Belgian Rye IPA
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

 

 

I was excited to see this Belgian Rye IPA as one of the rotating specials. The Chicago Rock Bottom has really been an a roll and this beer keeps it going.

Served in a standard shaker, the beer is a hazy dull copper with a clingy beige head.

Nose of fruits, spices (pepper and all spice), cane sugar and grains.

The taste is slightly fruity with big grains and bits of rye spiciness, and bubble gum. The bitterness is well contained and the beer posses nice balance.

The beer has a slick thickish mouth and everything adds up to a nice twist on a Belgian.

Big thanks to Dave for picking up a growler of this stuff - New Beer Friday at the new apartment! Served in a oddly shaped stange-like Dogfish Head pint glass.

A - Two-plus fingers of light blonde foam with excellent retention & lacing. Hazed apricot color with a few bubbles visibly rising to the top. Good looking brew that could stand to be a shade darker.

S - Bubblegummy Belgian yeast, floral hops, tropical fruits from the amarillo dry hopping, some spices, and a subtle honey malt backbone. I don't get a ton of the rye flavor in the nose, and on one whiff I got straight-up alcohol flavor, which was kind of odd.

T - The flavor has significantly more of the spicy rye flavors, surrounded by the floral hops, bubblegum, and lighter Belgian yeast notes. I'd swear there was some wheat in this as well. Pretty similar to the smell, but proportioned slightly differently (more spice, less fruit).

M - Light carbonation, soft body, dry finish. A touch of residual resins. Alcohol isn't overt, but it doesn't drink like a lighter beer either.

D - The two glasses I had of this stuff were extremely enjoyable, and I'd certainly have had some more if the growler hadn't kicked. I've been pleasantly surprised with my limited experiences with Rock Bottom (at FOBAB, random growlers, etc.) and may have to make a point of stopping by there more regularly.

Wow

Pours hazy yellow/orange with a nice fat head. Smells of dried fruit, spicy.

Tastes a nice spiciness,, peppery, orange, apricot and a nice smooth dry hopped flavor and aroma. I could swear this has been poured from a cask, but i don't think it was. Just amazing from the first drink to the bottom of the glass. Wish i could of had another, but at 7.5% i needed to drive home sober

An incredible beer.

(Served in a chalice)
Chalkboard says 9.5%ABV
A- This beer has a nice thick light tan head that is pure cream on top of a warm hazy orange body that shows off a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles. There is a nice lacing with each sip that last for a moment then slowly descends back into the beer.

S- The smell of sweet dried light fruit and apricot blossoms blends into a floral green hop nose with a faint note of earthiness when it warms.

T- This beer has a sweet perfumed apricot flavor that has notes of apricot sherbet followed but a nice green herbal hops flavor with a pungent cat pee taste (which is a good taste in hops). There is a nice spicy pepper note that finishes the hops.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with smooth texture and a soft alcohol heat that enhances the hops and black pepper notes.

D- This beer has a great flavor and some nice sweetness and hops that work well together. The hops are unique and the rye spice really ties the yeasty qualities and finish hops together. I know this will lead to a few more stops at RB on the way home from work before this gem is gone.

Aroma: fruity. mango, peaches, oranges.

Looks: Cloudy orange. Average sized white head. good lace.

Taste: peaches, orange peel, classic rye astringency and spiciness,. Spicy hops. Long bitter & spicy finish. Overall spicyness.

MF: creamy, full bodied, small bubbles