Unplugged Smoked Rye Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

7ways

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a dark tea color with a nothingth of a head.

Sweet and fresh smokey aroma, dirty old wood. To me most smoked beers smell like something that has been smoked, whereas this one actually reminds me of smoldering wood.

There is an immediate sugary taste that backtracks abruptly, revealing very complex smokey, earthy, and spicy notes. The sweetness is still there the whole time to round it out. Fresh apple cider flavor on the finish. Like most NG beers, this is remarkably clean despite so much going on.

Much more dense than I expected, almost too much. It would be better if it was not so sweet.

Very interesting smoked beer. I'd buy it again just for the aroma.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 03:40:22 | More by 7ways

davey101

Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a teku glass. Typical unplugged appearance with the universal Unplugged label, red foil, and Smoked Rye Ale sticker on the neck. Looks like this is from early 2011.

A - Pours a clear dirty red body. The last oz. or so was pretty grimy with sediment. Fingers worth of off white foam. Really nice lacing and retention.

S - Nice balance between smoked malts and caramel sweetness. Maybe a touch of spice and fruit, but this is otherwise pretty much occupied by the smoke and its hard to pick out much more. Smells really nice though.

T - Smoked ham, BBQ sauce, alcohol, and soooome rye spice. Like drinking a beer with a shot of liquid smoke added. Its awfully tasty but holy hell does it get tiring and rich after a while. Mouth feel is rich and creamy. The alcohol creeps up in the end.

O - Not the most smokey beer I've had, but probably the richest and meatiest. This is a real winner if you liked smoked beers with notes of meat. After each sip I feel like I've been chewing on a bonfire.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:31:26 | More by davey101

warnerry

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

04-18-2013 03:30:46 | More by warnerry

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.7%

03-10-2013 18:30:13 | More by spycow

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-23-2013 01:40:46 | More by superspak

merc7186

New York

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A: Amber/Brownish Hue, Passes Some Light, Thin White Head, Very Minimal Lacing

S: Smokey, Mild Caramel, Mild Rye

T: Liquid Smoke, Caramel

M: Poor Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Smokey, Mildly Sweet

Overall, other than the smoke and a caramel character, if there is Rye in this beer, it gets completely masked by the heavy smoke properties. Wasn't a fan.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 04:44:32 | More by merc7186

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

01-08-2013 02:05:24 | More by AlexFields

GPHarris

Alabama

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a - poured a one finger thick bubbly and light tan head into a willi becher tumbler that settled to a thin ring of lace throughout. the body was a bright copper color.
s - very smoky but nicely done.
t - rye spice dominates but there is some balance with caramel malts too.
m - slick and slightly thin.
o - incredibly drinkable and another one of a kind winner from new glarus.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 15:47:23 | More by GPHarris

Dope

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a hazy reddish-amber. Good sized, fizzy off-white head. Fades slowly, leaving decent lacing behind. Excellent retention.

S: Smells like someone left some rye bread in the toaster too long. A little fruitiness, raisins perhaps? And some caramel to sweeten it up. Quite a bit in fact. Cuts the acrid smoke nicely.

T: Quite sweet with caramel and some smoke and rye (duh). Sweetness fades a bit exposing a more acrid, bitter smoke but still nothing overpowering. Smoke is very meaty, like drinking barbequed beef. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Very accurate perception of that flavor, however.

M: Medium bodied, a little syrupy. Touch chalky from the char in the finish, too.

O: Very interesting beer. I'm not a fan of smoked beers but this one isn't too overpowering. Sweetness helps balance the smoke and the smoke has a strong meatiness to it to keep it from being so acrid and bitter. A lot of smoked beers taste like someone just poured liquid smoke into the bottle. This one is much better balanced.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 05:56:26 | More by Dope

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

11-23-2012 00:29:36 | More by t0rin0

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle opened on 10.26.12.

A - Pours a very dark amber with a thin very light tan head. The head sticks around, then quickly moves to the edges.

S - Sweet, carmel, and some rubbing alcohol.

T - Sweet carmel, with a smokey finish.

D - Lower carbonation and a light body.

O - This was a sweet mess with a smoke finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 05:21:39 | More by HuskyinPDX

wigoalie1

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%

10-22-2012 02:39:51 | More by wigoalie1

london1o1

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.7%

09-18-2012 02:06:40 | More by london1o1

ctwinne

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

09-15-2012 21:42:47 | More by ctwinne

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +4.7%

08-25-2012 01:44:42 | More by derkfromwi

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a chestnut brown, not thick, relatively good clarity going for it, considering the color is brown. Thin 1/4" head, doesn't stick around for too long. Aroma, mild smoke notes, thank you, not over the top, maybe some brown malt and cocao notes.

Taste, pretty smooth, yet has a zing to it, maybe some noble hops, maybe the better than average carbonation to help keep the beer from bogging down. Has as much bacon going for it as beers that claim to have bacon going for it, just that super mild meat aspect to it, but not big time like some traditional rauch beers I've had.

The rye doesn't have a spice component, comes off more like a more substantial wheat flavor here. Like crack'd wheat was smoked. Good mouthfeel, hides alcohol quite well, can't believe how strong this was when I read the abv here writing the review. A lot of 'thin' beers (i.e. not heavy stouts) can have troubles with hiding this amount of alcohol, not the case in this instance.

Caramel and toffee notes underneath making a smooth experience, but don't let that fool you into thinking there are no hops here, they're just in the right amount.

A favorite of mine for camping, one of my favorite smoked beers (not anywhere near a favorite style of mine).

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 23:02:10 | More by Beerandraiderfan

DonDeDieulicious

Illinois

3/5  rDev -21.5%

08-04-2012 16:58:22 | More by DonDeDieulicious

DIPADude01

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

07-28-2012 18:30:32 | More by DIPADude01

JMBSH

Colorado

4/5  rDev +4.7%

07-24-2012 03:31:59 | More by JMBSH

jsanford

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful dark chestnut brown with a dense white head that settles to a slight ring, leaving behind some streaky lacing. Intense meaty smoke aromas dominate, almost like beer jerky, along with sweet caramel, fruity, spicy rye, and a touch of alcohol. Taste is right on with the nose, lots of meaty smoke, spicy rye, brown sugar, and malt. Really smooth and well-crafted, and one of the most Schlenkerla-esque Smoked Beers I've had from the States (huge compliment there). Mouthfeel is slick and smooth, with a medium body and moderate carbonation. Overall a really solid Rauchbier-style brew, truly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 21:22:51 | More by jsanford

beerdedbiker

Vermont

5/5  rDev +30.9%

07-09-2012 14:30:36 | More by beerdedbiker

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

07-05-2012 23:53:41 | More by ms11781

pmarlowe

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Goblet.

A: Pours a deep burgundy-tinted copper, with excellent clarity and a thin cap of off-white head. So-so retention and some lacing.

S: Smoke and a little spiced malt evidence in the background.

T: Smoke like smoked meat, not a whole lot else except a little maltiness. A smoke bomb. Slight sweetness on the finish.

M: Medium body and medium-light carbonation.

O: A little disappointing. It seems like they went overboard on the smoked malt and created a monster.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 03:26:17 | More by pmarlowe

Kunstman

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

05-26-2012 03:30:37 | More by Kunstman

deedric

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

05-14-2012 00:17:48 | More by deedric