1634 Ale
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery

1634 Ale1634 Ale
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From:
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Rye Beer
Ranked #74
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
81
Ranked #25,829
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 13.92%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
84
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 24, 2022
Added:
May 30, 2009
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  10
"1634 Ale" was created by Tom Flores, master brewer at Brewer's Alley, following research of historic recipes and raw materials available in centuries past. "We used ingredients that would have been found in the austere conditions of early colonial Maryland," said Flores of his rye-based ale recipe that also includes malted wheat, molasses and caraway. Flores says caramel and dark malts round out the flavor of the "lighter bodied ale."
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.73/5  rDev +6%
True to historic form though 1634 Ale endeavors to be, it's doubtful that Cecil Calvert, the second Lord of Baltimore, would ever have seen an ale this clear and light (relatively speaking). The butterscotch coloured beer is a little murky, sure, but far from opaque and demonstrates excellent chestnut highlighting. Its head is modest but would be abundant by 17th century standards.

1634 Ale has the smell of a modern Eastern-European bakery: fresh-baked rye bread and caraway seed abounds. There's also subtly sweet notes of toffee and maple syrup. It doesn't rank high on the aromatic scale but is still a respectable medium and thus far delivers on what's billed.

The taste, too, features those things promised on the label - molasses, rye, caraway - albeit at safe levels not likely to turn away the general drinking public. There's no doubt Brewer's Alley have toned down the keystone ingredients to suit modern palates. Interesting though the flavour profile may be, it's not terribly impressionable all things considered.

That being said, I'm pleased with the restrained sweetness and, even more so, the lingering (however subtle) presence of caraway and rye - it's enough to remind me of a good spiced pumpernickel loaf, one of my favourite styles of bread. Indeed, if ever there was a beer to pair with breakfast this makes a strong candidate for creamed cheese bagels or bacon and eggs.

1634 Ale may not be every bit as unique as I'd hoped, but it's still a distinct and highly enjoyable offering that is well worth picking up if you're in that part of the country. It also makes a great beer to share with friends accustomed to the standard swill lagers; this is definitely the kind of beer that can open eyes, broadened tastes, and turn people onto craft beers.
Aug 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of dbl_delta
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

3.66/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Brewer's Alley. Pours a dark brown with a minimal head. Virtually no lacing. Initial impression is caramel, muted molasses, and malts. Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium, but quite smooth. Finish is neutral. Overall, an OK but not memorable rye beer which I would classify closer to a brown ale. YMMV.
May 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.25 by trickynicky from Maryland

Mar 27, 2022
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.07/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On tap at Brewer's Alley in Frederick, MD.

This one pours a dark-ish brown color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.

This smells like caramel and a bit of spice, but not much else.

The idea behind this beer is honestly very cool, but the execution is lacking. It basically just tastes like a boring brown ale - I don't really get the influence of the wheat, molasses, or caraway - it's just kind of bitter and malty overall.

This is light bodied, and pretty thin, with a decent enough drinkability.

This doesn't really do what it says it was going to do in the description.
Aug 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3.87 by Curt3 from Ohio

Aug 12, 2021
 
Rated: 2 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Feb 12, 2019
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, no date

Light brown in color, white head. Aroma is herbal, spicy, bready. Taste is balanced, not overly sweet, finishes drier. Medium bodied.
May 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.27 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Feb 10, 2017
Photo of AngusOg
Reviewed by AngusOg from North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Obviously I'm no expert, but I could see this being a fairly accurate interpretation of a historical style. I could definitely see sitting at a tavern back in the day drinking one of these out of my tankard. All the same, makes me glad I live in the modern world of beer today. Just not really my thing. The best way to describe the taste is, like a piece of rye bread dipped into a moderately strong light ale. A fun beer to try, and I'm glad I got the chance, but I'm also really glad I only had a single and not an entire six-pack of it.
Jan 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by cyber_phoenix from Pennsylvania

Nov 12, 2016
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.55/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Deep chestnut red, quite clear nearly crystal but slightly opaque but allows good head viewing from the bottom. The head only manages a simple tan two finger tall presence, and keeps a simple collar.

Very spiced dry notes, rye and caraway, surprisnngly not as sweet as I thought it would be, or much hint of molasses. Pretty solid, a bit neutral and one dimensional with no idea of what might be coming.

Palate does take the rye angle very noticeably. Pumperknickle dry, watery malt depth, and a big amount of tannic dryness on the aftertaste. Palate of rye tannic grain, watery bread, moderate bready sweetness that washes a little quick on the swallow. Not a lot of molasses character here, but not really complaining.

I am usually not a big fan of rye beer, but this is at least drinkable and not horrible to choke down.
Dec 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by Lucular from Maryland

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by Hockey_Fan from Maryland

Sep 13, 2015
Photo of soupyman10
Reviewed by soupyman10 from District of Columbia

3.39/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Finger of off-white head, just a touch of head, amber color. Looks fine. Nose is a bit of dirty malt. Flavor is caramel malt, light spiciness, maybe a touch of prunes or raisins. Body is okay - a bit watery, thinner than I might like. This one is just okay; not bad for a small brewery with a somewhat unique brew, but not a whole lot going on, either.
Sep 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by sisterofba from Maryland

Jun 19, 2015
Photo of OzzyJoon
Rated by OzzyJoon

4.17/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Delicious beer had a dark beer taste
May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by EuphonicHops from Virginia

Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 2.89 by JasonTaverner from Virginia

Mar 13, 2015
Photo of BenWashburn
Reviewed by BenWashburn from Maryland

3.59/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
The key with this one is not to drink it too cold. Of course, that's the key to a lot of complex beers. Keep it English pub temperature (56 degrees) and the flavors come forward some. Wish it had just a touch more molasses.
Feb 22, 2015
1634 Ale from Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 84 ratings