Unplugged Smoked Rye Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

dirtylou

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz single, un-hyped unplugged release

appearance: standard unplugged packaging, served in my delirium chalice, bright garnet body, healthy white foam that dissipates quickly to a small ring

smell: liquid smoke and lots of it, spicy rye loaf, candy sugar, booze

taste: so much for fruit beers, eh? applewood smoked bacon, liquid smoke, booze, smoked fruit, charred wood, spicy rye loaf. lovely little beer - highly complex and very drinkable

mouthfeel: smooth full body, oily

drinkability: higher than it should be

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 03:01:22 | More by dirtylou

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Found this one over at Hudson, WI. Poured into a tulip glass a darker clear copper color with a collared white head, the head is actually more minimal than I thought it would have. Smoke aroma dominates the nose but after that the Rye gives off it's distinct spice type note. The mixture of smoke and rye gives it an almost plastic type smell though that I am not the biggest fan off. Medium/light mouthfeel. Sweet start along with the rye type spice flavors, the smoke isn't as prominate in the taste as in the nose but it does kick in in the end and lingers on. Some bitterness as well. Overall, not bad but nothing I would go running out to get again either.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 22:41:01 | More by kbutler1

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a thistle (it's smoky:)

Pours a dark ruby/copper rust with a non-existent head that recedes to a cap (very unusual for a NG ale, must be high ABV). Clarity is pretty good for an ale.

Aroma is sweet smoke. Sweet malt and sugar. Vanilla creeps into the middle and sits well with the sugar. Candy sugar and yeast bring the finish, rounding off with grassy grain, spicy and peppery.

Taste opens with sweet malt and smoke, holy shit it's hickory, or heavy oak or apple. This beer is a smoke bomb. Middle brings sweet candy sugar and more smoke. Finishes slightly dry, with a huge kick of smoke and a smallish hop or rye rider with a bit of bitterness.

Mouthfeel is full and rich, creamy and the carbonation is awesome. Oiliness on the tongue is easily achieved with this amount of smoke.

Drinkability is good for an after dinner sipper.

As much as I love smoke (competition BBQ guy) this one is almost over the top. Now for me saying almost, I'll opine that the majority of drinkers will find this overpowering. The smoke overpowers any hop or rye presence. That being said this is a unique beer that has a sweetness giving body and a HUGE smokiness that I like. It's an acquired taste, you'll love it or hate it.

I could drink a lot of this beer, but sadly I believe I am in the minority.

I'll also add that if this isn't a scotch ale I'll eat my hat AND shorts.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 01:40:55 | More by wheatyweiss

Fartknocker

Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Copper color with quite bit of suspended solids. Essentially no head.
S- The smoke smell dominates the aroma.
T- Again, the dominant flavor is the smoke with a hint of rye spiciness. You can practically taste the charred wood used in a malt smoking process.
M- Smooth, basically no carbonation.
D- Very similar to Aecht Schlenkerla. May not be 'to style', but damn good.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 03:19:21 | More by Fartknocker

CaseyK

Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a medium brown with a thin white head that recedes quickly. Looks to be fairly carbonated.
S: Smoke is the strongest smell in the nose. Maybe some oak as well.
T: I can't say that I've really had anything quite like this before. The smokey quality is the strongest taste. Some taste of rye whiskey in the middle but not boozy at all, then finishes with an aftertaste of smoke. The smoky taste has the same quality as the smokiness you get when cooking with oak chips.
M: A little bit lighter than I expected it to be with decent carbonation.
D: Couldn't really drink a ton of this just because of how pronounced the smoke flavor is. I've had smokier beers, but that quality definitely makes one of these enough.
O: Another interesting unplugged beer from New Glarus. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 04:34:34 | More by CaseyK