Hop Rod Rye - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

EnJeiBee

Wisconsin

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - A dark copper brew that poured with a pillowy 2-finger head and quite a bit of sediment. It left fabulous lacing as well

S - Fabulous spicy/ sweet rye malt backbone is accompanied by upfront piney hops

T - Amazingly balanced and enjoyable! Very sweet and fruity upfront with a hop presence that kicks in just before the profile is too sweet to enjoy. Spicy rye and caramel malt flavors come in alongside the perfect pairing of hops

M - Smooth, creamy and enjoyable. The mouthfeel is slightly bubbly on the tongue, but not so much that you notice it in the appearance.

O - One of the best AIPA's I'll ever have (I'm sure of it!). I would highly recommend that any beer lover try this and go out of their way to find it!

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 04:48:10 | More by EnJeiBee

mempath

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

deep orangey-caramelish amber with creamy, cream-colored head that sports very carbonated bubbles on the side, but the sea-foam/pancake-batter-looking top sinks ever so slowly, lacing thick and creatively. very nice nose of immediate grapefruit/tangelo and a hint of an incoming piney tsunami...another swirl for another sniff i notice the head (STILL hanging on at 2 fingers) looks like a rootbeer float or something. pretty amazing.

taste is pretty intensely complex...but don't think about it too much. i will, i think, after i simply enjoy it...i want to be more familiar with it when i want to waste time figuring out WHY i like it so much. yep, caramel-malty splash hits first but a nanosecond later the hop whiplash is there. for all the hop/ABV instensity, the rye and malts just stay in the jalopy and refuse to bail out! i get a nice bitter finish that only makes you want to keep sipping the creamy yet crisp masterpiece that this is.

drinkability, at this ABV is theoretical...taste it and you will want more, hophead or not. as said before, there is incredible AND intense
B A L A N C E...it's the only way i could every enjoy this much malty sweetness...the hops always keep the car on the road, at high speed!

everything is pretty much stellar here.
very highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2009 22:02:27 | More by mempath

Emerson1310

Virginia

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Just purchased one of these at TW in Alexandria. Drank from a Bells glass, chilled to perfection

A: Deep coppery-red with a light brown 2-finger head. Nice, foamy lacing when glass is tilted.

S: definite hops, grapefruit and malts

T: Grand!! Slightly bitter up front with lots of grapefruit and very little pines or resins. Some malts and a bit of rye (I wonder why the rye??!!) Finish is smooth and dry with no hop build-up.

O: This is a keeper!! Abundantly available here, even in the groceries, It is reasonably priced and a real hop-hog. I like this beer to no end!! At 8% ABV, almost a DIPA and a sessionable on at that!! To the bear I say: RRROOOAAARRR!!!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 21:43:10 | More by Emerson1310

GIVEMEBACKMYSON

Alaska

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Absolutely floral perfume for smell. Some fruity notes as well, grapefruit and overripe tangerines.
Pretty red and auburn color, with sediment both sunken and suspended. A creamy rich head persists and coats up the edges of the glass.
What a hop bomb. This beer shows all the things I love most about hoppy brews. The citrusfruit notion, the pine sap, the i-give-in sweetness at the finish. Rye and hops really combine for a great bitterness in a beer. It is genious. This is a favorite of mine.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2005 03:13:27 | More by GIVEMEBACKMYSON

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bear Republic- Hop Rod Rye

Thanx to Bradford for this!

A- Hazy amber brown with a thick creamy head. Chunky lacing on the glass!
S- Big oily green hops, Pine, Carroway seeds, and caramel malt.
T- Thick creamy caramel malt with a huge dose of green pine hops. A solid rye twang lingers throughout.
M- Sweet and chewy up front with a tart and bitter finish. Slighty fruity aftertaste.

Overall- God damn this was good! The aroma alone would satisfy you! Definitely 1 of my new favorites!!
(Hopefully I can find this in San Diego)

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2007 20:08:25 | More by NJpadreFan

abrand

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

WOW this beer is amazing. Poured into pint glass from bomber

Poured very hazy and orange. Aromas were amazing. Very hoppy with a lot of bready characteristics. Taste was excellent from start to finish. The hops are out of control with this brew. After taste was excellent and lacing along the glass throughout. With 8% I personally couldn't handle more than 1 of these in a session but could make this my go-to beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2008 20:57:49 | More by abrand

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hop Rod Rye begins with the kind of aroma that makes you want more: deep sugars, redolent with sweet fruit and berry notes (orange, peach, berry, white grape); lightly toasted grains; and just a hint of freshly-baked rye bread.

