Rye-on-Rye - Boulevard Brewing Co.

davey101

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 vintage, Bottle No. 5734. Batch: 2012-1, Best By Date: 02-2014. 750ml bottle into a BC 15th anny glass. Thanks Steimie!

A - Pours a slightly hazy dark orange/brown body. Two fingers of light tan foam forms and settles into a thin cap. Great lacing and retention.

S - Toffee, malt, peat, and some brown sugar. A touch of rye spice and rich oak on the finish. Well what do you know, smells like a malty rye whiskey!

T - Taste is almost scotch ale like. A clean toffee malt profile with layers of oak, vanilla, smoke, brown sugar, and rye spice. Simple but tasty.

M - Medium bodied with lively carbonation. Has a bubbly finish that plays well with the alcohol warmth. Drinkability is somewhat low.

O - A rather unique beer. Reminds me of a peatier Backwoods Bastard. Quite tasty and a good representation of rye and its spice, however it is a bit one dimensional and cloying.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 05:06:23 | More by davey101

CrazyQuaker

Missouri

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

Batch 2013-1. There was no bottle # on this year's series

I reviewed this beer last year, and it turned out to be on of my favorite beers of all time. So here goes my 2013 review...

First, the beer got off to a bad start because of the bottling. No bottle number, first of all, and secondly, the wire around the cork broke, and did not untwist. I am a very attention-detailed person, so whether or not this was Boulevard's fault is one thing. But it was a pain to get the wire off once it broke. Could have been a much better opening experience. Now for the beer...

I used a small brandy snifter this year. Appearance was good. Rich dark amber color, about a 2 finger rich cream colored head. A little lacing that didn't stick around long. Lacing was outstanding when I took a sip. The carbonation bubbles rising in the brandy snifter looked awesome.

The aroma was very whiskey-intense, with a touch of licorice and some other spice. I was so perplexed with this spice, I literally smelled about 30 spices in my spice rack to try to figure out what it was, and I still can't put my finger on it. Regardless, the beer smelled wonderful.

This beer has always had an excellent mouth feel, and this year is no different. Not too thick, not too thin.

The first flavor is outstanding. Very strong whiskey-alcohol to start, but quickly fades to a sweet and spicy-vanilla flavor, which follows again by a lingering whiskey taste. The alcohol slightly burns, but not too much, giving this beer what I think is its best quality. It's a super-strong beer, and it holds its own in that category. Just like last year, the beer gets better as it warms slightly. I got my best taste from the glass after about 20 minutes of sipping.

Overall, this beer has become my favorite Smokestack series. It has surpassed Tank 7. I do think last year's brew was a little better, but don't get me wrong, the 2013 batch will impress you. Again, use caution, as this is a 12% abv (last year's was 11%), so this is not for the weak at heart or liver.

Good job Boulevard.

Batch 2012-1 Bottle #7023

Appearance is a deep muddy red, about an inch and a half of almost-white foamy head, and I was surprised to get little to no lacing. Maybe the glass choice I picked (standard top-rounded pint)?

Aroma is nice; definitely a whiskey barrel wood scent with a really nice maltiness. More wood to me than malt.

This beer is pretty complex to me. Starts out sweet (whiskey-ness), but the middle gets complicated. A little caramel, and some type of citrus I can't put my finger on. Then you get the whiskey again, rye and malt, which gives it a pretty good wow factor, plus a bit of alcohol taste. Finish is slightly dry, but has a lingering sweetness; characteristics I like a lot.

It feels good on the mouth, not too thick, not too thin and very smooth. As this beer gets warmer in the glass, it presents a lot more whiskey dominance, but it's like your sipping it with water, which I personally enjoy. It does not present hard alcohol characteristics.

Overall, this is probably going to be one of my favorite smokestacks, next to Tank 7. But this could be dangerous since it is so smooth. Bottle says 11% abv so you'd have to be careful with it.

