Arcadia Sky High Rye - Arcadia Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Hopcat. Hoppy beer, lighter in color than I would expect. Not much of a rye edge.Bitter astringency, malt not really coming through to help balance and drying finish. Ok mainly because its fresh, could be a tad better with food. Certainly not a sessionable.An odd one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2009 18:13:09 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sunny tangelo with a fine yeasty haziness and several stately bubble streams. The antique white colored crown persists admirably and is doing a fine job decorating the glass with BB-shot lace. An impressive amount sticks in the end.

The nose is moderately American hoppy and doesn't have much rye character. For some reason, rye beer tastes more like rye when the darker malts are used. Either that or the brewer didn't go 'whole hog' on rye in the grain bill. Warming delivers a wonderful earthy spiciness... and a higher score.

Arcadia calls Sky High Rye a 'West Coast-Style Pale Ale' brewed with rye malt. And that is pretty much what it tastes like. Considering the fact that 55 IBUs were present right out of the hopper, it's too bad I didn't acquire this 12th Anniversary ale sooner. That said, it's still pleasantly bitter and hop flavorful.

The malt tastes mostly pale, with a helping hand from something toasted and a solid shot of rye-like earthy spiciness. At least one of the C-hops has to be present given the white grapefruit, lemon and pine that greets each mouthful. Malty sweet and hoppy bitter get along beautifully. This does not taste like beer that is past its prime. Not one little bit.

American pale ale is also an apt comparison where mouthfeel is concerned. SHR is at least medium for that style, has plenty of 'hang on', and has zesty carbonation that keeps the mouth party rollin' right along.

Rye malt and a generous amount of American hops, in the right hands, is an outstanding combination (as is Belgian yeast and a generous amount of American hops, but I digress). Arcadia Sky High Rye is tremendous beer that deserves to be brewed on a regular basis. To relegate it to 12th Anniversary, never-to-be-brewed-again status would be borderline criminal. Immoral at the very least.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 13:44:00 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Bobby for sending this one back to me while he was out at RBSG.

A: The pour is a sort of hazy golden straw color with a big white head.

S: The nose is pleasantly hoppy with lots of nice citrus and pine notes and a bit of rye. A good blend of malt and hops, but definitely leaning toward the hop influence.

T: A very bright citrus flavor with lots of lemons and grapefruits. A moderately bitter piney quality and nice undertones of rye and sweet malt.

M: The body is a bit on the light side. Fairly well carbonated, too.

D: This was a really easy drinking and refreshing beer, and was well appreciated after having a few heavier beverages during the day.

Serving type: growler

08-09-2010 02:20:29 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked this bottle up in Grand Rapids. Served in a tulip.

Pours a light orange color with a bit of haze. Mild white head with a bit of spotty lacing. Moderate retention. The nose is a bit plain with a bit of mild malt and some earthy hops. The flavor profile is a bit dull as well. There are some hops there, but they don't contribute much. The rye isn't really popping much, either. The mouthfeel is a bit light with moderate carbonation and a slight dryness in the finish. Drinkability is decent enough, though nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 02:55:23 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A fascinating pale ale that employs a simple grain bill that's accentuated by rye, and without the influence of darker malts. Still the combinatio of hops and rye make for a heightened citrus/spicy/earthy experience.

Pale golden and carrying a signature 'dry-hopped' haze, the beer has a visual weight that's topped with a fluffy white and airy head. With good retention and lace, the beer begins to look like well made America wheats or hefeweizens.

Citrusy, pungent, and spicy- the beer's malty backbone is clean with light breads and cracker character. The rye contributes an earthy spicy aroma that seems somewhat English in character. Hop aroma of white grapefruit or grapefruit rind gives a very sharp, leafy, grassy element to the nose. Without esters or phenolics, the beer has a simple and crisp aroma.

Crisp malt flavors carry over from the nose, and with a doughy, light bread taste that carries that earthy rye flavor throughout. Very sharp hops give vibrant grapefruit zest flavor early and through mid palate, but turns decidedly bitter and bitey in finish. Exacerbated by the pungent and spicy rye, the beers bitter finish is likely a result of both the grain and hops.

Creamy textures of barley and rye are carried by airy carbonatoion that lifts the hops and sweetness from the tongue and ushers into the finish. Finishing with an earthy mint-like alcoholic evaporation and crisp dryness, the hops give off a medium astringency late that weaves in and out of the hop bitterness.

