Hop Rod Rye - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-09-09 in Pittsburgh, PA at Fat Head's (from notes)

A - Mostly-clear caramel (with a hint of red), a 1.0-finger head and good lacing.

S - Mild caramel, hop floral and spice.

T - A bit of a hop bite up front, which smooths out to a spicy, mildly sweet rye malt. Then the signficant grapefruit zest teeters on balancing with the rye sweetness until finally beating the sweetness into submission.

M - Medium body and light carbonation. A little prickly and resinous but mostly smooth. I preferred it on-tap or in the bottle to cask.

O - I always enjoy this beer and it's combination of rye spice and hops.

Serving type: cask

10-31-2011 11:49:14 | More by Tucquan

madvermin

California

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had at the Lanesplitter in Berkeley...they always have one beer on cask so visit soon if you can to get this beast.

Pours a dark ruby with decent clarity and rungs of lace from the off-white one-finger head. This beer is gorgeous.

Nose is a spicy resinous combination of hops and rye that has to he smelled to be believed. Slight citrus and semi-sweet malt round it out.

Taste is the nose amplified many times. The rye spice is distinct and and pungent, the resin is soft yet strong. Citrus offers a cutting edge through the rye/resin base, while malt sweetness once again rounds everything out. This is a ridiculously good beer, and having it on cask is even better than I imagined it would be.

Mouthfeel is full and creamy at times, crisp and slick at other points. It does what it has to do, and the cask carbonation is perfect on top of it all. Drinkability is amazing for such a strongly flavored beer; finish is spicy and bitter without being offensive, and really makes you want another sip. Stickiness is just enough to not get in the way while adding another element. Phenomenal.

Serving type: cask

04-07-2011 23:11:06 | More by madvermin

Offa

California

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a very good, fairly complex beer that I have now had cask conditioned, in which form I like it better as usual.

Deep red amber, very clear and bright, with a small off-white head soon thinning to wispy top and foamy ring, leaving some nice, rich, even, foamy lace.

Aroma is grapefruit with candied citrus peel, very flowery, with some bread underneath. It's good, but a bit too one-dimensionally citrusy-grapefruity.

The taste is much better, more complex, balanced, and well-rounded. It has grapefruit, but also spicey candied citrus rind, rye bread element is light but very clearly noticeable, especially in the finish and aftertaste,, along with light winey fruitiness. The bitterness is spicy and just dominates the finish and aftertaste, lingering but with the other elements and character. It is fairly easy to drink but not extremely drinkable, reasonably light but a bit still too heavy and spicey to be truly easy to drink. The complexity and subtle notes really come through more from the cask, but the aroma from just smelling it is more subdued and not truly indicative of what is to come in actually drinking it.

Serving type: cask

09-01-2010 05:07:07 | More by Offa

jdense

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at Horse Brass PDX, 3.30.10.

One finger creamy white head, slow dissipation, big lacing. Dark amber body, clear, no visible carbonation from cask conditioned offering. The nose is sweet, piney, malt forward with noble hops, some citrus, pretty well balanced. Taste features a good dose of caramel malt up front balanced by the rye, not too sweet, with an even hoppy finish, noble bitterness. Good dose of rye and roast for balance. Mouthfeel is medium, given cask condition fairly smooth. Drinkability has the ABV well hidden, farily drinkable once you get used to the rye malt. A nice change of pace, something that I look forward to having again. Highly recommended.

Serving type: cask

04-01-2010 00:02:17 | More by jdense

mjl21

California

4.6/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On cask at the Toronado. Poured into a pint glass.

A-Pours a really nice amber that has some great red and golden orange highlights. It has a huge bubbly off white head from the cask engine. Tons of sticky lace is left on the glass.

S-Tons of fresh citrus hops jump out. There is minimal malt character in this one.

T-A lot like it smells. Tons of citrus with a hint of spice from the rye. Grapefruit bitterness and caramel malt sweetness dominate the aftertaste.

M-Super creamy and smooth from the cask engine.

