Let It Rye
1623 Brewing Company

a rye kolsch??? i like rye IPA's and i like kolsches, so i definitely had to give it a try.

appearance: dark amber with golden highlights. pours with a short bone white head. the head is frothy and loose. after about 2 minutes it sinks down to a lovely cap. no lacing to speak of.

smell: spice, toasted bread, and slightly herbal. hints of grass and straw follow. smells kind of like a pilsner but with the extra oomph of the spicy rye.

taste: classic rye, with a twist. spice and bread lead, with a biscuity sweetness in the middle, melding wonderfully. the bitterness only really comes in towards the end and lingers in the finish, nicely wrapping up the experience. surprisingly clean and crisp throughout.

feel: medium body. to me, kolsches have always been like a lager but smoother and creamier, and this fits that bill quite well. solid, dense carbonation, combined with a moderately thick but not very viscous liquid. slightly dry.

overall: i said it before, and i'll reiterate: i like kolsches and i like rye IPAs, and this combines the best of both worlds. lovely rye flavor with a crisp taste and creamy feel. clocking in at 4.8% means this is very easy to drink without getting too turnt, and i'll definitely be going back for more.

5 oz pour at the brewery. A rye Kölsch is kind of a weird idea, but it works pretty well - a dry, crisp beer with spicy and slightly earthy or floral notes. It made me want to drink a full pour just to see whether I still liked it as much after a while.