A nice American pale ale that puts its thumbprint on flavor with the earthy rye character and fresh hop bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 17:27:33 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a hazed peach-like color with a clingy one finger white head that left one full ring of lace as it settled into a frothy mass.Aromas have a real grapefruit hoppiness to it mixed with a juicy,gummy, fruitiness.Flavors are a mix of tartness from the rye and a hefty dose of resinous,citric hop,there is a juicy fruitiness more malt imparted, underneath the tartness.Its a refresher with a nice mix of citric hop,rye tartness,a fruity malt,nice job.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 00:47:14 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served in a shaker pint glass at The Firkin.

While I'm here, I might as well have some cask-conditioned goodness, right? This bit thereof pours a clear pale straw (the closest thing to a yellow crayon I've ever seen sit in a glass) topped by a finger of bright cream-white foam. The nose comprises sharp pine, leek, caramel, grapefruit, light lemon zest, and light fennel. The taste holds notes of pine, lemon rind, mild leek, light caramel, rye spice, orange rind, and a very light twist of lime. Something about the citrus combination and the bitterness at the end, I think, but this just does not sit well on my tongue. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a nearly non-existent carbonation (cask, remember?) and a smooth, creamy feel. Overall, I'm not entirely a fan of this beer. I don't think the rye was employed all that well, and the flavor combinations didn't really work.

Serving type: cask

06-07-2011 23:31:49 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

4.15/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a solid pale and rye malt scent along with a nice complimentary hop aroma. The hops and rye work well together with this one. The taste is good as well. It has a smooth pale and rye malt flavor that's light with just enough malt character. It's a hoppy beer, but just like the rye, it's in moderation. This is a tastey beer that stays within itself and doesn't go into the extreme category. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a sessionable rye ale. It's spicey, but not too spicey; an easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 00:45:36 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer served in a wine glass. Beer is yellow and hazy with an average head a a little lacing on the glass.

Aroma equals herbal, grassy, mild citrus, a little pine.

Flavor equals average yeastiness, some herbal spice, a little hoppiness, moderate bitterness, thin bodied, easy drinking, decent summer lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 22:39:07 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation along with some miniscule particles floating in suspension. It poured with a thin off white head that quickly died down and left lacing on the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of citrus hops in the nose.
T: The initial taste has some notes of malty sweetness—this is quickly followed by spicy flavors from the rye and a light to moderate amount of bitterness from the hops. There are also some notes of citrus.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink because neither the flavors from the rye nor hops overpower the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 03:08:58 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured a clear, bubbly, copper color with burgundy highlights. It had a small, foamy, thick, tan head that left sticky rings of lace.

S - It smelled of rye, caramel malt and grassy hops.

T - It tasted hoppy and bitter. Great rye and caramel flavors.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a dry finish. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a really good brew. Seems more it should be classified as a rye beer instead of an APA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2009 00:43:40 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled April 2009
A standard pour produces a three finger thick, light tan colored head that is long lasting and leaves some nice lacing on the sides of my glass. The beer is a clear, copper-gold color that gets a shade lighter when held up to the light. The aroma is definitely nicely hoppy with notes of tangerine, orange-zest and lychee being quite noticeable. The is a backdrop of toasty pale malt character, some grassy grain notes as well as a spicy whole grain character; this last is definitely nice as I like being able to smell the rye influence. The finish actually has quite a bit of grain character to it and can even drown out the hop notes at times.

A clean, ample, biting bitterness cuts through the palate here. There are hints of malt sweetness that accentuates a light hop fruitiness (some sweet citrus, lychee and a touch of tropical fruit notes). There is a nice level of spiciness here in the flavor that is a mix of piney, herbal hop notes and the spicy grain / rye flavors. This has a fairly light body, but has enough fullness to keep things in balance; it is definitely a quaffable brew though.

The hoppiness could be a bit fresher here, but it is still quite vibrant. I really like that the rye plays a noticeable role here, in both flavor and aroma. This is a nicely enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2009 16:28:54 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew poured out a little lighter than I expected. It came out as a golden color with a fluffy white head on top. The lacing on the beer was pretty good. The smell of the beer has a little bit of rye on the nose, but it seems that the hops are what really come through on the nose. The taste of this was also hoppy, the rye didn't really settle in until the aftertaste. Sometimes I think the rye is a little too subtle for me to pickup. The mouthfeel was clean and refreshing. Overall I enjoyed the beer a lot. I'd drink this one again just about anytime.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 17:48:13 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw a $5.99 bomber of this in Springfield over the weekend, missed the Chciago market I guess, save for draft at a few places. This bottle is around 4-5 months old at this point, i'm guessing.

