Hoppy Rye
Reuben's Brews

I like rye beers quite a lot, and I'm fine with hops, so I know going in that this beer has promise. And I'm not disappointed. There's lots of spicy rye in the flavor. There are some noticeable hops and some bitterness, but this is not a hop bomb. The malts give this beer body and a biscuity flavor, which is a nice counterweight to the spicy rye and the hops. Nicely done.

 

 

 

 

 

From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham. Pleasing sudsy mouthfeel and tangy on the tongue. Spicy and malty aroma. More mellow than grainy. Really one of the better rye flavors I've encountered. It's just a little more bitter than it needs to be.

Pleasant roasty flavor with an appealing malty taste. Just a little sweetness. Fruity flavor goes well with the scratchy rye. Some resiny notes and a bitter hoppy finish. Handsome dark amber with a mustache of foam in the Ciney snifter.

Bottle bought at Chuck's Hop Shop. Honey gold, pours nicely with perfect carbonation and a lingering, fine head. Smell slight biscuit, bright hop, citrus more than pine. Body ample medium for a beer with this low ABV. Yet, this is my first disappointment in Reuben's. This is just not balanced--it's all hop, but empty hop--what I mean is the overwhelming bitterness with very little other personality makes this a unlikely Reuben's. Despite the scent, the flavor is one-dimensional hops. I still doubt myself and wonder--maybe it's a bad day and my beloved American Rye has just been relabeled Hoppy Rye and my tastebuds could be called out. I'd welcome that because I do love these guys.

 

Poured into a Reuben's Brew pint glass. Pours a hazy coppery amber, leaning towards orange, with a one finger light khaki head with good retention and lacing. Mild aroma of biscuit and rye malt, light citrus hops. Flavor is biscuit malt with a hint of caramel, slightly grainy, rye, grassy, mildly citrus hops. Finishes with a pleasant mixed graininess, rye and light earthy and grassy hops. Medium bodied with a pleasant light creaminess. A nice malty rye ale with an interesting mixture of grains, tastes like more than rye here. Good rye character with perhaps a little more rye grain character than the usual light tartness. Surprisingly not that hoppy as expected from the name, but does have a good hop bitterness combined with tart rye in the finish. Reuben's bigger rye ales are among my favorite local beer, and this one seems a bit subdued, but probably just in comparison. These guys know their rye beers and this one is nicely done. Similar to their American rye, but with more biscuity malt; I like the grain flavors in this one.