Rusty Chain - Flying Bison Brewing Company

PhantasIPA

Delaware

4.13/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

The appearance of this beer is a classic red amber color. My beer poured with no head or lacing at all...(glass not as clean as it should be?)

The smell is very nice. A well balanced, toasted malt scent that dominated the brew. It is followed by a mix of subtle spices and a hint of hops, but nothing bitter.

Taste is well balanced between the sweet, toasted malt, the spices and the hops which create a soft, easy to drink brew.

The mouthfeel is good up front but as the drink continues the carbonation takes over and is too heavy. Too much for me.

Overall the beer has a good smell and taste but still needs some refining in order to get the wild aspects in check or to run with them completely...still better than most. Above average brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:14:01 | More by PhantasIPA

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

first beer from these guys and i am not unhappy with it. on tap at mr. goodbar in buffalo. the pour is clear and coppery, lighter than an amber, but not quite a pale ale in looks. not much head either. the aroma is a little metallic, brassy or something, minerally, but with a nice dose of american amber malts and buttery toast. the flavor is rather balanced, with some bittering hops complimenthaning the aromatic profile. i find just a little more sweetness than i like in an amber, but it appears to be from so well roasted english caramel malt, so i cant complain. the feel is a tad flat for me, a few more bubbles might make this beer really pop off. but the body is working at a nice medium clip, and it doesnt change much as it warms up. i could session on this for awhile. good to see the buffalo beer scene improving so dramatically, this is a more than tolerable amber ale brewed for a good cause. i can get behind that and put a few pints back every not and again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 06:02:20 | More by StonedTrippin

smudgewhat

New York

3.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My beer reviews are usually cost vs. quality. This is one of my new fave go-tos at an average six pack craft price. I really like the malts. They seem richer than than usual for the price range and the label claims they're of European origin. Either way, they're nice. This is an ideal fall/winter beer, falling on the dark/rich side for an amber ale. I've had their Aviator Red as well and like it a lot. Usually I drink high end snobby Trappists but when this is one tap at a local bar I'm pretty happy.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 05:58:27 | More by smudgewhat

oberon

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a standard pint a clear amber with a 1/2 finger white head that held for awhile.Aromas seemed to be of a lager yeast with mild fruity notes,there seemed to be a tinge of grain and iron in there.Again lighter lager-like flavors with its grainy notes,a little dryer than what you expect for the style.A Vienna style beer?Like a Vienna lager?I'ts pretty average but Iam interested in what this really is...kinda.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 13:26:56 | More by oberon

Thads324

Connecticut

2.03/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a clear dark golden color. Very thick off white head, dissipates very slowly.
S: very faint toasted grains, absolutely nothing else...fail
T : Starts light, watery. A super sweet bread and corn syrup flavor. no hops at all. Pretty damn terrible really. Way way too sweet with nothing else there. Finishes skunky and smooth.
M : medium bodied despite the early wateryness. Carbonation is all right, carries the flavor nicely.

Way too sweet. No depth or character or anything in this beer. Fake sugar taste and no aroma. No thanks, never again

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 21:13:09 | More by Thads324

match1112

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: crystal clear dark copper body. four fingers of off white, thick and creamy head, slowly settle (i'm talkin four minutes here) into a rocky cap that leaves loads of lacing.

s: malty, light fruit and hop presence.

t: sweet malts up front.a little lemon and herbal presence on the finish, getting this with many of their beers.

m: great carbonation, body seems to thicken on the finish. low hop presence.

o: very drinkable, but not exciting. dont think i could drink more than one in a row, maybe with some hot and spicy food to wash it down.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 13:48:22 | More by match1112

randjuke

Iowa

2.4/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottle pours medium copper with persistent foamy white head. Aroma fruity with adjunct tones. Taste OK, kind of weak malts and a bit metallic. Palate watery. Finish slightly prolonged mild hop bitterness. Alcohol not apparent.

Just not a lot going on with this beer. I can't even call it a good session beer since there isn't anything about it to make me want another, and it borders on unpleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 22:09:18 | More by randjuke

Domingo

Colorado

2.43/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Got this from a friend who didn't care for lagers and got it in a BOTM package. Funny enough, it doesn't appear to be a lager and is just a "Vienna Style Beer"
Pours a standard amber copper color with a decent head. Kind of fizzy, though.
Smells a little astringent? A little like a bad homebrew.
Ugh. Tastes just like a bad homebrew, too. A little rubbery with a bitter plastic note from the yeast. Not good, as this covers up anything the malts tried to offer.
Got about 5-6 sips into this and couldn't go any further.
It doesn't taste old, unfresh, etc. but instead reminds me of something with yeasts gone awry as I don't really get the"extract tang note some have. Not sure how to describe it except - "tastes like bad homebrew"
Nothing about the bottle seems off and it's not showing any signs of being mistreated. Maybe this just isn't good?

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 01:17:16 | More by Domingo

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Rusty Chain pours a clear brown color, with not much head. There is a nice subtle smell, with hints of a cinnamon like aroma. The taste at first is awfully watery, and harsh, balanced flavor, but then it finishes a bit bitter and very dry. Pretty easy to drink, and that dry aftertaste is nice. Overall a slightly beefed up yuelninging look a like, so its not bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 03:22:12 | More by vette2006c5r

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.73/5  rDev +38.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fruity aroma, sweet malts and apricot. Pours bright copper amber body with nice slightly beige head. Head lasts a goodly time and lacing of glass is fine. Tastes well balanced, just the right bitterness in the finish with a very pleasant aftertaste. The lable states "smooth enough to enjoy as a session beer" and they are quite right!