Poured out a hazy rusted orange with some suspended micro sediment contributing to the haze. A thin but creamy cap of foam rested on the surface, with a few spots of lacing. The aroma was slightly wheaty with some rye, but nothing very spicy or hoppy. Flavor had similarly begun to fade, it had a nice fullness to it with some bready notes and vague hop taste in the back. It didn't wow me, but the freshness may have been starting to fade a little. If you're holding on to one, drink it now... Wish they would have put out Hop Rocket again instead. EDIT 08/09 My prayers for Hop Rocket have been answered...Hallelujah!

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2009 03:29:50 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours golden with a thin, lasting white head. Wispy lacing sticks.

The smell is of citrus, with a touch of bread pale malt. Rye is subtle.

The taste is of bitter citric fruits with a sweet kiss of malt. Rye gives a mint spiciness in the dry finish. Leans hoppy, but stops just short of IPA category.

Medium carbonation with a medium, smooth body.

This is a nice, hoppy, but balanced, American Pale Ale with a touch of rye.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 20:29:08 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appears a clouded copper golden hue with a bright white off head. Fine scattered lacing forms nicely. Aroma is pungent citrus and pale malts, a touch of fruitiness pretty solid smell. Flavor has a touch of sourness but it works the pale ale brings bitter pelletized hops coating the palate. Spicy peppery rye flavor with citrus hops blasting through it kind of works. Mouthfeel is all about the bitterness and hops interplaying with the malted rye and barley. Carbonation is tight bubbled, medium bodied slightly slick with hop oils. Drinkability overall is pretty solid a bit unbalanced in the hop direction but I'm actually enjoying a bit of rough unrefined hops.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 20:26:18 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy dark gold color. There's a lot of clumpy yeast chunks in the broth. The head is modest but tight and lasting. Leaves slippery ring lace that drains back into the head after each sip.

The smell from the opened bottle reminded me of a dry, high-hopped brown ale. After it was poured into the glass, there was a tremendous amount of fresh, sweet raspberry aroma. Very odd contrast between the two whiffs.

The beginning has a touch of the said raspberry that is immediately subdued by a strong, dry-ish malt. That gives way to a solid bittering hop presence which lasts through the swallow, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Full bodied with an adequate small-bubbled carbonation level.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 18:58:31 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a tulip)

A- This beer has a crystal clear apricot hued body with a sticky snow white head that leaves sheets of register marks that last for the full beer. There is a snow glow of tiny bubbles swirling around the beer before rising to the top.

S- This beer has a herbal skunky hops, that are a pleasant skunk almost cat pee aroma. This is followed by a woody pine resin hop finish which is softer and has a note of spice like pepper to it. Overall it is a bit soft especially compared to the taste.

T- The tangy citrus note to the big green hops has more of a funk dark green flavor to it with a slight sweetness of pale malt underneath. There is a fruity almost bubble gum flavor to the malt that has a yeast quality to it. The spicy rye note comes through as the beer warms and compliments the hops and the malt with a little snap.

M- This beer has a full mouthfeel with a creamy texture and no alcohol heat.

D- This beer has some good big hops with some nice depth and a bit of unique complexity around the hops. It is easy to drink and pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 14:11:47 | More by rhoadsrage

jlindros

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice creamy 1 finger head rises up in my tulip glass, fades slowly, and leaves a nice sticky lacing. The beer is super hazy with droplets of yeast suspended throughout, with a golden orange peach color.

The nose has some nice malts, lighter malts but plenty of them. Some fruit as well, bright fruit, peach, nectarine, juicy, etc. There's some nice hops as well, some fruity, citrus, spicy hops. In the background are hints of light spicy rye.

The taste is nice, clean and refreshing. It comes with hops right away, some nice spicy and fruity hops, a little citrus, tangerine, slight orange, juicy and tasty, some bitterness but not heavy bitter. It does get just slightly astringent. There's even a hint of a lemony hop flavor. There is also some light sweet malts, mostly pale malts. Also the definite rye flavor lightly spicy and a little fruity, but it's not a heavy rye, as it balances well with the hops. The rye dries it quite a bit, but the malts add just a touch of a nice sweet balance. AS it finishes the bitterness comes on a little stronger as well as the dryness. A slight sticky feel too from the residual malts.

The mouth is medium to lighter bodied with good carbonation.