On the tongue, the first flavors are confectioner's sugar sweet, and last for a mere fraction of a second before the rye kicks in, flooding the mouth with delicious bitterness. Whether due to the rye or the hops, a substantial part of this bitterness is grapefruit-rind tart, and dominates the mouthful from there on out, including lasting well into the aftertaste. Significant malt flavors are also present, cranked up to eleven to keep up with the rye/hops. Flavors here include the fruits from the nose, as well as caramelized brown sugars and Grape Nuts cereal-like toasted grains. The aftertaste is almost exclusively hops and rye. Mouthfeel is a silky-smooth medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high.

Overall, this is a fantastic beer, and has been made by someone who truly appreciates the craft of craft brewing. It's not a beer for everyone, though, as evidenced by, if nothing else, the fact that the liquid is so bitter and tart--75+ IBUs, and that doesn't include the effects of the rye--that when left in the mouth for several seconds (as it is when, for instance, the drinker is writing a review of it) the tongue numbs and tingles. But enthusiasts who don't mind a good bit of bitterness should give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 17:22:57 | More by jondeelee

bkeach

California

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Favorite Rye Beer thus far. Smell is very bready and floral. Smells like a brewery (In a good way). Taste is very much the same. Rye comes through nicely, well balanced pretty drinkable. Just delicious. Great mouthfeel and color as well. If you have not tried it just go get it.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 18:12:25 | More by bkeach

insomnboy

California

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Tried a bomber of this last night for the first time. I really only have one word to say about the Hop Rod.
Yum!!! I think I might have to go get a couple more for tonight.
Cheers!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2002 11:52:52 | More by insomnboy

Murph

Arizona

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a great looking dark amber color with a creamy tan head that holds tight and rings the glass very nicely. Wonderful fruity/piney hoppiness as well as some nice sweet malt. The first thing to hit my tongue was the insane hoppiness of this brew. As the hops begin to back off there are some great fruity esters that give this beer a very nice complexity that is perfect for a fall/winter seasonal. The finish sees the return of the hops as they jump into the foreground again and stick around on the tongue for quite some time. Very creamy and crisp with the awesome hoppiness providing a light and refreshing quality to this brew that makes it extremely drinkable. This is just one awesome beer and I can't wait tot ry some more of Bear Republic's brews.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2002 22:56:15 | More by Murph

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

As the immortal Kinky Friedman would say" Killer B baby". This is one of the best beers I've had in some time mainly because the complexity is stunning. The beer looks awesome with a dark brown body with a bi old head. A hoppy, woody smell with some interesting age notes. The taste is large and many facets. A unique bitterness due to the rye comes off the back end. All in all this is a stunner that demands your attention.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2005 15:50:06 | More by canucklehead

TastyTaste

Minnesota

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nice clear body, very dark brown, much darker than you standard DIPA, if my memory serves me correctly. Head is fluffy and full, off-white with very good staying power. Egads, there is a lot of hops in the nose, intense, piney, alcohol laced hops. Taste is bold with hops from start to finish, never relenting. The rye adds a different graininess. This is a brash and brazen DIPA, wich I enjoy very much. Well carbonated, and good for sippin'.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2005 02:45:27 | More by TastyTaste

TheBungyo

Washington

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ok, let's be honest here, this beer pours so damn dark, if it were just a few shades darker, it'd be black. Dark brown with ruby edges and a nice velvety dense head that fires off aroma at you. Hitting you from every angle ... pine, followed by grapefruit and then smooth caramel malt. A sip treats the tongue to initial bitterness followed by a whallop of pine and grapefruit. The malt smoothes things out followed by fleeting grain and an citrusy orange taste. Mouthfeel is big, which is just what I want in a brew like this. Your tongue will say yes to more and more of this but beware, with an 8% ABV, respect is in order. The only Double IPA I've had that can even try to stand up to this is Hercules by Great Divide. Even then though, I wouldn't be shocked to see the mighty Hercules fall. This brew is that tough.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2005 08:32:55 | More by TheBungyo

deuschbag

California

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

my first review, why not make it hop rod. i am officially in love with this beer. beautiful dark reddish color. the taste is hops galour. alcohol is there but hidden very well. i'm trying not to drink it so fast so i don't get hammered. don't know what else to say but..wow. bear republic has yet to dissapoint me.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2005 22:29:32 | More by deuschbag

laintringulis

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

In the word of Kool-Aid Man, "Oh, Yeah!"
Served in a pub glass. This is a sexy looking beer! Pours a crimson amber color with large amounts of yeast and black rye specks that are well suspended. Huge creamy beige head that lasts until the last drop. Large amounts of sticky lacing. Medium plus body.