D-A damn good beer that really shines on cask.

This has always been an old reliable standby and it worked great on cask. I would love to see this more often on cask at the T.

Serving type: cask

09-04-2009 17:53:06 | More by mjl21

HopHead84

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A fresh cask on at the Horse Brass in Portland. Pours dark reddish amber. The white head is gigantic and takes many minutes to completely recede. Lacing covers my glass as it recedes.

The nose is a stunning explosion of citrus hops, with an added twist of spicy rye. I'm not a big cask IPA fan, but it really brings out the rye in this beer. The malt backbone is solid, being mostly sweet caramel. No alcohol is present in the nose.

Bitterness is at a medium level. The concentrated hop flavor is grapefruit and pine, with some rye, which tastes fantastic. The finish is citrus bitterness and spicy, with a low level of alcohol.

The beer is medium bodied with a creamy, smooth mouthfeel.

This is one of a handful (2) of rye IPAs that I've had, and I find that the subtle spiciness works extremely well with the citrus hop flavor and aroma. I'm also not a big cask IPA fan, but this was very good.

Serving type: cask

05-15-2009 07:48:19 | More by HopHead84

stingrayvr6

New Jersey

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

Had on tap at Local 44 in Philly. Beautiful amber color with fantastic creamy, off white head. Excellent retention and sticks to very inch of the glass. Smelled oily and citrusy. Incredibly smooth and citrusy, and fruity but sharp and bitter from the hops and mellows out with the rye. Very bitter with a balnaced and lingering finish and strong rye taste in the finish. Absolutely excellent.

Serving type: cask

03-26-2009 23:54:02 | More by stingrayvr6

CrossansWright

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on cask at Fathead's in Pittsburgh. It was served in a dimpled mug. It was a deep copper color with an off-white head that left some, but not much lacing. I picked up some caramel in the nose, but piney hops were far more prevalent.

First, let me say that this is a really, really, tasty beer. The hops come through beautifully and they are balanced by the caramel flavors of the malt. It seems that this beer is sweet, maybe it's the malt? All I know is it is extremely good. The alcohol is incredibly deceptive for 8.0%, making this a brew that goes down smooth but is also potentially very dangerous.

Truly a wonderful IPA.

Serving type: cask

03-24-2009 04:14:36 | More by CrossansWright

sentomaster

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on cask at the Blind Tiger Alehouse in NY.

A- Deep, rich mahogany color. Dense with only the faintest penetration of light. Small, fluffy, beige head fades slowly and leaves only a small amount of lacing

S- The nose give off a big, hoppy, flowery bouquet. sugary pine, pineapple and grapefruit. As it warms the sweet caramel malt aroma becomes unveiled, but still understated. A bit of rye spiciness.

T- There's a lightly sweet caramel malt presence from start to finish that provides a very nice balance. The malt sweetness that's first evident is met by a nice spicy rye flavors in the center followed by an intense hop bitterness in the finish. A dry parching finish yet the aftertaste lingers a bit imparting a bitterness and light alcoholic spice.

M- The body is full and thick with a moderate carbonation. Smooth and a bit creamy even. This characteristic becomes more pronounced with warming. Very nice.

D- Exceptional brew with well masked ABV and very well balanced.

Serving type: cask

02-03-2009 20:03:11 | More by sentomaster

Douglas14

California

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The hop rod rye has a crystal clear amber to red color to it with a very impressive head that leaves immaculate lacing. The aroma is hoppy and malty. The taste is surprisingly hoppy, which is awesome. I wasn't expecting a fresh hop bite. It's awesome. It's easy in the palate and more than enjoyable to drink. Great beer. Love the rye.

Serving type: cask

01-26-2009 22:07:39 | More by Douglas14

bambam2517

Arizona

4.36/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 oz. bomber poured into an Imperial pint glass, served at 50F.

A - Caramel brown body, no head but a really strong lace ring that is extremely long-lived. The carbonation in this one is a little more present than in other AIPAs I've had, I'm liking it.

