Brooklyn Manhattan Project - Brooklyn Brewery

phattysbox

New York

2.9/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Sampled at Dive Bar on 96th st. in NYC.

Pours an immediate copper-brownish and absolutely clear. Minimal head and hardly any lacing - extremely fine carbonation. The brew looks OK, but thats about it.

Smells of rye and sour notes with minimal hop profile background as expected. Anyone make a Manhattan with hops? There is a caramel and toasty background as well and could very well be from some modified rye malts. Some whisky notes, slight vanilla and vermouth are there in the nose.

Disclaimer: I'm not fond of Manhattans

That being said, the taste was a real let down for me. The rye (30%?) is really apparent with bready, spicy, and sour flavor. The melding of the vermouth notes and rye however really clash for me and is not to my taste. There is a sharp twang that is hard to describe and just rides through the whole experience. Maybe if the beer had less rye or vermouth character one could be more upfront and the other give support. Kinda like a backup singer. This brew is like two rock singers on stage vying for the spotlight - unbalanced. There is a Marris Otter malt profile in the back there as well, something that Garrett does quite well.

Mouthfeel was a bit average as since the carb. was kinda low. I'm sure the drinkability from other that review would be better but from the ABV to the taste - not for me.

An interesting attempt at replicating a cocktail and I'm glad I tried it but won't be seeking it out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2009 18:45:23 | More by phattysbox

muskiesman

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

03-31-2012 23:08:05 | More by muskiesman

twowheelssoar

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

01-26-2012 15:34:36 | More by twowheelssoar

wrath98

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%

01-17-2012 17:26:17 | More by wrath98

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

01-11-2012 20:50:04 | More by bonbini26

whartontallboy

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

01-07-2012 14:20:53 | More by whartontallboy

jophish17

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

12-24-2011 07:14:32 | More by jophish17

smithmd4

New York

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

12-21-2011 23:54:16 | More by smithmd4

generallee

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

11-27-2011 12:54:05 | More by generallee

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-19-2011 03:17:34 | More by Photekut

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-17-2011 21:45:59 | More by tclapper

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-15-2011 23:58:54 | More by HopStoopid120

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Teresa's Next Door, 3/30/11.

A-Pours a murky iced tea brown and amber with no head to speak of.

S-Fresh ginger and sweet malt. A rye beer, eh? Not really getting that.

T-This beer is a gingersnap in a glass. Graham crackers and herbs. Maybe a hint of rye but very subdued.

M-Light to medium bodied, very light carbonation.

O-Tastes good but one of these is plenty.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2011 19:17:34 | More by sholland119

nickd717

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap.

Pours a hazy reddish-brown color with a small fading whitish head.

The aroma is very interesting - sweet candy, spicy rye, oak, herbs, spices, and cherries. Lots going on, and it is a little Manhattan-like.

The flavor is better than any Manhattan I've tried. Really tasty. Somewhat sweet with cherry and vinous notes, vermouth, rye, and oak. Definitely on the sweet side, but in this case, it works.

Medium-full body with average carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel.

This was one hell of an interesting beer. Really unique and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2010 05:40:03 | More by nickd717

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. On tap at Rustico.

Pours a reddish brown with an off white head. Nose brings a bunch of spicy rye and a bit of booze. The taste is quite zesty and really gives off the cocktail vibe. Feel is a bit dry and quite a bit of rye is noticeable. Drinks okay and it is well executed, just not sure that I really like it all that much.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2010 12:31:11 | More by Thorpe429

StephenRich

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an interesting one to say the least. The Brooklyn Brewery has created a series of beers branded as BrewMaster's Reserves. Brooklyn's BrewMaster is the much renowned author and beer and food advocate Garrett Oliver. Garrett has been the BrewMaster at the Brooklyn Brewery since 1994, and has helped propel Brooklyn to the highest ranks of American Craft beer - it is beers like the Manhattan Project that prove this feat.

This beer is a collaboration between Garrett and one of America's leading cocktail experts David Wondrich; it has been inspired by the traditional Manhattan made with Rye Whiskey rather than Bourbon. This really is a new and amazing realm of beer then, one driven by the power of spirits and cocktails. If done masterfully, this could really begin a new genre of great beers. Already brewers take flavors from foods, herbs and spices to create great beer; spirits and cocktails is just the next step.