Smells very strongly of rye, orange/citrus hops. Light earthy smokiness, and a bit of grassiness.

Super rye taste initially that progresses into a citrus hoppy middle and finishes with a pleasant grassy, earthy, citrus hoppiness.

Supremely well balanced maltiness and hoppiness. The alcohol is hidden well for 8%. Nice full mouth feel without being clingy. Very refreshing. If you like rye/rye beer this is the stuff! Thank you to whomever sent this to my husband!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2006 00:24:14 | More by laintringulis

biggmike

Mississippi

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a beautiful dark copper color with attractive white pillowy head that it retained until the end. Nice hoppy aroma that is both piney and smells of grapefruit rind. This stuff just begs to be drank. Taste is very hoppy with a nice malty balance to it. Lacing on glass is excellent, as is the mouthfeel. This stuff is excellent. I will buy again at every opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 22:39:55 | More by biggmike

ckeegan04

Texas

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Dark brown with reddish hues around the edges. Thin foamy off white head with excellent retention.

S - A sweet and spicey taste simultaneously. Sweet aromas of caramel and a spicey hop/rye aroma.

T - Very sweet up front with hints of tropical fruit. Quickly smacked by a spicey hop bite and rye flavor. Hints of some citrusy hop as well.

M/D - Full bodied and very crisp. Good carbonation and very smooth. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 19:47:01 | More by ckeegan04

BigMike

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

"Hop Rod Rye is a high performance,turbo charged,alcohol burnin' monster ale with dual overhead hop injection"

-from the bottle

Pours a deep garnet red and two fingers worth of creamy white head.

This beer has one of the best aromas ever. Very fragrant. Fresh and clean. Spicy, fruity, hoppy, caramel and molasses.

Taste is fabulous. Pineapple, and almost berry like undertones. A nice fresh spicy flavor and a buttery caramel flavor.

Mouthfeel is smooth, perfectly carbonated. Creamy buttery smooth with just a touch of bitterness on the finish.

I can't believe this is 8%. Very smooth and easy to drink. I could drink this all day. This has broken into my top 5. I can't believe this is only $7.50 a 4 pack for a beer this tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2009 03:19:03 | More by BigMike

velosuds

Oregon

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. No freshness date. Single purchased at local health food store for $1.85.

A-Pours a deep amber-reddish brown color with a one finger, off-white head with average retention and modest lacing. This beer gives ample reason why all good beer should be poured and enjoyed from a glass. Appearance is almost lustful.

S-Prominent citrus hops with sweet twang from the rye malt, I suspect. 20% rye content makes for a very interesting IPA.

T-Very well balanced, yet complex, IMO. Hops are aggressive without overpowering the taste buds. Nice rye malt backbone in finish is subtly sweet. Very distinctive, even surprising. A real treat. Very reminiscent of He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A., which is a 10% DIPA I love. Hop Rod is much more affordable though. No bitter after taste and alcohol content is not noticeable, even at 8% ABV. Extremely well constructed.

M-Very smooth and extremely well balanced. Carbonation is nearly perfect.

D-Dangerously smooth given ABV. I prefer to sip this one, especially since the taste and drinkability improve as it warms.

Not sure this is properly classified as an American IPA. At 8% ABV, it approaches the DIPA style. Moreover, it is vaguely similar to Arrogant Bastard Ale, which is classified as an American Strong Ale. This is one of my favorite "specialty beers." Kudos to Bear Republic. All their beers are exceptional values. I bought this for $6.49 a four pack of 12oz bottles in Northern California.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 02:14:09 | More by velosuds

claykeller

Arkansas

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Serving Type: 22 oz bottle poured into 20 oz glass.

Appearance: Thick with Dark Caramel color. Thin sticky lacing down the glass.

Smell: Great balanced aroma with sweetness and pine.

