Rye Whiskey Barrel Imperial Oatmeal Black Lager
Matanuska Brewing

maybe my favorite matanuska beer to date, awesome little bottles with the wax too, they do a bourbon version as well, but i reckon this rye barrel edition is where its at. love the combination of styles here, pretty inventive to toss a little oatmeal into the mix in a traditionally german style, i think the contribution there is evident, yet it still has a european grain complexion to me, and its not too strong that the booze drives it, the lager yeast is still in play, and the oak is there as much as the rye itself. i also love that its specifically rye to me in nose and taste, less sweet than bourbon, less of that vanilla character, instead its drier, more earthy and spicy, and with some long peppery linger, just a little burn, but the rye sets up the huge dark grain base super well, roasty and even a hint smoked to me, milk and dark chocolate, perhaps raisin as well. the oak is sturdy and enriching without a big sugary backdrop which is so common in these, and the alcohol hanging a little lower is cool too. the oats add a lot here, this is smooth and fuller, but still evidently a lager, not without some textural crispness for what it is. a little light on carbonation but that matters less in a style like this, and overall i both commend the innovation and admire the execution. would love to try the bourbon edition as well, but the rye is a huge part of what makes this special. well done!