It's pretty drinkable, given the decent rye content of it. It has a nice refreshing feel, but the bitterness and spicy rye kinda offset that to a nice medium.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 01:44:19 | More by jlindros

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: ?
I know I've had this before, but I'm not sure where or when. This review applies to a recent tasting on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA.

Poured golden yellow with a small white head; minimal retention and lacing. Aroma of grainy malts, herbal and citrus hop notes. The hops take a bit of the dominant lead in the taste, a decent mix of citrus, pine, and herbal profiles, overlaid on grainy malts, with a mild rye breadiness sneaking through. Medium body and pretty easily drinkable, even if there's nothing too amazing going on. Nice label on the bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2012 12:15:32 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Pours a very light, slightly cloudy yellow colour, slightly burnished at the edges, with a very full, heavy and frothy head of white foam. I was expecting something darker from a rye beer, but only having had two before, I'm not sure I've got a lot to judge it on. Lacing is superb though, and the head in general is excellent, so overall it's a very nice looking beer. Just not what I was expecting. But everything straight this is a really excellent looking beer.

Light lagery hops on the nose. Quite sharp and clean, with some metallic notes and a good cleanliness that strikes through crisp and clear. Really, it's a very sharp but pure pils-style nose. Nothing cloying, sweet or heavy about it. Very nice.

Taste is also very clean and crisp, with an excellent straight push of light bitter hoppiness through the centre of the palate. Perhaps a slight tingle of spice around the edges, some phenols on the back, and a long, slightly dry, but refreshingly crisp and bitter finish. Mouthfeel is clean, but with almost no hint of carbonation.

This is an exceptionally clean and very drinkable beer. I'm very surprised, considering the style, but it presents itself like a really clean, crisp and exceptionally flavoursome lager, even though it's not. But there's a lot to like about that style, and this beer and its interpretation thereof. To be honest, I found this amazingly drinkable, crisp, refreshing and enjoyable. I'm a big fan.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 09:29:01 | More by lacqueredmouse

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A: A pale pumpkin orange pour coloring shows a fine mist of both effervesce and suspended material. A golden-tan head is only skim worthy quickly parting ways to a polished surface. No window dressing.

S: Aroma of tangerine peels and fresh lemon highlights. A hint of fresh orange juice and dry rye bread.

T: Dry orange and a bit watery upfront in terms of flavor. Dry hops of citrus-orange do kick in on the trail end but only may seem significant due to the weak opening. The rye is present but ony slightly, in terms of dry peppery bready hints. Nice hop presence, a bit of spicy bite.

M: Some tingle from carbonation, medium body could use some tightening up.

O: Overall a good dose of hops with only subtle rye highlights. Dry finish. If you are looking for something in terms of rye presence you might be a bit let down. This seems to be a pale ale first sublimented with a minimal rye percentage of the bill. Dry hops are nice with a moderate appeal. Again expect more of a pale ale going in and you;ll find this of moderate enjoyment. Since this is labeled as a rye beer and not a pale ale i will judge and rate as a rye but consider the extra influence of the hops.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 23:30:46 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fairly clear (maybe a bit of haze) and golden in colour. There was a fine, off-white cap with a rocky collar after the pour. Nice lacing. Hoppy aroma, plenty of pine and grapefruit pith, with bready malts in the background. Moderate bitterness, very fruity, more citrus and pine from the hops, plus some crackery and bready malt, rye. Lingering hop bitterness and spice. Texture was alright, average carbonation, between light and medium bodied. Pretty good overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 23:33:20 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

4.47/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured a vibrant citrusy hop with a spicy rye aroma.

The taste was upfront citrusy and peppery with a biscuity and spicy rye backbone.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a delicious hop forward rye beer. Smooth and complex on cask.

Serving type: cask

01-26-2009 15:13:33 | More by plaid75

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to kzoobrew for this extra!

Poured into Sam Adams sensory glass.

Pours about 1 finger of creamy white head. Fades down to a thin layer somewhat quickly. Leaves some pretty nice lace walls however. Color is a clear golden orange.

Aroma: The first thing I get out of the aroma is bubblegum. Then they rye and hops kick in. Nice earthy hops with some caramel malts.

Taste: Very dry tasting. Lots of rye here. Lots of floral and grassy hop profile with biscuit flavored malts. Some light citrus notes.

Mouthfeel: Very dry and bitter. A medium body with a medium level of carbonation. Ends a little sticky and sweet.

Overall, not a bad beer at all. It wasn't as hoppy as I was expecting, but still decently hopped. Definitely worth a try if you have a chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 02:47:46 | More by mothman