Midnight Ryed Ale
Elk Valley Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

Really great stuff. Elk valley continues to produce good beers.

 

 

Looks a beaut with a voluminous tan froth and a slick, coal black body.

Smells of rye and dark fruits (prune and grape).

Tastes of grain, prune juice, rind, caramel and herbs. Ends on the sweeter (thank normal for the style) side of the continuum.

Medium-bodied and drier than expected but smooth with little to no alcohol noticed.

Initially skeptical about this one but consider me a fan.

First off - very cool name. I ran across Elk Valley Midnight Ryed Ale while beer hunting in Stillwater. Based on previous experience with Elk Valley, I had to buy it. Pours a dark cola color framed by a thin red corona (gasp) capped off by some toasted marshmellow-colored foam. Lace is very fine and sticks nicely for the duration. The aroma from this beer is not something I've encountered much - almost a butterscotch thing right off the bat. Other aromatic characteristics include milk chocolate covered toffee, some coffee bean, and grassy hops. Flavors really follow the nose here - buttery toffee, milk chocolate, cappuccino, all backed up by a peppery rye/hop bite. Very nice. Nice silky medium body as indicated by the very fine bubbles that never go away. I was quite impressed with previous output from Elk Valley and this just raises their bar a couple of notches. This young brewery is headed down the path of great beer. Cheers folks!

Pours an effervescent ebony with 2 fingers of tan head. Stays effervescent, nice lacing & good head retention

S: Carob & rye spicyness

T: Follows the nose, a faint bit of roastynes & dryness as well up front, a little grapefruit rind as well. A little bit of fig mixes with peppery spicyness, carob, a little licorice & pineyness mix with grapefruit & pamello as this warms. Finishes a little dry, citrusy, peppery & piney , plus a little chocolate

MF: Medium bodied, near perfect carbonation, ditto on the balance

Drinks easy, a worthy example of the style that may warrant a side by side with El Cu Cuy. This is a style I see a lot of breweries botch, this isn't on the same as Sublimely Self Rightgous (sic), but close to it, These guys have yet to make a beer that I wouldn't buy again...

 

Very interesting beer.

Purchased in OKC. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Immediate glorious cannabis-like aroma. I have never smelled a beer that has such strong herbal notes. As it sits in the glass I can also pick up a little bit toasted malt and caramel.

Flavor-wise this beers is many things. It has the appropriate rye spiciness, and of course lots of hops (some faint piney and citrus notes for sure). But there is also some toasted malt and some very faint dark chocolate notes. A dry finish with a slight acidic bite.

The mouthfeel is super smooth.

This is an exceptional beer.... a black rye IPA... or it is it? It is black and it is a rye for sure, but I would probably call this an APA not an IPA. But frankly I think I like it better with its current hop profile. There is no reason to go into hop-monster territory for such an excellent, well-balanced beer.

I highly recommend this one. I plan to drink more.