Rare Rooster Summer Rye - Lancaster Brewing Company

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- Decent bronze color

S- Cereal malty smell, but not worth remembering

T- sweet and a little spicy from the rye and the bit of hops, but decidely bland. However, the carbonation was pleasant

M- thin but smooth

D- light and quaffable

picked up a six pack at State Line Liquors in Elkton for $2.99, so not a bad deal and for about the same price as a macro-lager. It's definitely drinkable, but unimpressive

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 07:07:30 | More by Soonami

bonbini26

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -24.5%

01-12-2012 17:54:18 | More by bonbini26

nmann08

Maryland

3/5  rDev -9.4%

12-04-2011 22:21:22 | More by nmann08

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

A summer seasonal. It was okay, but I was content in switching over after one pint. Poured a clear golden brown with a small white head that all but dissipated. Toasted malt aroma, with a bit of spice. Biscuity taste, mild yeast, spicy and bitter... Alot going on but not in a big way. Light-medium mouthfeel, and fairly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 16:03:03 | More by Rifugium

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue V:

Shiny copper color, a decent head forms from a hard pour and then subsides to a thin but healthy-looking white lace. A little buttery diacetyl from the yeast and caramel notes from the malt dominate the aroma. Semi-creamy smoothness rolls around and flaunts a medium body. Sweet with buttery and caramel malt flavors. Thankfully, the buttery tone does not distract too much or for too long. Both a mild hop bitterness and spicy rye character aim for balance and do a great job at it. The rye rises up just enough to be noticed with a grainy aspect middle to end that adds some depth. Mild fruitiness gives suggestions of ripe plum, pear juice and papaya. Finishes leaning toward dry with spicy husky rye and a faint lingering buttery tone.

Great to see a rye beer that is not over-hopped, it lets the rye come through and keeps that complexity alive which makes it a great choice if you have never tasted rye in beer before.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 13:19:27 | More by BeerAdvocate

TLove

District of Columbia

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

(From Notes)

On tap at the brewery.

Surprisingly bready for a rye grain beer and resultedly, quite good, despite its very dry character. The head dissipates quickly and burns off with a corn and wheatberry scent, with some parched wheat on the tongue and in the mouth.

The finish is pretty decent. Again dry, but has a buttery sweet component that balances it out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2009 00:27:32 | More by TLove

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass. Bought this for a buck at local place. Had this before, but this time is for reviewing.

3.0 A: Semi-hazy medium orange color. One finger of head that falls quickly and leaves not much lacing. I don't remember it looking this pathetic.

3.5 S: Only a touch of rye. Doughy and buttery in a brewpubby sort of way, if that makes sense to anyone.

2.5 T: Not too big on the taste. Healthy bitter backbone. The same buttery flavor exists in the taste. Really not that great of a beer. No flavors that I want and plenty that I don't.

3.0 M: Medium body. Undercarbonated.

2.5 D: Way too many problems. I don't remember it being this bad. If I ever try it again, I'll review it if it turns out any better.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 22:48:18 | More by DavoleBomb

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a clear light orange/amber color with about an inch and a half off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both average. Aroma is mostly toasted and bready malt, with a bit of spice from the rye and also a slight perfumey/floral hop aroma. Taste is mostly bready malt, with some butterscotch and rye spicyness. There's also a weird metallic finish which isn't enjoyable. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit coating and is well carbonated. Drinkability is OK, it's smooth but the weird metallic finish doesn't help any. I think this is an average brew. I'd drink it it someone gave me one, but I wouldn't go out of my to buy it. But it is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2009 22:55:56 | More by bluejacket74

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a light brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is malty with some rye. Taste is a good mixture of malt and rye, very flavorful. Feels good in the mouth and has decent drinkability. Overall this is a fine beer, worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 22:10:16 | More by tone77

bamadog

Kentucky

2.93/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Body pours a pretty bold coppery orange color and comes with a short one finger head that is off-white; head disappates quickly to a full and uneven skim that has pretty solid retention and sticks around; body is just slightly hazy and shows moderately strong carbonation; swaths of wave-like lacing hold firm to the sides of the glass.

Smell: Some toasted grains and really sweet, almost fruity esters combined with the malts... odd.

Taste: There is some slight graininess in the mouth, but the toastiness doesn't come out much as a strength, and the rye aspect is virtually non-existent. However, the strange fruity ester in the smell translates to the mouth as well as there is the malty sweetness that is affected by a that sugary/raisin-like saspect that is fairly mild - flavor fades in the mouth and comes back to the graininess in the end; sadly, it kind of reminds me of a lager brewed with some spoiled fruit and some stronger (but not strongly enough) toasted grains.