S - Fresh malt with a rye sourness on top and an undercurrent of sweetness.

T - Surprised me, its a hop hammer at first! Puckering hops lead into the rye and malt character, and it does have some sweetness balancing it out as well. Some honey, also juniper. A lot to take in.

M - A real wild ride, high level of complexity in the mouthfeel. Starts off fresh and wet, then picks up with bitterness and just as it peaks it slides off with a sweet counterpoint. Finishes with a slightly herbal aftertaste, and it really sneaks that 8% ABV past you.

O - Hell of a fun beer! I like an occasional rye-heavy offering, and this one is near the top of the ryes for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:39:20 | More by bambam2517

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I'm attracted to the dark gold, almost amber appearance of this beer and the rye hop blend is stellar! Another solid Cali IPA, but with the rye twist. The price tag on this one is an added bonus. At $2 a beer this is a good one on an early spring afternoon or during the fall months. Nice work Bear Republic!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:03:08 | More by DenverHopHead

at7000

Florida

4.99/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

First beer I have ever given a perfect score to. This beer will spoil your taste buds, I promise you that. Not sure what they have done here, or how much the rye plays a part, but this is one killer beer, in every respect. If this beer were a little cheaper in cost, it would become my main beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 21:26:34 | More by at7000

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.6/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a beautiful translucent amber is one full finger of light khaki colored head. The foam take s a bit to settles, leaving behind a massive amount of lacing.

S: The nose is sweet malt, caramel, rye spice, and pine hops. This beer smells delicious. I'm a sucker for rye beers.

T: It start out with a wonderful mix of sweet malt and rye spice. The hops come through in the middle of the beer with a solid pine quality. As the beer more to the back end I get a good helping of juicy orange citrus mix with that sweet and spicy base. Delicious.

M: Medium bodied beer. It's sweet and spicy to start, but has an almost creamy texture to it. it coats the palate with a ton of flavors and it slides off perfectly when the beer is gone. There is a touch of rye that lingers on the palate.

O: Great beer. This was one of the first beers that got me into the craft scene. 100s of beers later and this one is still fantastic. I would drink this all day if it weren't so darn high in abv.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 19:51:41 | More by trxxpaxxs

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.56/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a darker slightly murky amber/brown with a solid head of cream/darker tan colored head, decent retention, fantastic lacing.

S - Lots of sweet malts, honey and nectarine, some rye and piney hop aromas as well.

T - A really nice bit of rye blended with lots of sweet/tart fruit and a decent hop bitterness. The tartness and rye is fairly unique and really nice with the bitter undertones. Some honey and sweet caramel are also pretty detectable, as is a mild alcohol burn and honey through the finish.

M - Medium/lighter bodied, quite drinkable, medium carbonation.

O - Really awesome, lots of rye and sweetness/tartness and some bitterness initially, lots of honey and a slight alcohol burn at the finish. Really enjoying this.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 22:48:42 | More by MacQ32

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

Hendry

Vermont

4.01/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bear Republic beers are highly rated, and I bought Racer 5 based on that fact: it really missed the mark for me. This bottle of Hop Rod Rye was a gift from a friend who swaps beers with me, and he didn't seem to think much of it based on the fact that he read it was "one of the top beers that changed the world."

Where Racer 5 left me flat, Hop Rod Rye was a very pleasant surprise. Pours a deep rich amber with a reddish hue, relatively small head and not much in the way of lacing,and really no cap either. Aesthetics aside, the aroma is pleasant with some piney hops and a touch of spicy rye that thankfully doesn't show up in the taste. Other rye ales have a tendency to be acrid, not the case with Hop Rod Rye.