The Manhattan Project is a rye beer than has been aged in Rittenhouse 100-proof Bonded Rye Barrels from the Heaven Hill Distillery. It has been brewed with malted rye, crystal rye malt, Canadian Two row pilsner malt, British Maris Otter malt, German Perle hops, and a slew of ingredients used solely to impart a true Manhattan flavor into the beer such as organic cherry juice, better orange peel, sweet orange peel, lemon peel, gentian root, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and cloves. Get the picture? This is shaping up to be largely complex and spicy beer.

It finished at 7.5% abv and is only available on draught at select locations. I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy it at Cole's Pub in Buffalo this past Monday. If you are not familiar with what a Manhattan cocktail is, go try one. It is whiskey (Bourbon or Rye), sweet vermouth, bitter, and typically garnished with a maraschino cherry.

It was served to me in a Brooklyn Pint glass and came out a murky brown beer with a short airy white head. The beer showed dirty red browns and oak like amber with some traces of flat burnt orange. There was sediment floating everywhere in the beer. Literally, it was easy to spot flecks and specks of unfiltered beer perfectly suspended in every cubic inch of the beer.

That all being said, it was completely opaque and pretty dirty looking. This though enticed me even further. This beer will easily dispel the idea that good beer must be clear - that could not be farther from the truth. What I had in front of me what pure and real ale with no artificial cleansing or filtering. The way it should be.

The nose is sweet and malty, filled with herbs, tart cherry, and that distinct bitters touch. So far it definitely smells like a Manhattan, with a fresh and crisp hop aroma and soothing malts. Oak is warming and floats to me with cinnamon, clove and sweet orange peel. Mostly though the cherries and malts balance off each other and win the battle in the nose.

Drinking the Manhattan project is really fun; the flavors of a malty, lightly hopy Manhattan glide over your palate like they have never before. It comes in cool and clean with a silky burst of rye malts, big dark cherry sweetness, oak, vanilla, spice and herbal bitter sensations (I expect that would be the gentian root). The malt is soft and round showing classic malted rye flavors, soft caramel, hints of toffee, touches of pale malt and biscuit with a gentle balance; it is never overpowering.

That is the backbone of this beer, now layer on top of the a myriad of spices. The orange and lemon peels come in and meet coriander, clove and nutmeg to burst open a fresh wave of spicy whiskey. When combined with the oak ageing and the herbal and floral flavors that blanket the entire beer, a Rye Manhattan becomes extremely obvious. The Perle hop is relatively gentle, and should be for this concoction - it adds just enough to the herb and floral bitter tartness to the cherries to balance the beer and provide that angostura bitters feeling.

The finish is sweet and warming with a smooth silky touch - ok Garrett, well done - this truly is a beer Manhattan. It was very satisfying and even slightly refreshing. One of my favorite pleasures with a good Manhattan is a big robust cigar. I am going to have to find the opportunity to try that with the Manhattan project.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2010 15:23:55 | More by StephenRich

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a ruby amber color with an even, creamy, caramel colored head.

S - Sweet malt, spice, rye, and reminds me a little of a beer that might be offered in the Fall.

T - This is a unique beer. The taste mimics the nose with the majority of the flavor coming from the sweet spice and some tart black cherries. The hops barely surface after the sip and linger for a very mild bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium body with some chewiness.

D - A little too sweet for my liking but nonetheless an interesting and unique beer, I still enjoyed it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2010 03:21:30 | More by jzeilinger

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into an 8oz wine glass.

Pours a nice ruby red with a small thi white head with no lacing at all. Nose is sweet and fruity with some light sweet notes.

Taste is very sweet and fruity with some light bitterness from the rye, no real percepable hop flavor but there is some lingering bitterness on the finish. Mothfeel is really full and rich, very nice drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 00:09:42 | More by kingcrowing

robwestcott

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured a deep reddish brown from tap at finchs into a standard pint with a smallish short lasting head that left little or no lacing. fruity, though fairly subtle, nose and a strong initial taste of black cherries.

a very tasty beer, more drinkable than an 8.5 abv should probably be. almost like it's from a punch bowl at your sister's wedding.

two thumbs up

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2010 20:14:45 | More by robwestcott

Amalak

New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had at a tasting a d.b.a. in Brooklyn. Red brown in color with limited head and lace and is relatively opaque. It has a sour black cherry scent mixed with alcohol.