My friend Chris got this for me as a b-day gift (it's really hard to find special release smokestacks in the KC area because they sellout really fast). I appreciate this a lot. Thanks Chris.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:55:26 | More by CrazyQuaker

Humulus85

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was really excited to find this one back when it was released. I almost forgot about it in my cellar. 2012 vintage, bottled on 2/20/12, poured into a tulip.

Pours a beautiful dark ruby, some little floaties (my bottle may have gotten jostled a bit. Nice cream colored head. About one fingers worth and decent retention for the ABV, as well as some alcohol legs.

Tons of rye and tons of whiskey. There's that wonderful sweet spice from the rye. Whiskey soaked oak and char. You an feel the booze in the nose, but it works for what this is going for.

This really tastes like a rauchbier with a shot of rye whiskey thrown in. In a good way. It starts with whiskey and finishes with it. The rye based malt compliment the flavor of the whiskey whose barrels it aged in. If you are not familiar with rye whiskey, it may be hard to appreciate this. Yet it could be a bit more complex. It's pretty two dimensional: rye and rye whiskey.

My least favorite part of the beer. Has a medium mouthfeel with a too much carbonation. Feels a bit thin overall, but also is exceedingly drinkable for how much booze there is. Unless you really like whiskey this may not be the beer for you. It is truly a whiskey lovers beer, not just a barreled aged beer. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 07:33:45 | More by Humulus85

YogiBeer

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well, where to start...

I thought they weren't releasing this beer for some reason, then I see an entire case of it at work. Bought the whole thing, based on last year's batch. Anyway... Allagash Toulip/chalice thing (laser etched, favorite drinking vessel). I feel it necessary to preface by saying that I HATE rye bread.

Appearance: I HATE hwne people use this word to describe food or beer, but... Sexy. Fantastic golden/amber/orange color that is clear, but that you can't see through... it'll make sense when you have it. Head is fluffy, caramel colored, creamy, and fades slowly. The lacing (as per usual from boulevard) is absolutely insane. Stick, Stuck.

Aroma: Depends on the temp you smell it at. Colder = Resin, Citrus, fresh cut wood, spicy grain, vague caramelized flavors... warmer = vanilla, Whiskey, toasted wood, molasses, peat, earth... unreal.

Taste: I have made a living, and dedicated my life, to figuring how to make things complex, decadent, flavorful, and intriguing... and this is everything I've ever sought, in a bottle. I know that you're probably rolling your eyes, but I'm serious. Starts out with fantastic malt flavors, yielding caramel, molasses, and treacle... then yields to a very nice earthy/floral hop presence, followed quickly by a very well balanced rye spiciness.... and finishes like a world-class barrel aged beer, with hints of vanilla, oak, char, brown sugar, and the faintest hint of peat. I've paid three times as much for a beer, and haven't gotten as much flavor and depth as this beer offers.

Mouth feel: The sweetness is balanced by the earthiness is balanced by the spiciness is balanced by the the hopiness is balanced by the barrel is balanced by the whiskey. Not too clingy, just enough "stick" o make it incredibly memorable. If they made a more syrupy version, it would be the only beer I drank.

Overall: Enjoyed more than any of the silly $25+ beers that I've paid for. will spend the rest of my life figuring out how to brew this. Buy it, age it, enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:31:38 | More by YogiBeer

Kromes

Georgia

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

2013 release

Poured into a tulip. A hazy amber color with a thick off-white head that laces the sides of the glass.

Vanilla, oak, rye whisky, caramel malt. Very nice aroma.

Everything hits at once....the rye grain, the sweet malt, whisky, vanilla, and oak. Mostly the sweet rye malt up front with a touch of whisky, then the oak/vanilla kicks in and fades into a lingering whisky flavor and alcohol burn.

Medium bodied and a smooth feel. Slight burn in the finish.

