Rye Maintenance
Brewery Vivant

On tap at brewery:
This was a fun little beer. Not often such a low ABV beer gets the spirit barrel treatment, but this one works for me because the barrel seemed deftly used. I can actually see people finding this a weak beer, but I found it enjoyable because it was nuanced at not in my face.

A near-light Brown amber, the beer is pretty clear. A copper off-white head provides some nice lacing.

The nose and palate are light, and the former is about the only place I can discern the rye spirit at first. There’s an earthy spice aspect that is likely from the rye malt and this comes out more in the taste.

I get the barrel (wood) early, but it seemed like a light rye beer, almost watery - yet still interesting. Warmth filled out the feel a little more and brought some vanilla and a little bit of biting spice that I’ll pretend is the rye barrel (vs rye malt). It still is kind of light, but also is under 5% ABV and the more earthy/tea leave aspect of the rye doesn’t help the feel to me. It’s saved by the vanilla “sweetness” and rye spiciness, though.

Has a little bit of an altbier nature to it, the rye barrel bringing in an old ale flavor without the feel and punch. I could easily have a few of these before my palate would be looking for something a little less earthy.

Pours a coppery-amber with loudly fizzing, quickly disappearing head. No retention or lacing, no legs. Reminiscent of a hoppy American pale ale with an injection of peppery rye spice, which seems to be an accurate description of what actually happened here. Slightly vinous on the nose in an unexpected way.