Rye-on-Rye - Boulevard Brewing Co.

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

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

Barrelista

California

3.45/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Rum and caramel at the core with a pop of early Rainier cherry.

Foam is frosting-thick on initial pour. Carbonation is low and delicate enough to encourages the beer's sweetness, as if this beer shares a parent with cava.

Full, heavy mouthfeel. Lung-filling on first whiff. Hued a color reserved for sugar at around 315 degrees Farenheit.

Wonderful. A winner.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 02:54:05 | More by Barrelista

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

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

750mL bottle poured into large tulip - 2012 vintage - thanks to Snowrs

Pours a slightly hazed caramel brown with some brighter red hues. Thick beige head rests on top, slowly fading into a coating of film, leaving patchy webbed lacing on the glass.

Plenty of rye spiciness in the nose with bready caramel touches. Hints of toffee and vanilla with whiskey tones. Oaky barrel tannins and soft heat.

Caramel and rye up front with a soft, sticky sweetness. Toffee and bread crust with a dash of hops. Whiskey barrel is pretty prevalent with boozy warmth and leathery vanilla hints. Thick backbone with bready caramel and roasted hints. More rye spice with a touch of pine on the back end. Finishes a bit warm and assertive with lingering rye and whiskey.

Fuller medium body, well carbonated, sticky and full on the tongue with lingering tendencies. This is one hell of a rye beer - I'm already a pretty big fan of the style but barrel aging it definitely adds a whole new dimension.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 23:16:43 | More by xnicknj

DRyan

Texas

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

6/1/12
Boulevard Brewing’s
Rye-on-Rye
Poured in a Jester King Tulip glass

A: Dark brown, with purple tones, thin quickly dissipating head with little lacing
S: Smells Belgian, like a Quadruple; hints of whiskey and rye and earthiness
T: Front is whiskey-forward; can tell it was aged in whiskey barrels. Has some roasty bits, but not like a stout, and some rye spiciness, but not as much as I’d expect. Has a little Quadruple like flavor as well, maybe the yeast? The alcohol is apparent in the aftertaste, and almost has a tiny whiskey-like burn to the nostrils, but does not overpower with alcohol
M: Lightly carbonated, smooth mouthfeel
D: Very drinkable for such a strong beer.

Aging this one; got three more and I think it's only going to get (amazingly) better.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 00:50:33 | More by DRyan

megahurts4

Louisiana

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

Boulevard Smokestack Rye on Rye

Appearance: light brown, medium-large head, and good lacing.

Smell: whiskey, oak, and a dark citrus sweetness.

Taste: dark citrus, whiskey, and a nice maltiness.

Mouthfeel: medium.

Overall:
This is a pretty nice brew. The alcohol is unnoticeable. The whiskey malt sweetness is pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:38:52 | More by megahurts4

jondeelee

Massachusetts

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

Rye-on-Rye opens with a malty, smoky, charcoal-and-bourbon aroma that makes immediately apparent the beer’s barrel aging. The whiskey notes are upfront and potent, but not so much that they overpower everything else. Behind them lies a lovely layer of sugars and fruit esters, including heavy dollops of fig, raisin, and prune, as well as molasses, brown sugar, vanilla, pepper, and baking bread. A thin grapefruit and pine layer notes hops, adding citrusy and resin complexity that meshes well with the whiskey. As a whole, the nose is very enticing, and while it can pessimistically take on somewhat of a cola/Dr. Pepper syrup note, the whiskey barrel aging nicely combats this and brings out an alcoholic liquor addition that works very well.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a surprisingly large blast of hops, sending pink grapefruit, pine resin, and lemon washing across the tastebuds. Against this onslaught the other flavors are temporarily opaque, but do slowly come through in syrupy raisin, fig, and prune fruit esters, as well as a noticeable peppery, woody whiskey-like alcohol burn that tingles the soft palate and goes up the nose. Thick brown breads and threads of vanilla become more apparent later in the mouthful, joined by toasted nuts. In subsequent sips the whiskey aging becomes even more apparent, coloring the fruit esters and breads with a nice woody, charcoal-whiskey tone. The aftertaste is a continuation of the main flavors, with surprisingly strong lingering sweet sugars and woodiness, and lasts for a good while. Mouthfeel is a dry (especially in the aftertaste) medium to medium-strong, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is quite delicious fare, and it seems a very wise choice on Boulevard’s part to do a 67% rye whiskey barrel-aged/33% ale mix, as this option provides the beer with both a full, round, flavorful sugary malt base, as well as a nice whiskey overtone that plays off of the other flavors, rather than dominating them (as can happen with 100% barrel-aged beers). The heavy 11% ABV is noticeable throughout the entire mouthful, marking one of the beer’s few weaknesses, but even here that sensation mostly blends well, reminding of the beer’s origins. Very much worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 16:57:58 | More by jondeelee

DovaliHops

California

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

2012 Vintage. Pours a crimson reddish brown color with a medium off-white head that disappears quickly. Scent is rye whiskey up front with a slight cherry aroma. Some oak with smooth vanilla and a hint of toffee. As the beer warms a bit, the rye really comes through nicely. Taste is sweet rye spiciness at first. Some woodiness with a ton of vanilla. Rye whiskey on the back of the tongue with a surprisingly light burn for such high ABV. Mouthfeel is a little on the lighter side...should have more body to it. A tad bit watery. Drinkability is fairly high. Overall, this is a damn tasty beer. Just wish it had more body.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 06:26:27 | More by DovaliHops

jmarsh123

Indiana

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

Pours murky light brown with a 1.5 finger creamy off-white head.

Whiskey is very well integrated in the aroma. Smooth spicy rye whiskey is the dominant force, but some wood, vanilla and toffee as well.

Tastes more like a whiskey cocktail than a beer, but that's not necessarily bad. While the rye whiskey flavor is dominant, it's not overpowering or overly boozy. Wood and vanilla are also present along with an earthy spiciness.

Mouthfeel is medium. Low carbonation levels are perfect for the style.

Pretty amazing beer. The rye is integrated nicely and adds a pleasant flavor without being overpoweringly boozy.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 22:20:31 | More by jmarsh123

cpolking

Iowa

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This blended beer is brewed with rye and then 67% of it is aged in Templeton Rye whiskey barrels (an excellent rye whiskey based on a Prohibition-era recipe previously illegally distilled in Templeton, in Carroll County, Iowa).

The beer pours a medium to dark brown, with tones of copper, orange and a touch of ruby. There is a near half-inch head of thick and creamy foam that is off-white to very light brown in color and leaves a medium density of lacing down the glass.

The aroma is much more subdued than many whiskey barrel aged beers. It does not beat you over the head with the fact that it was in a whiskey barrel, but it is still apparent. There is vanilla, wood, and smooth rye whiskey.

The taste is slightly sweet, tangy, a bit of spice from the rye grain, vanilla, wood and rye whiskey.

The alcohol is apparent, but smooth and not hot. The mouthfeel is creamy.

This drinks much like a smooth rye whiskey cocktail, say rye with vanilla cola, but much smoother, deeper, fuller, substantial and more balanced. This is a fine whiskey barrel aged brew. Boulevard brews a line of generally excellent beers and Templeton Rye is an excellent whiskey; the two merge together nicely.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 00:41:49 | More by cpolking