Rival Rye
FrinGe Brewing

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium bronze amber with red tints and a one finger off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, red berries, toffee, light rye tartness and a hint of citrus hops. Flavor is pale and biscuit malt, citrus and piney hops, rye, mild red berries and pepper with a hint of caramel. Light rye tartness and unfolding hop bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. What an interesting ale! The aroma is nearly spot-on Irish red ale with its fruit flavors; color is very red ale looking too. Flavor is closer to a classic rye ale, but with some of the fruit notes from a red ale, although not as forward as the aroma. Hops have a faint citrus and piney character, but the deep rye malt masks much herbal hop character. But that's not an issue because this really delivers on the rye content. Labelled as a rye IPA, I have to agree. Most stellar local rye ales are well hopped, but I think this is a distinct style; it's not a classic rye ale nor a traditional IPA. This hybrid is a flavorful and well balanced rye experience. Well done. I'd really like to see this again.