P.S> The website states the ABV as 5%.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 00:13:32 | More by CaptJackHarkness

wastedrockranger

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

not a bad beer, but nothing really stuck out with this one either. the appearance of this beer was probably the best thing about it. it poured a nice amber color into a 16oz mug, with the remainder of the mug getting filled up with a nice cream colored head. nothing really special about the smell. just a hint of a malt. the taste is average. nothing special to make this stick out over any other vienna style beer, however i had worse. it left my mouth feeling dry and my thrist not quenched. overall all rating for me is just "average."

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 13:36:36 | More by wastedrockranger

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from growler into pint glass

Appearance - A golden - orange color forming a white head upon pouring.

Smell - A warming toffee and malty aroma. Fits the image of the beer to a T.

Taste - Some maltiness first meet the thong. This gives away to a bit of unexpected hoppiness. At the end a nice sweetness ends off the experience.

Mouthfeel - A nice level of carbonation and body. Very drinkable and suitable for the style.

Overall - Quite a nice beer for sitting and continually sipping over and evening.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2011 01:08:46 | More by Darkmagus82

corylew

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a sample of this during a "tour" of the brewery. Let me just say the taste of the beer was seriously improved after having a conversation with one of the smartest, most down to earth craft brewers I have ever met.

Pours clear golden brown, little white crown of head that settles slowly with time.

Smells malty and slightly toffee-roasted, mixed with the CO2, essentially covering all hop aroma

Mouthfeel is what really pulls for this one. It's the kind of beer that caused me (and the rest of us) to keep going back for more samples. Heavy enough to back some nice roasted malt flavor, light enough that it I feel almost refreshed drinking it.

Overall if you have access to this beer, grab it. You won't be disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2011 01:09:02 | More by corylew

dogfishandi

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this and a few other flying bison beers were just recenly released in bottles. bottled on date is blank, but im assuming its pretty fresh, just hit the shelves. 12oz. refridgerated bottled into a pint glass.

a fairly fast pour results in a good clear deep bronze, amber color, almost the color of rust, a skim 1/4 inch of creamy slightly off white head. lots of carbonation bubbles and just traces of lacing on the glass.

clean smelling. lager yeast with some toasted, biscuity grains in there. traces of caramel.

toasted biscuity grains, minerally lager yeast with just a hint of an extra little chocolate or something, hard to pinpoint, but a pleasent taste.

smooth, airy, light body. crisp, high carbonation.

truly a staple of buffalo beer. so easy drinking. craft and non craft drinkers alike can enjoy this, glad to see it in bottles. similar to yuengling.

edit: this is a lager, not an ale, despite what the picture says...

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 21:57:16 | More by dogfishandi

riversider76

New York

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours amber orange with a fluffy head. Not much retention and just a bit of lacing. Aroma is of bready malts, and grain. Body is medium and carbonated. Taste is sweet and grainy upfront. Smooth, with a good balance of hops in the finish. Nice fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 00:53:14 | More by riversider76

gabedivision

New York

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Rusty Chain, always good out of the tap, now in bottles...way cool. Poured to a SA Perfect Pint glass.

Pours a nice amber chestnut color clear with a two finger head that clears to a thin white tight bubbly lace. Caramel malts on the nose with touches of lemon and spice, a fair amount of grain on the scent as well. The taste is all on the malt side, with a good hop balance, with a clean lager feel. Light on the mouthfeel, creamy, smooth, very drinkable. Overall this is a decent beer, glad to see it in the bottling line.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 02:18:27 | More by gabedivision

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Compliments of Mike at Cole's, and fresh. Decent beer with Lots of malting, some above-average mouthfeel. Lots of carbonation. Brewery has produced better, drinkable nevertheless. No head or interest to look at, basic aroma, not complex.A good 1990's craft beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2009 01:54:20 | More by northyorksammy

sliverX

New York

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had this during The Village Beer Merchant's 1 year anniversary sample fest, which of course the local guys were pooring a bit more than the 2ozs they were supposed to was more like a half glass, was told its intended to be a Vienna lager in the vein of Great lakes Elliot Ness but not as "big"
poored an orange amber a few bigger bubbles hung around to make a film around the edge of the glass
Smell was just sweet maltyness
taste is sweet and tart coming across in a very similar way like yogurt would
mouth feel was a thin to medium and a bit dry
Very sessionable just like pretty much everything else FB puts out

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2009 18:02:39 | More by sliverX

BuffaloTapHugger

New York

2.58/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Limited release from Flying Bison to help raise funds for local bicycle parking within the city. Available in local establishments late, 2008. Consumed at Mr. Goodbar.

A: Very light in color for an amber, some darkness in tint form, little head to be found. No lacing.

S: Malt, some light citrus notes

T: Very dismal flavor. Little carbonation and flat on the outtake. A typical amber beer that is massed produced is mainly absorbed in this one.

M: None. Refreshing is best the quality.

D: Worth the price of admission for a pint. Think local.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2009 01:31:23 | More by BuffaloTapHugger