Rye'd in Style (2x4 Series)
Four City Brewing Company

 

Pretty impressive anniversary stout from a brewery not all that far from me which I’d nonetheless never heard of. The body is on the thinner side here and the inky black pour shows it, with a very short lived fizzy head and almost no lacing. While I’d enjoy just a little more heft, I appreciated the lean drinkability and the way this beer avoids sticky cloying excess. Aroma is pleasant and fairly complex with chocolate, coffee, vanilla and whiskey notes.

I believe this beer is about two months old and still presents a tasty coffee note prominently on the palate, with secondary chocolate and vanilla flavors. The rye whiskey treatment is assertive and one gets not only boozy heat but some dry, woody, and spicy characteristics as well. Finish lingers with whiskey and a hint of chocolate syrup and marshmallow on the swallow which soon fade, leaving a dry overall impression.

I really enjoyed this. If you’re not a whiskey fan this might feel a bit overshadowed by the aggressive barrel treatment and lengthy aging. That appealed to me though, and I also enjoyed the way the added flavorings were integrated, well balanced, and steered clear of the sugary pastry approach so many others would take with a beer like this.