Cinnamon Raisin Rye
Reuben's Brews

16 oz can

Pours dark reddish brown, light tan head dissipates to a bit of lacing.

Aroma of rye bread, raisins, cinnamon, and allspice.

Flavor is raisin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, sweet bread malts, and bitter rye in the aftertaste.

Medium body, tingly carbonation.

Interesting, flavor is pretty good. Very potent bitter spice notes throughout, balanced somewhat by the raisin. Drinks slow. I don't know if I would drink this again but it's worth trying once.

I rarely get this excited about an experiment... so this probably is a second or third generation rendition of an idea.
The idea is that the Brown Ale -- across traditions -- is more boring than the rest of the tradition... often even if you are a malt-head like me.

But... Reuben's doesn't believe in this idea. They believe you can spice up malt so it has a bit more tang (thank you, Rye). Reuben's believes you can add some cinnamon and other holiday spices and your Brown Ale becomes a Smelling sensation. And then Reuben's adds to this unconventional idea that you can jack-up how the malt converts to alcohol by adding raisins... which it also has done. And the brewer probably innovated the yeast, too.

Add it all up and you have a great Brown... one that pushes the envelope, one that makes me say: why didn't I buy two?

A: The beer is nearly black in color and only has slight traces of dark red near the edges of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a quarter finger high light tan head that left lots of lacing down the sides of the glass and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of cinnamon and raisins are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has lots of flavors of cinnamon and raisin and has subtle bits of sweetness along with hints of spiciness from the rye.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has prominent flavors of cinnamon and raisins - like cinnamon raisin bread - with spicy bits of rye.

Serving type: can

 

 

Reddish dark brown under light with a decent tan head, this brew looks nice. Sweet malt and cinnamon, this has a potent nose and it’s all brown ale. Good flavor that picks up some of the rye spice with a sweet than ever so slightly bitter finish. Good balance here. Almost creamy medium feel to this brew. Well done.

16oz can into a pint glass. Canned 11/17/20, so 5 weeks old.

Looks very good in the glass. Black/brown body shows clear burgundy when held up to a light. Generous tan head shrinks to a ring and solid covering, leaving excellent lacing.

A little malt and cinnamon on the nose, also slightly musty.

On tasting, well now, sweet malty goodness with a clear but not bitter cinnamon hit. Not getting any rye or raisin, but that may help with the very good balance.

Mouth closer to full than medium, finish sweet, warm, and lightly spiced.

Overall, my favorite of the VaRYEity 4 pack from Reuben's. 7.2abv is apparent, and the only thing that stops me chugging this one down.