I've never had a bad beer from Boulevard. This beer is no exception. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 23:41:33 | More by Kromes

Chirpie

Kansas

4.93/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2012 bottle 750ml - Poured into a Belgium glass.

I've had the opportunity to drink 4 of these big boy bottles over the course of the year, and every time I revisit this brew, I like it more and more.

Pouring it never gives me more than a medium sized head that doesn't stick around too long. It's a brownish color that when held up to light shows a heavenly dark auburn red color that's moderately clear as you peer through it.

Be ready for a predominant thought the very first time you sip it. Woah, it's sweet. Almost gimmickly so. There are grander plans afoot though, as by the 3rd or 4th sip the flavors of rye and a warm burn start to linger and everything blends together beautifully.

Many people prefer a beer with this level of alcohol (11%) to mask it's boozy potency as a sign of worthiness. For some types of beers, I don't disagree. Not for a kissing cousin of whiskey. This warming flourish of alcohol endears this brew to me, rather than resisting it.

Sipping this in front of a fire or at least while some flakes fall outside would be an enviable state of relaxation for any beer lover.

This isn't just my favorite Boulevard Beer, it's my current favorite beer, period.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 21:03:19 | More by Chirpie

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from MasterSki, 750ml into a tulip. Bottle number 8618 of 12148, batch 2010-1, best before January 2013. Thanks Alex!

Poured a murky brown, with a cream head. Nice lacing and moderate retention. Nose of caramel, rye bread, light whiskey barrel notes, spice and some rich apple pie filling. Tastes of rye, caramel, whiskey barrel is quite prominent, bready and sweet malt with some whiskey heat on the back end. Full feel, good density and medium carbonation. A definite sipper.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 19:41:35 | More by liamt07

sleuthdog

Illinois

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

Bottle #19028 From 2012 with a best by date of 02-2014
Poured into snifter

Appearance: A dark mahogany color with very minimal cream colored head. Maybe one finger worth and that's being generous. This settled to a small ring along the edges of the glass. I can see some tiny bubbles rising to the top when held directly to the light.

Smell: Whiskey up front with the spice from the rye. Big time sweet notes of caramel, toffee and booze soaked dark fruit with a ton of vanilla and oak. This one reminds me so much of an English style barleywine like Sucaba in the nose. An intoxicating smelling beer.

Taste: Sweet caramel, toffee and vanilla initially and then the rye hits mid palate. I am also getting the dark fruit component and the charred oak complements everything perfectly. The whiskey is quite evident producing a leather like taste and a warming alcohol effect. The finish is simply awesome with the rye and whiskey lingering through the entire swallow. The sweet caramel and breadiness also stick around between sips.

Mouthfeel: A fairly full body here with a good amount of carbonation. This beer covers all corners of my mouth with a sticky sweetness but not cloying by any means.

Overall: An interesting complex beer to say the least. There is so much going on that each sip elicits a different reaction from me. Sweet but spicy and the barrel is done to perfection in this beer. A sipper but one I can't stop sipping! I'm glad I bought two of these because this is one hell of an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:13:31 | More by sleuthdog

jgagne

Kentucky

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-deep ruby red color. Nice off white head. Beautiful looking beer.

S-wonderful smell permeates off this beer. Smells like you are walking into bourbon distillery. Intense vanilla, caramel, brown sugar aroma. Great stuff.

T-wonderful, sweet malty body. Great rye characteristics. Not as intense as most rye beers. Drinks more like a barleywine, which I really enjoy.

M-big heavy body. Great carb and really smooth.

O-I love Boulevard. There smokestack series is some of the best beers I have ever had. and this might be the best I have had yet. Highly recommended if you can get one.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 20:34:51 | More by jgagne

abrand

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into pint glass.