It's kind of fruit punchy. Black cherry comes through. Crisp, yet dry. Like better than a blueberry drink. Has a lactic, tart finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2010 22:43:49 | More by Amalak

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: It looks light red and cloudy. There's no head and a virtual lack of any visible carbonation.
S: There's a distinct aroma of vermouth, much like the cocktail that this beer tries to emulate. Both sweetness and sourness are in the aroma, which somewhat resembles that of a liqueur. There are also some notes of cherries.
T: I can taste lots of vermouth-like flavors, which makes the overall taste seem to be a bit boozy, but in a good way. There is a good balance between the sweetness and bitterness.
M: The beer is medium-bodied and very smooth.
D: It feels rather strong so you're going to have to sip this one. The beer is very unique and I would definitely have another if the opportunity arises.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2010 13:17:02 | More by metter98

DmanGTR

New York

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes on 10/23/09. On tap at MacGregor's.

A - clear deep ruby red with a short lived off-white head. Diminished quickly to a thin bubbly ring. 3.5

S - Light caramel with lots of fruity grape aroma. Intense whiskey and alcohol in the nose, maybe a touch of rye and cherry too? 4.5

T - Robust, like a brown ale with a touch of cabernet and whiskey. Mild bitterness in the finish. Overall, a very sweet beer. 4.0

M - Medium bodied, very SMOOTH!!! Well carbonated, dances and gives a mild prickle to the palate. 4.5

D - Very! I don't know how much alcohol is in here but I could drink this all night. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 02:14:13 | More by DmanGTR

SLeffler27

New York

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

Served with a lushes creamy off white head that turns foamy as it slowly drops to a blanket, leaving a fine coating of lace. Manhattan Project lurks below, murky copper with an iridescent red glow from within.

The nose opens with candy sweetness and strong malts with autumn spices, followed by dried cherries, baked apples and a long procession of goodness as it warms. Ever present are alcohol fumes, but they are far from detracting.

The flavors follow aroma, only with sour cherries upfront followed by sweet malts, pepper, vanilla, and light bitterness. Hop flavors reveal themselves after the first few sips, and with warmth the rye becomes expressive, with a long smooth finish.

The smooth thin body also leaves a sticky residue on the lips, while the light carbonation massages the tongue. Alcohol is present, but a background player.

A strikingly easy beer to drink, at 8.5%, possibly due to it's exquisite uniqueness, Brooklyn has nailed this one, though I'm hard pressed to categorize it stylistically. Paired with delicate foods, and great conversation, this is well worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2010 20:56:57 | More by SLeffler27

Bung

North Carolina

2.2/5  rDev -44%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Flying Saucer Charlotte. Pretty dark amber pour with some off white head.
Aroma was cherry, candied cherry, candy sugar, tea and light whisky.
Taste was medicinal. Like sex panther...stings the nostrils. Cherry cough syrup.
Mouthfeel was ok, with some carbonation, but it is all blown away by the heat other non-pleasant flavors.
Everyone seems like they're trying to be nice here. Sipper, sure, I know what they were trying for and it kind of does it, though the manhattans I've had in the past have no where near this much cherry. Cloying, boozy. Almost everyone else here mentions these things as well but then says it's still ok. I wish I could, but I can't do it.
This was aweful as a rye beer and pretty much aweful as a beer in general.

0% of the time this works 100% of time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2010 01:09:48 | More by Bung

Minotaur

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Blue Tusk, Syracuse.

This beer pours a reddish-brown with a medium head into a thin goblet glass.

There is a considerable spice level and this comes through strongly in the nose. It is very fruity and alcoholic smelling...

...and the fruit, spice and alcohol comes through strongly in the taste. Most interesting is that the Rye allows the spice to come through all in the "middle" of the flavor with very little malt predominance and almost no hops presence. The result is something that does take on the characteristic of another kind of drink/beverage rather than traditional beer. There is a thin mouthfeel that leaves a clean taste on the tongue.

It is very drinkable but the expectation should be to have a different experience than even the traditional rye beers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2010 04:33:18 | More by Minotaur