Rye IIPA
Frost Beer Works

On tap at the Blackback Pub in Waterbury, VT. This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a hazy burnt orange color with a slim almost one finger-ed white foamy head that dissipated at a nice pace. The smell took the rye malt mostly coming across in a sweet way initially and then as it warmed, there was a nice little bit of spice coming across pretty nice. The taste replicated the smell - sweet yet subtle rye spice. And then light caramel malty notes sliding in underneath. Lingering rye malty aftertaste leading into a sweet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation rides fairly low. Overall, as a DIPA with a rye malt base, I can see it and definitely suggest to the rye beer fans. Malts compliment the spice well. I’d have again.

 

Not awful, but not good. I was expecting an imperial version of LUX (Bissell Bros), but got a mediocre West Coast Style IPA. Gave it a 4 overall because it opens up nicely in a Teku.

 

Bottle Date: none
Palate Contaminants: other beer

Appearance is as dark an amber as can be without describing it otherwise. Not much head, yet some good lacing.

The smell is a bit like mulled wine with some cloves. Muted cinnamon and sweet plums, too. Unorthodox compared with everything else, but it's fascinating.

What's on the nose is overwhelmed by floral woodsiness in the taste. The malt sweetness is certainly present, as is a little hops bitterness. But those usual drivers take a bit of a backseat. Unfortunately, there's a cereal graininess that's there, not bad, but not particularly interesting and pushes out some of the more interesting flavors (like the plums and cloves). But overall, it's good.

The feel is pretty basic. Medium weight, coarser carbonation than ideal. The cereal grain that pushed out other things hangs around quite a bit.

Bomber from pearl street beverage for around $8. Much better as it approaches room temperature.

 

Excited to see this on shelves. Great price point at $6.99, even at 9%!

Pours a reddish brown hue with a thick head into my glass. Lacing coats the sides of the glass.

Mango, spice and pine in the nose.

Cohesive blend of mango, spicy rye and pine. Clean and fresh (bottled 2/16/16).

Nice alcohol burn at the back followed by lingering spice. This one saves the burn for last.

This is amazing and at a great price too! Why wait in line for Lawsons?

L-Pours a very slightly hazy caramel. An moderate pour leads to a 2 finger white fluffy head. Lacing is sticky and moderate in volume.
S-There is some grapefruit presence, but it is really driven bye the Rye presence which quickly takes over.
T- Much like the nose there is an interplay between the grapefruity bitteness and the spicy rye. Again like the nose the bitterness hits first with the rye at the backend. Here the grapefruit bitterness is the more dominant.
F- The feel here is smooth, coating, and almost oily. The carbonation is low medium and the overall mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full. This is the second IIPA I've had from Frost, and they've really nailed the mouthfeel on both.
O- The beer does a nice job of using the rye as a counterpoint to the hop bitterness and I enjoyed it. That said the 90 IBU's are on the upper limit of my enjoyment level. Hop heads who also enjoy Rye will certainly enjoy this beer.