Pours a brown color with a big 2 finger head that retains very well. Smell is sweet with raisins and plums. Some malts and spices are also present. Good smelling, similar to a quad. Taste is pretty alcoholic with loads of caramel and spices. Not much sweetness to the quaff. Dry finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and pretty alcoholic. Overall this has a good, complex flavor. I think it could sit a little longer to mellow out some of the alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:09:00 | More by abrand

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Reddish brown body with a froth of off-white head.

Nose is boozish. Sweet, almost candi-sugar quality as well. Not getting the wood yet.

Flavor is heavy, sweet, boozy and rich. Almost a Belgian-ness in the sweetness. The whiskey component is extremely evident, but almost too sweet for Rye. Very rich, a little tough to have the second glass in the 750 all by myself.

Mouthfeel is slick and coating. High carbonation.

Overall, this is one seriously good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 22:45:01 | More by ghostwalker

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle, crowned and corked. 2012 vintage, batch #2012-2, bottle #18665. A gift from a friend. Served cold in a standard pint glass.

A: Dark orange-tan brew, cloudy as hell. Short-lived 1/2" of head from a gentle pour settles to a thin layer across the surface. Appreciable viscosity observed during the pour.

S: Woooow, tons of bourbon in the aroma. Much more like bourbon than rye whiskey in my opinion, maybe because of the extra body/ sweetness. Not dry enough for a rye whiskey. Charred oak, mulling spices, smoke, cedar, citrus pith. Moderately sweet, some alcohol spice lingering behind the scenes.

T: Tastes just like the smell, no deception here. Very heavily influenced by the barrel aging. Tastes like it's made of half bourbon. Very potent and very tasty! Wow.

M: Moderately thick. Alcohol is fairly well hidden, though not completely. It quickly makes itself felt. Fairly well balanced in that regard. Finishes with a nice strong dose of lingering wood smoke/ charred oak.

D: An epic example of barrel aged brew. A must-have if you're in to this sort of thing, but probably quite overpowering if you're not. Finishing this bottle is going to screw me up in all sorts of nice ways. I usually gotta drink wine in order to get this kind of buzz from a single bottle. Gets the job done with class and style. I almost want to make a Manhattan with it.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 23:48:54 | More by BeerNinja007

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A big thanks to cploking for coming through with this beer. Poured from a brown 25.4 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy crimson color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of whiskey, a bit of oak. Taste is strong of whiskey and alcohol, a faint rye presence, a bit of oak. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall if you are into whiskey barrel beers, this would be in your wheelhouse. For me it was just a bit overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 20:53:49 | More by tone77

bum732

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

S: Rye earthiness and spiciness, rye whiskey, soft oak, some dark fruits

L: Cloudy dark brown, creamy white head that dissipates slightly.

T: Rich malty sweetness with a rye barrel richness. Some caramel and slight toffee, but still somewhat light. Medium low bitterness leading to additional rye and rye barrel sweetness. Fairly prominent alcohol finishing the beer slightly dry.

M: Medium full body, medium body. Alcohol slightly warming.

Really solid beer, loved all the rye notes and the barrel treatment was great in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 02:05:43 | More by bum732

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Dense, sand colored head atop a near opaque dark brown beer. Fair amount of sediment bobbing around. Nice crescent moon of retention that leaves heavy trails of foam sliding down my glass.

Sharp rye immediately leaps into the nose. Whiskey soaked raisin bread and treacle. Smells like everything I'd want from a big rye beer.

Tastes as good as it smells. Rum raisin, rye whiskey spice. Between the carbonation and rye spice flavors seem to bounce gleefully around the palette. Gleefully I say. Tastes big and alcoholic but not hot.

