Grand Ridge Vienna Rye
Grand Ridge Brewing Co.

 

Pours a deep ruby colour, maybe on the brownish spectrum as well. Head is off-white, sparse and diminishes to virtually nothing, but decent rings of lace and easily revived with a swirl. Looks decent, but nothing special.

Smells quite sweet and malty. Quite a clovey touch to it that's almost weizeny. Caramel, vanilla and oatmeal on there with a very light toasty note. Nice: sweet, spicy and grainy. Good Spring lager smell with a nice twist.

Taste lies a bit too much on the fruity side, with a lot of banana and dried fruit - sultanas, raisins and some glacé cherries. Vanilla underlying with a touch of nutmeg, and a light toasted grain note that emerges at the end. It adds a decent contrast to the sweetness, but it's not quite as coherent a whole or a Vienna lager. Decent flavour, but it's not quite smooth; a palate of two halves.

Bit of a pull on it but otherwise smooth, almost creamy. Rye definitely adds something here.

Quite enjoyable, a good twist on a traditional style. Doesn't quite reach the balanced smoothness of the best Vienna, nor does it really reach the heights of experimentation, but it's very decent.

Clearish, red colour with a small, creamy, off-white head.

Moderate malty aroma with distinct caramel and rye notes. Quite rich. Nice.

Malty lager with the spicy rye note adding an interesting note. Slightly fruity. Nice.

Medium-light body with moderately-high carbonation. Good.

A really solid beer. It is a little dull at times but the spicy rye adds interesting notes to the average vienna lager.

Pours copper with ruby tints and a small densely packed head.
Nose shows spicy, toasty malt, caramel and nutty notes. Very enticing.
Similar flavours, quite malty, but with the spicy, toasty rye really standing out amongst the sweet caramel and possible melanoidin malt.
Nice creamy carbonation suits the beer well.