Taste: Nice hops but balanced enough with malt/rye so that it isn't quite as powerful as double.

Mouthfeel: Silky but not too slippery.

Drinkability: Goes down easy, but with enough hops to make you drink it slow enough to enjoy.

Notes: A great find. I hadn't tried this beer yet, but it is probably my favorite AIPA next to Bell's two hearted and Lagunitas hop stupid. A bit more hops and bitterness than Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2009 02:01:39 | More by claykeller

Schwarzbart

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I think the first think to note is that the bottle is really cool. The color when poured is really good also and gets a big wow factor with a dark mahogony brown color. The head is a 2 finger, off-white, creamy and rocky one. Quite a bit of sediment can be seen when held up to the light. The lacing is spectacular after the first sip until the end with a creamy draping.

The nose is a hop load, smelling of grapefruit, spruce, citrus and lime.

The rye is quite detectable, which I expected, since the bottle noted that it was 18% rye. It adds some spice to the hops and even some more bitterness. The sweet malts are there and try to balance out the hops and rye and doesn't do a bad job at all. Hops are sprucey, grassy, piney and spicy, so they bite just like I'd expect. Caramel, bready malts come out more with warming.

Creamy and chewy mouthfeel with a medium full body. Well balanced with high hop bitterness just like it should be for a beer of this style. Overall, I really enjoyed this beer and will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 18:53:26 | More by Schwarzbart

shand

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hop Rod Rye pours a hazy red-brown color with a smaller head. The aroma is outstanding, citrusy hops and spicy rye rule here, along with some caramel malts. The taste is just about tailor made for me - it's got a huge hop kick along with a massive amount of rye spiciness. There's a bit more of a pine flavor in the hops than the nose let on, which works excellently with the rye. This is a big and brash beer, which is perfect for me. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and has that hop dryness that can only come from a massive amount of hops. The drinkability is superb. Overall, Hop Rod Rye is really a beer that's just about tailor-made for me. I love rye beers and huge IPAs. This is an excellent beer that really offers the best of both worlds there.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 23:25:02 | More by shand

aCharlie

New York

4.89/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - slightly hazy dark brown & amber
S - Floral, pine... more of a subtle hop smell, not too much rye
T - Noticeable amount of hops, with a clean/balanced rye
M - A typical strong IPA/rye
O - The balance of hops and rye work very well together. Mature beer, appropriate amount of hops, malt, and rye - all well combined, and well distinguished.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

04-27-2013 03:08:30 | More by aCharlie

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.88/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: This one pours a copper ruby tone with something floating inside could be yeast could be hop particles and forms a decent thicket of cream toned head with brilliant patches of lacing spread thick and evenly. Aroma: The combonation of piney and floral hops blended with the rye are such a great combonation here, this is one of those classic beers buttery hops in your face but not over done what a great scent I would buy soap that smells like this if it was available. Taste: So much hop flavor yet not too much bitterness it's like they added hop extract or something to make the perfect blend of pine, this isn't all hops the malts make an appearance here they act as sweetened butter coated on lucious steamed hop buds with the rye here to accent all of the flavors this is by far the best rye beer I have ever tasted b/c they didn't try to make the rye the dominant flavor. Mouthfeel is medium in body but the smoothness of this beer going down is impeccable perfect amount of carbonation so easy drinking this one deserves awarded across the board. There is no hype behind this beer and by the quality and great flavor of this beer I am sure that the rest of the Bear Republic lineup in my fridge is going to be just as prosperous. A 22oz. bottle of this goes down effortlessly if this ever made in a keg to the east coast it would be first in line for my newly converted kegerator, awesome brew a hop suspension is going on with specks of hops floating but oh the joy that comes from sampling this beer, thank you to whoever brewed this fine nectar for the beer gods of blessed thee.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2003 17:09:01 | More by WVbeergeek

alexgash

Connecticut

4.88/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From notes. Had a pint of this at the Yard House in Costa Mesa. Zero atmosphere, but very clean tap lines.
Fresh out of the tap this beer is even better than out of the bottle. Still has the same brick-red body and creamy tan head. But the spicy, piny, resiny hop aromas are even more pronounced and appetizing. The caramally maltiness still holds its own though. Hop and malt flavor are also enhanced. I just love the spicy character throughout--even in the malty sweet beginning. I just wish I could get this on-tap more often.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2004 02:53:53 | More by alexgash