Hands down my new favorite big beer. I'm reticent to give 5s but there's nothing I would change about it other than wishing it came in smaller bottles so I could have one by myself. Like a hermit.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 14:10:43 | More by donkeyrunner

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle shared by jdiddy. #20,513 indicated on the label. Pours a dully, hazy amber hue with a loose, off-white head that quickly dissipates into a soapy skim. Nose is floral, perfumey and sweet with some definite rye notes. Taste is really quite good - buttery and woody with some rye and caramel notes. Definitely let this beer to warm a little to allow it to open up. Mouthfeel is medium-light in body with a coarse carbonation and some acidity. Overall, I really like this beer. It's still a bit hot, but I see a lot of potential in this beer with an additional two years in the cellar to dissipate the heat and carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 01:18:04 | More by Jwale73

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

P:  Pours a highly carbonated tawny red under a cloud of dense frothy khaki head that settles quickly to a thin swirly wake. 

S:  Nose is big and boozy.  Cherry coke and whiskey, sour mash, brown sugar, dry oak, but mainly potent whiskey. 

T/M:  Taste follows the nose but delivers a healthy dose of spiced rye bread, hidden behind the alcohol is a subtle earthy and herbal hop bitterness and pleasant warming.  Body is full with stinging carbonation that delivers a super dry finish that leaves my mouth slightly numb. 

O:  Jack and coke anyone?  This reminds me of high school when I used to mix whiskey with cherry coke.  Despite the hearty dose of booze this is really quite good. It has much better character and complexity that a mixed beverage. The drinkability is really grand considering the ABV and the encombesment of alcohol. I would like to age one and see how it develops. 

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 03:54:38 | More by Hopswagger

rudzud

Massachusetts

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

Shared this with a friend yesterday. Poured into my dogfish tulip.

A - TONS of particles in this bottle. Had this since the most recent release, so what, 4 months? maybe longer. Poured a brownish mohagany with a one finger head that leaves a thin halo and cloud.

S - Light barrel notes and spicy rye. Kind of faint, but pleasant.

T - Booze and bourbon, that about sums this beer up. Its hot on the nose with light sweetness from bourbon. There are nice rye spice as well.

M - Mouthfeel has nice carbonation but its boozy. Needs to age and mellow out some.

O - Overall I guess I wasnt expecting this to be quite as boozy as it was, nor was I expecting all the floaties.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 02:19:00 | More by rudzud

draheim

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL (batch 2012-1, best before 02-2014) into a tulip. Pours a hazy amber w/ a 2-finger khaki head.

Aroma is fruity and surprisingly tart. Can't ID this aroma, could it be the rye whiskey barrel? Maybe I'm detecting a heavy oak presence.

Taste is decidedly whiskey-forward. Complex, spicy, with a warming alcohol burn. The sweetness, warmth, and dryness of the whiskey is really allowed to shine here.

Mouthfeel is smooth, slick, with a finishing bite that's equal parts spicy and hoppy.

Overall, a unique beer. Unlike most barrel-aged beers (imperial stouts and barleywines), the malt profile here lets the whiskey flavor dominate. This beer tastes more like a straight-up glass of whiskey than any other beer I've had. Should have poured into a shot glass.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 05:54:24 | More by draheim

Naugros

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found and bought at the suggestion of many FB friends. And I'm glad I listened to them.

The deep copper brew gives off a strong smell of rye whiskey balanced out with brown sugar sweetness and some floral hops. The taste has all the elements of that aroma, but the whiskey doesn't assert itself as strongly. From the smell I thought I'd be tasting a booze bomb, but it's really nicely balanced. It IS sweeter than I expected, but not too much so, with that sweetness knocking out the initial alcohol burn.

This beer drinks far too easily for its ABV level. And despite the sweetness, it remains drinkable, smooth and exceptionally balanced.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 19:50:50 | More by Naugros

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

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

A very nice rye beer here, that on the one hand totally throws rye flavor in your face and at the same time complements it very well.

The beer pours a very pretty crimson hue with an off white head that leaves some nice clingy lacing to the glass, a nice sudsy look, especially for a beer of this ABV.