Medium bodied and well carbonated, it is a bit thin in some respects. The hops are present but it is extinguished by a heavy maltiness that is rich, yet pleasant at the same time. This is an enjoyable beer with a distinct flavor that is worth trying at least once. World class??
Well, you decide!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:30:36 | More by Hendry

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Poured into a tulip, colour is a ruby amber brown, no visible carbonation. Produces a good creamy head, solid retention and great lacing.
Colour is really rich and attractive. 4

S- some lighter sourish rye esters straight out of the glass. The aromas are really rich, juicy nectarine, lemon candies, rich florals, hay, some ‘bakery-like’ sweetness, with the rye malt standing out. Fresh citrusy hops, but a real rye malt character, amazingly complex. 4.5

T- a rich array of juicy floral hop bitterness, nectarine, pineapple, tropical fruits, even some berries, balanced really well with a sour rye maltiness that adds a countering kick, some cashew nuttiness, pine nuts, pepper, the rye is a big star here. Then tartness (lemon, kiwi) and a bit of oiliness on the finish, but clean, a bit of mild ‘pine forest’ hops. This is downright delicious. 4.5

M- Big presence, rather slight carbonation, smooth oily hopiness but also some perceptibly malty body with a bit of the sour candy/rye feel (sour cherry blasters). A coating slickness, a lasting tingle sensation on the finish. Satisfying, no alcohol perceptible behind the hops and rye. 4

A real must try beer. I don’t think I’ve ever had a beer with such a deft combination of hops and a strong rye maltiness. Really interesting, unique, and tasty. I thought the mouthfeel was the only part that left a bit to be desired in an otherwise excellent brew. Memorable.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 20:05:05 | More by mick303

arfenhouse

California

3.89/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A: Hazy dark amber with white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Caramel malt, spicy hops, and a bit of pine. Light on the grapefruit and a little bit of cherry.

T: Sweet caramel and pine. Some mango and spicy hops. Aftertaste is semi-sweet cherry and a bit of bitter pine.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Semi drying.

O: Showed signs of being an old bottle (lots of yeast, hop aroma/taste a bit muted) but was still decent. Since the cost was so low, I'll give it another shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 07:23:20 | More by arfenhouse

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- I didn't hear a strong "pissst" when i popped the cap, so I gave it an aggressive pour to try to get the most out of what may be an undercarbonated bottle. Pours a deep, dark amber with a thick, 1 finger light tan head. Fantastic retention that held up throughout the entire drink. Sticky lacing. A very impressive looking brew.

S- Lots of florals, some citrus, and a big wave of sweet carmalized malts. Slight estery notes, herbal, sweet fruity booze. Not picking up too much rye or spice like i anticipated. Smells wonderful, bu so shockingly sweet smelling, I find myself a little perplexed.

T- Hop forward. Carmel malt backbone comes thru as smell indicates. A bit tart even at times. Some biscuit presence and....ah yes...the rye finally makes an appearance. Still not as big a role as I had hoped, but a fair supporting actor. Slight earthyness of the rye gives it another twist the nose didn't pick up. Warm finish. I like the balance. I struggle to wrap my head around everything going on here, but it seems to work.

M- Creamy, low carbonation but fine, full body. Dry finish. Alcohol is noticable, but not overpowering.

O- My first Bear Rep. Very enjoyable I must say. Not exactly what i expected, but no complaints other than I could have used a little more rye. Call me crazy, but i feel this is a cross between an American Barley Wine and a tasty ESB.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:10:18 | More by Bosoxfan20

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A- pours a dark amber-brown with ruby hue, slightly hazy, good size creamy light-tan head with awesome retention

S- spicy rye notes with a wheaty malt background, peppercorn, herbal hop notes, biscuity malt with a caramel finish

T- spicy rye notes and citrus hop take center stage, but both are complemented by a bready caramel malt backbone, some herbal notes with a slightly sweet finish. Lots of flavors meshing well together

M- medium-heavy body, creamy mouthfeel, low carbonation, silky finish, with just a trace of alcohol warmth at the end. Nearly perfect mouthfeel

O- a slow sipper with great balance, I couldn't find a bottling date but imagine mine mig not be the freshest as the hops weren't as prevalent as I would expect. Nonetheless, still a solid IPA

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:03:44 | More by Treyliff

GuzzLah

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - pours a clear, deep copper with a beige head. Nice lace. Bubbly.

