Tailwind Rye
Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant

On tap at the brewpub in August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a surprisingly light straw color with a white head. A bit difficult to believe that there would be much rye in this. Nose brings a bit of spice and some mild fruit. Taste has a bit of rhw but is somewhat bland with just a bit of frut accompanying it. Feel is fairly light win spritzy carbonation. Drinks quite well on a hot summer day.

A - Poured a clear yellow color with a small, fizzy, white head. It was highly carbonated and left no lace.

S - It smelled of grains. I didn't pick up anything that smelled like rye.

T - It tasted of rye and a little malt. Not much in the way of hops and it was a little sweet.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light-bodied beer.

D - Not bad. The appearance and smell are nothing like a rye beer should be IMO.

First off, another tip o’ the wood to Sopor for pointing out the magic of rye in beer.

This beer came to me with a big, foamy, bone-white head that reminded me of someone’s avatar. It was the one with a pint of beer with a head that had had a smiley-face rendered into it. I cannot remember the user’s name now, but I will post an edit if it comes to me. This beer was a bright, light-yellow color. The nose had a light maltiness accompanied by a pleasantly light tang. The mouthfeel was fairly light, but with a pleasant effervescence. I tasted mainly light malt until the finish, when I got the expected rye bite. It was not as pronounced as in Cane and Ebel, but it was still daggum impressive for Kansas. More rye, please, sir.

Poured a golden/straw color, with a wisp of foam across the top, but nothing substantial. There was a light sugary aroma to it, and a faint smell of fruit, almost, I want to say it was possibly a raspberry aroma.

The fruit was present in the taste, too, accenting a sugary malt character, with a nice bit of hoppy finish. Crisp and clean in the mouth.

For a lighter beer, I really enjoyed this one. The aroma and taste were nice and balaced, very smooth and very well mixed. Also a nice, light beer that could easily be a session beer, I think. The menu noted that this tasty brew had won two silver medals at the GABF, and one bronze medal at the World Beer Cup.

Slighty hazy straw hue. Thin, well retained porcelain white head. Tattered lace. Token rye spice and slightly soapy hop in aroma, with not much else there, except trace, vapid bready base malt. Dryish rye and cracker like malt upfront in flavor fades into simple, non descript residual sweetness due to the meager hop bitterness. Understated floral hop flavor. Thin, lanky, passably smooth, somewhat functional mouthfeel. Finishes slightly spicy with trace hints of honey. Quaffable, yes, but a bit too bland to keep the palate interested. Tailwind Rye would make a good lawnmower beer, but I live in an apartment. Silver medal winner GABF 2002.

Extremely light golden color, almost clear with a slight haze and no head. The aroma is spicy and light. The body is surprisingly heavy for the color. The flavor is malty with just a bit of fruity rye character. Very drinkable and satisfying.