The smell and taste both follow th same pattern: a very nice platform for rye flavor that is set nicely with a pillowy sweet oak/vanilla flavor and savory maltiness. Some alcohol flavor but it is not overly hot at all. Dark dried fruits, not juicy in a fruity way at all. Nice almost Trappist like flavor to the malt, it has a mustiness and balance that is awesome.

The feel is solid, not too hot but a little bit of tingle on the tongue. A really nice beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:07:55 | More by Dreadnaught33

beergod1

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy mahogany color with a tan head. The aroma is strong rye with some oak notes and dark fruit. The flavor is very nice with rye, cherries, vanilla, oak and a strong, spicy hops and rye finish. The alcohol is fairly noticeable. Medium mouth feel and medium carbonation. Tastes better than the smell. But a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 20:08:26 | More by beergod1

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to robbiemoy13 for this bottle Batch 2012-2 (#15105) poured in to CBS snifter.

A - Poured a very murky amber colour with a nice bright red glow around the edges. One finger of cream coloured head formed and receded to a thin layer. Good lacing.

S - Whiskey up front with plenty of oak. Spiciness from the rye malt is present as well as some caramel sweetness from the base beer.

T - Barrel characteristics are present up front - whiskey and big oak flavours. The base beer adds notes of sweet caramel, a good spiciness and some lighter hop bitterness. The hop flavours are difficult to pick out. The alcohol is warming, especially in the finish. As I continue to drink this one, a good toasted, almost charred flavour becomes more prominent.

M - Medium body with a good chew. Moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 14:34:40 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Pencible

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured a nearly opaque mahogany with moderate off white head.
S: It smelled like rye liquor, with some biscuit and bananas and candi sugar.
T: It tasted like rye and oak, with some banana and biscuit and candi sugar. It had a clean and sweet and spicy aftertaste.
M: It was oily and thick with some smooth natural carbonation. Beautiful body.
D: This was a wonderful brew with a somewhat complex and delicious scent and taste. The body was nearly perfect, and the alcohol was really well hidden. The finish was smooth too, so it was really easy to drink, but worth sipping. Might cellar well, but already great fresh. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 19:12:07 | More by Pencible

Reaper16

Alabama

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

growler filled at Corks and Tops, Tuscaloosa, AL
served into a tulip glass

Pours a toasty light amber color. It's pretty much whiskey colored, come to think of it. And this being a Ryewine aged in small-batch Tempelton Rye barrels, you do think of it. Not much head on this monster of a beer; perhaps half a finger of off-white foam in all. Laces in spots like Morse code.

Rye-on-Rye smells like whiskey barrels. Pure, distilled angel's share (even moreso than Angel's Share). There is vanilla and oak for days and days here. It's impressive how much vanilla there is without this beer getting to be a sweetness bomb. The oak barrel character is tempered by a spicy, bready hit of rye malt. There's a ton of rye in this beer, as you'd expect. There's a blast of something like breakfast cereal (I can't place which one), too. There's some booze, sure, but it isn't off-putting.

The flavor of the 2012 vintage of this beer - at least the draft version of the 2012 vintage - is a whole lot smoother than I remember the original 2010 vintage being. It's still a macho beer, but the flavors are so well-rounded. Spicy rye malt is the dominant flavor, with straight-up bourbon flavors following: oaky tannin, sweet, comforting vanillin, a kiss of warming alcohol. It's impressively made. The finish flushes with tobacco leaf and leather, before yielding to a baker's chocolate note that plays real nicely with the vanilla character from the barrel aging. This is a wonderful beer.

The mouthfeel is not as full as I expected, but that's a product of this being on-tap and also being brought home in a milk-jug growler (thanks, Alabama laws). But it is very smooth, with no real hint of booze in terms of cheek-drying astringency.

Overall, this is a wonderful Ryewine. Probably the best Ryewine in the world. The barrel aging here is marvelously done. All of the flavor of whiskey with little of the harshness. Seek this beer out.

Serving type: growler

06-16-2012 02:04:13 | More by Reaper16