S - citrus, floral and pine hops. Caramel malt and rye.

T - is like the aroma. Citrus and floral dominate upfront. Soft pine and spicy rye in the finish. Nice balance for the style.

M - medium body. Mild sweetness balanced with medium bitterness and a little spicy note from the rye. It might be 80ibu, but it isn't a brutally bitter beer.

O - a very good Rye PA. I haven't had many examples of the style, but this is currently my benchmark.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 21:28:26 | More by GuzzLah

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

2.05/5  rDev -52%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a bottle with no freshness data into a New Belgium snifter. The pour is a murky dark burnt orange with a nice finger of head that leaves behind some nice lacing. The nose is sticky, syrupy, boozy sweet. No hops at all. I must have an old bottle. Oh well, I must review it as-is. If the brewer cared about age, then obviously they'd tell me when this beer was bottled.

Medium body and a nice, oily feel, but whatever flavor exists is absolutely dead. I get some toast and marmalade up front, a little bit of rye at mid palate, then nothing.

I'm not even finishing this. Major drain-pour. It isn't even worth the calories in the glass. Do I think this beer is better than what I experienced? Absolutely. Will I give it another chance? Hell no. I know we're not supposed to slam beers, but this is what the brewer gets for selling a product with no freshness date on the bottle. This stuff tastes dead. I could make a better beer than this with an all-extract homebrew kit. Bear Republic should be ashamed of themselves for allowing their product to sit on shelves this long. I've tried two of their beers now and both of them were bland, boozy disasters.

EDIT: Another BA graciously told me where to find freshness data on the bottle. Turns out that despite looking, I couldn't see it in the store. My bottle was nearly 8 months old. I will attempt to secure a fresher bottle and re-review this beer in the future. Until then, my review stands.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 21:37:59 | More by deadonhisfeet

Thickfreakness

New York

4.26/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a rich mahogany, copper with a tinted fluffy head that lingers and leaves chunks of lacing dripping down the glass. Somewhat cloudy appearance, but wonderful carbonation.
Strong notes of piney hops, grapefruit, tangerine rind, subtle touches of pineapple and mango. Really nice grain and spice follow in the nose. Some pepper, rye, bits of caraway and licorice root. Really picking up the citrus and yeast as it warms up. Really nice!
A wonderful mix of spicey rye, tropical fruit and citrus, pine and caramel. No one flavor dominates, they all just flow together and stick to different parts of your tongue. Pineapple-orange marmalade spread on lightly toasted whole grain rye bread. Pink grapefruit and grain notes stand out as it warms while the nose has more and more pineapple.
The 8% is very well hidden and you don't so much taste it as you do feel the weight of it on the tongue. Sparks of CA citrus, HI tropical fruit, and mid-west grains. The rye really steps up to the plate. This could be a dangerous all day drinker. It just flows so easily.
I'm so glad this one is finally near me in 4-packs instead of just bombers. This is one that'll certainly start making it into the regular rotation now. Bear Republic does everything right. It hits all of the senses and leaves you craving more. Fantastic!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 21:59:34 | More by Thickfreakness

AmitC

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

Color is deep amber with very slight ruby hues. Very fine suspensions. Translucent. Off white - tan colored one finger thick head with excellent retention. Awesome lacing. Very few bubbles.

Aroma is of herbal and spicy weeds. A little bit earthy character. Special rye notes. Some warmth. A bit of booze. Strength is good.

A lot of piney bitterness upfront. Balanced or rather subdued to a large extent by the slight caramel and toasted malts. Dominant hop flavors are that of piney, earthy and herbal. Slight bitterness of rye as well. Finish is bitter. Bitterness strength is medium to strong. In the 70-80 IBU range may be. Bitterness is pervasive and lingers really well.

Mouth feel is medium bodied. Low carbonation. A bit of oily character. Warm.

A very nice brew overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:27:23 | More by AmitC