Mouthfeel: I like this part actually, it's pretty smooth and the carbonation is just right - nice and present, but not sharp; body leaves a fair amount of stickiness over the mouth and there's a definite tingle from the carbonation; palate is left very dry once it's all said and done.

Drinkability: It looks right, but the smell and taste are off for me and don't really showcase the rye at all, so that's a bit of a letdown. The mouthfeel, however, does add to the drinkability, but not enough to bring it up to more than a 3.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2009 23:46:17 | More by bamadog

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a copper quickly rising bubbled large white head flowing nicely with carbonation . Aroma has a spicy rye note with herbal prefume like accents minimal layers of malt sweetness in the nose. Flavor has more spicy rye notes with hebal perfum likne tones, somewhat grainy tendency with dry lafy hops and moderately sweet malt combos. Drinkability is medium bodied light airy carbonation not much doing in the way of complexity here. Drinkability overall is okay not a beer I would yearn for from Lancaster but it's nice to see smoething different especially with rye added.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2009 16:58:12 | More by WVbeergeek

nickd717

California

2/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

12oz bottle thanks to my buddy ben4321 on ratebeer.

A - Orangish-amber color with a small, quickly dissipating off-white head.

S - Rye bread, butter, and corn.

T - Some rye, caramel malt, and grain, along with an overwhelming buttery diacetyl flavor that sort of kills it. Wouldn't be too bad without that, not that it would really be that exciting either.

M - Body is fairly watery and thin and it has a weird butteriness to the mouthfeel as well.

D - I couldn't finish it. Maybe it would have been better if I had poured it over some popcorn.

Overall, not so good. A diacetyl mess that I wanted to like since it's from my home state, but oh well.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 04:02:49 | More by nickd717

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a orangish-copper color with a decent white head that settles to a thin lace rather quickly. Head retention is below average. Lots of bubbles, indicating good carbonation.

I'm not a huge fan of the aroma coming off of this beer. I've never smelled any beer quite like it. I guess it smells a little metallic. Some bready aromas in there too.

There are definitely some spicy notes in the taste, which I assume are from the rye. The spicy flavors are accompanied by a malt backbone and some moderate-high carbonation.

Mouthfeel is on the thin side.

I could drink a few of these, but then I'd be ready to switch to something else.

Morey's Bottom Line: This beer is a little off-putting at first, but you get used to it after a while. I actually enjoyed the uniqueness of this brew, but I probably won't purchase it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 20:57:23 | More by Morey

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clouded amber. Flavor is quite malty and caramel forward. There seems to be a theme going here with the Lancaster beers I have tried recently, and I wondering if the bottles have too much age on them. (Was that a nice way of putting it?) Minor grain kick from rye tones on the backside. Thicker liquid feel. So-so to drink. Not sure if this is an accurate representation of this beer and would try in the future to see if it was different.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2009 01:25:52 | More by RblWthACoz

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange amber color. The smell is faint, there is a hint of some citrus and some malt notes. The overall taste is okay, there is a malt backbone with a little citrus over the top. The malt is sweet like a bread malt, and the citrus hops balance out the flavor. The mouthfeel is a moderate carbonation. Overall it is a drinkable beer, nothing to turn you off of it, fairly non complex, but typical of rye beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2009 20:02:48 | More by goblue3509

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Poured into a 16oz tumbler. Orange colored with a light head that disappates fast and leaves very little lacing

S- Not much to smell. Maybe a bit bready and a hint of citrus

T- Starts off with a hint of sweetness and finishes a little bready... not very complex

M- Pretty light bodied with a noticeable ( but not excessive ) carbonation. Leaves some lingering taste clinging to you mouth after swallowing

D- Easy to drink... I'd drink over a generic american beer, but can't say it's anything to spectacular

CHEERS!!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 01:11:37 | More by bbeane

Tromba

Delaware

3.58/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a room temperature pint glass. A: Very slightly cloudy, very light copper color. Head was thin after pouring and dissipated almost immeadiately to nothing. S: very slightly malty with an apparent sweetness. T: Sweet and malty up front, followed by an almost iron like quality at the end. Any hops prsent is just barely enough to balance the malty/rye sweetness. The rye that is touted in the name is maybe a little too subdued - you might not even pick it up if you didn't know it was there. M: smooth and clean. D: The iron like after taste is a little off-putting for me (almost lick I bit my lip and taste a little blood). However, I would call this a session beer...if you like the taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2009 23:37:29 | More by Tromba

grub

Ontario (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

got this one in a recent trade with Slatetank. thanks matt!

