taste yields much barreling including vanilla and coconut, perhaps a result of maximum time recommended in bottle,just a drop of faint sour. Bottle from IP with Steve in Warren.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:17:38 | More by northyorksammy

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A big thank you to Steasy66 for this bad boy.

Appearance. Pours a hazy, deep amber orange with a 2+ finger, amber tinted cream coloured head.

Smell. Grainy malts, sweet caramel, woody bourbon and vanilla, and some fruity yeast and spicy rye.

Taste. Spicy rye malts and caramel, whiskey and wood, vanilla and some fruity yeast and booze.

Mouthfeel. Pretty full bodied, slightly sticky with a medium amount of smooth carbonation.

Overall. Nice big rye beer that's smooth and tasty. Finishing this bottle won't be a problem even being as big as it is...

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 01:57:20 | More by Rutager

rlee1390

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-Cloudy deep ruby, one finger off white head.

S-Rye, whiskey, spice, grass, caramel, molasses and darker fruits.

T-Oak, rye. darker fruits, molasses, caramel and apples.

M-Medium bodied, nicely carbonated, easy drinking for the abv.

O-Was expecting a little more but still a very good beer. Maybe some more rye spiciness would have been nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:48:38 | More by rlee1390

Buster

Oklahoma

4.71/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a tulip glass.

A- Beautiful caramel color, hazy, with a decent head.

S- The nose is dominated by a huge oak-vanilla-whiskey note, with spicy rye and some booze.

T- Much like the nose, there are big rye, whiskey, vanilla, oak flavors. There is also some caramel sweetness, fruitiness, and toffee.

M- Medium bodied, perfectly carbonated, and smooth.

O- This is a great beer, especially considering the price. Definitely pick this one up if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 02:52:01 | More by Buster

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thanks to jtd1969 for this one.

A - dark caramel with a thick, brown head that has great retention; some floaties throughout

S - esters, some faint rye, alcohol

T - peppery rye, fruity esters, some apple, alcohol

M - medium to full bodied, warming alcohol, smooth

This is a really nice beer. The flavor isn't as intense as I would have expected and it's not overly complex. This beer is very drinkable for the ABV and has a nice solid flavor profile that shows off the immense rye character. This is a must try for all rye fans.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:11:26 | More by tdm168

joeseppy

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 Pours a nice 2-3 inch off white foamy head with ruby red transparency.

Rye spice in the nose. Some hop. Charred oak and some booze.

Tastes upfront on hop and then the rye takes over. Charred oak flavor and vanilla. Breadiness in there. Pert near like drinking rye whiskey. I've never had Templeton before, now I have.

Full bodied brew with low carbonation. Alcohol is warming and welcome.

Stellar brew done well in style! Big bottle of this asks you to invite a friend. Nice brew for the launchpad.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 23:19:17 | More by joeseppy

vickersspitfire

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The body is a dark brown hearth color, filled with lots of carbonation and topped off with a thick tan head that consists of creamy small bubbles and larger billowy bubbles in the center. The aroma is semi-dry, filled with wheat and mild malts and plenty a light fruits and banana bread. It is light on the tongue and crisp. It is very creamy and the caramel is very pleasant, there is a slight whiskey note in its aftertaste. Very complex, the more I sip on it the more flavors come out, mild fig and apple, toffee, butter are all mixed in very well. The body does seem to thicken up just a bit, the mouth feel after letting it warm up would be medium to full bodied.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 18:40:08 | More by vickersspitfire

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 3.3.13
Batch 2012-1
Best by 02-2014
Bottle 12885

A - Pours a dark carmel brownish with a fluffy tan head with good retention.

S - Strong carmel, rye and ripe dark frutis.

T - Lots of carmel and toffee, not much else.

D - Decent carbonation with a medium body.

O - Mellowed way out, tons of toffee and carmel, no booze or heat detected.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 17:02:08 | More by HuskyinPDX

cvm4

Mississippi

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2013 bottle

A - Pours a light amber, almost translucent. Has a frothy two finger eggshell head.

S - Definitely rye whiskey overload... Malts and caramel in the background.

T - Rye with a sweeter side that has a woodsy oaky background.

M - Light body, medium to high carbonation. It has a wet finish.

O - Complex, unique and aggressive towards the rye whiskey. Not bad at all!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:49:57 | More by cvm4