Rye Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Rye Beer
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 8.07%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 12, 2021
- Added:
- Jun 21, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Sagamore Spirit is a leader in Maryland's rye whiskey revival, and when the distillery first called us with a trademark question, our drab legal chat morphed into a barrel-aging brainstorm -- that's more like it. Brewed with Maryland-grown rye and aged in Sagamore barrels, this red ale delivers the herbal, spicy jolt we both imagined.
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Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Revisited 1/25/20
A-Pours a dark brown color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has generous whiskey, rye, spice and herbal hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a generous whiskey, rye, spice and herbal flavors
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A great Rye Beer
Sep 10, 2019A-Pours a dark brown color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma has generous whiskey, rye, spice and herbal hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a generous whiskey, rye, spice and herbal flavors
M-A medium bodied well carbonated beer
O-A great Rye Beer
Reviewed by TheGent from New Jersey
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: The beer pours a translucent, somewhat murky, Burnt Sienna color. Other colors that come to mind are Auburn, Walnut and Crimson. Beige, two finger head that settles to a thin layer across the top of the beer. No lacing. No visible carbonation.
Smell: A subtle nose. Rye bread. Caramel/toffee. Earthy, herbal, lemon and tea like aroma. Oak. Very soft vanilla and a hint of alcohol as the beer warms.
Taste: Lemony hops on the tip of the tongue. Middle of the palate brings some oak and nuts, and some sweeter, faint notes of vanilla and maple. Soft, herbal (bay leaf/oregano) spicy bready note on the finish gives way to some bitterness. The ABV appears as the beer warms, but it never detracts.
Feel: High level of carbonation. A bit more than expected. Prickly. A touch too much, though it softens with time. A semi-dry beer. Some pleasant heat in the throat as the beer warms.
Overall: An enjoyable offering from Sierra Nevada. Clean and crisp. A bold hop presence that says Sierra Nevada all day long. The interplay between the earthy and bitter hops and spicy rye grain is enjoyable. VERY subtle rye barrel aging. I’m not sure I’d pick up the barrel, but am disadvantaged by not having the non-existent base beer. If you’re looking for a “barrel bomb” this one is not your beer. If you’re seeking a hop forward beer with a great rye grain profile give it a go. I recommend allowing this beer to approach room temperature before or while drinking to best enjoy the flavor.
Jul 21, 2019Smell: A subtle nose. Rye bread. Caramel/toffee. Earthy, herbal, lemon and tea like aroma. Oak. Very soft vanilla and a hint of alcohol as the beer warms.
Taste: Lemony hops on the tip of the tongue. Middle of the palate brings some oak and nuts, and some sweeter, faint notes of vanilla and maple. Soft, herbal (bay leaf/oregano) spicy bready note on the finish gives way to some bitterness. The ABV appears as the beer warms, but it never detracts.
Feel: High level of carbonation. A bit more than expected. Prickly. A touch too much, though it softens with time. A semi-dry beer. Some pleasant heat in the throat as the beer warms.
Overall: An enjoyable offering from Sierra Nevada. Clean and crisp. A bold hop presence that says Sierra Nevada all day long. The interplay between the earthy and bitter hops and spicy rye grain is enjoyable. VERY subtle rye barrel aging. I’m not sure I’d pick up the barrel, but am disadvantaged by not having the non-existent base beer. If you’re looking for a “barrel bomb” this one is not your beer. If you’re seeking a hop forward beer with a great rye grain profile give it a go. I recommend allowing this beer to approach room temperature before or while drinking to best enjoy the flavor.
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland
4.22/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
"A limited-edition beer brewed with Maryland-grown rye and aged for six months in rye whiskey barrels from Sagamore Spirit."
5 oz pour on tap. Pours a mahogany brown with moderate head and lacing. Aroma and flavor are bready malts, vanilla, rye whiskey, and oak with hints of floral hops, brown sugar, and spicy rye notes. Very drinkable given the 10% abv.
Jun 21, 20195 oz pour on tap. Pours a mahogany brown with moderate head and lacing. Aroma and flavor are bready malts, vanilla, rye whiskey, and oak with hints of floral hops, brown sugar, and spicy rye notes. Very drinkable given the 10% abv.
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