12oz bottle. sampled july 4/09.

pours mostly clear orangey amber with a small dense white head. the head drops fast and leaves a bit of spotty lace.

aroma is ok. white bread and cracker. bit of alcohol. bit of vegetal dms. light buttery character. bit fruity.

taste is ok. the butter and cooked corn from the aroma are back. bit of white bread and cracker. light caramel. low bitterness level. earthy. bit of citrus. no real trace of the rye.

mouthfeel is nice. medium-light body. medium carbonation level.

drinkability is not great. mostly balanced, but the other flaws don't leave you going back for more.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 00:35:51 | More by grub

Phillyduke

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Amber in color. Clear with a good deal of active carbonation. A thin head quickly recedes leaving nary a cap nor a trace of lace.

S: Nice combination of malty sweetness with a noticeable twinge of rye spiciness. A bready fruit-like quality lingers in the nose (apricot? citrus?). Smells clean and refreshing.

T: There are a lot of nice things going on here, but they all struggle to be noticed. The fruity quality is definitely there, as is the rye spice, but I'd expect a bit more *oomph* from both of these flavors. Not much hop presence to speak of...most of the bite is provided by the rye, despite its lack of punch. Finish lingers on the palate for awhile after each sip with a metallic, dried fruit sweetness.

M: Beer is on the lighter side of medium-bodied with a crisp, tight carbonation and a somewhat thin mouthfeel.

D/O: This is a nice, refreshing summer beer that I think may be miscategorized. The brewer calls it a Pale Ale with a "subtle rye flavor." In that sense I think it hits the mark. As a rye ale, however, it lacks the intense flavor and spiciness I expect from the style. The fruit quality is a nice touch regardless of how this is classified.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 22:18:33 | More by Phillyduke

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle, thanks to grub for sharing.

Pours a clear orange/amber, thin white head forms, retains a pretty thick ring around the glass, few spots stick, looks alright. Smell is interesting, lots of apricot, very light rye character, bread, almost an ammonia, touch of fruit and floral, not too good. Taste is a bit weird, some rye spice, floral, apricot, bready and dry through the middle, some strawberry and sherry fruitiness. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Rye character isn't really there. Thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2009 20:15:13 | More by Viggo

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 12 ounce bottle poured into a standard shaker glass. Appears a clear golden yellow color with a finger of quickly fading bone white foam. Smells and tastes of butterscotch, lightly toasted grain, sweet malts, grassy and earthy, boring. A rye ale? Really? No noticeable rye spiciness. Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2009 18:53:53 | More by ClockworkOrange

Durge

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours cold into the pint glass a dark amber color with a very slim bit of off-white head and a bit of lacing. The aroma is very weak but hints at nutty caramel and maybe even milk chocolate sweetness that borders on a touch of bourbon. The taste brings a bright maple malt and peppery rye background. Mid-bodied and a bit fizzy but kind of weak in overall feel. Fairly drinkable if you like the taste but this may not appeal to everyone. There is a suggestion of that bourbon flavor I sniffed in the initial aroma, but it's hard to pick much else, fairly simple. Not impressive but I think it's OK.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2009 05:14:01 | More by Durge

dehay

Pennsylvania

2.48/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - clear orange brown color. Vigorous pour produced a 1 finger creamy white head, but it disapated quickly.

S - sour dough bread, vanilla, sweet honey

T - sour dough bread. Hop bitterness was evident. I was expecting more sweetness from the malts based upon the smell, but it wasnt there. Metallic aftertaste, which was unpleasant.

M - medium bodied

D - I had trouble finishing the one I opened.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 01:12:23 | More by dehay

irish

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Distinct odor and taste of grain. Works well with the hops, which come across as somewhat attenuated, but appropriate for the mix.

It retains an intriguing aftertaste, which contains components of the grainy taste,. Makes one want another sip. This might get older after drinking several in a row, but not during this glass, anyway.

All in all, a good beer, although not a "big" one. If you tend to like only big beers, than this might not be for you. On the other hand, if you like some variety and exploration in a session-style ale, this one is worth seeking out and spending some time with.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 22:57:07 | More by irish

brentk56

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a rocky head that leaves a patch or two of foam clinging to the sides of the pint glass

Smell: A diacetyl bomb, with a big butterscotch aroma

Taste: Up front, the sweet butterscotch malt battles with the spicy rye flavor, with some earthy hops in the background; after the swallow, a fruity green apple and pear aspect emerges, but the diacetyl is still pronounced

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: If you like sweet butterscotch, this one's for you; otherwise, steer clear

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 00:51:36 | More by brentk56