Modern Country
Tonewood Brewing - Barrington

An opinion is there aren't enough rye beers, regardless of style. Rye probably works best in IPAs and Stouts, but it probably can't hurt a lager. The pour that emptied the entire contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug revealed a very commercially produced American lager in appearance. Sufficient stark white head on top of a nearly clear brightly, but slightly colored amber liquid makes the picture. It smells like an American Adjunct Lager, with mild hops, malt and yeast, perhaps with a little more grassiness. It doesn't taste much more complicated than the ordinary American Lager, but there's a welcomed hoppy bite and a slightly better mouthfeel that most of those don't provide. Somehow, rye seems to add a little more smoothness to the body than if it weren't included. It probably isn't the inclusion of the rye to give this a better hoppier version of an American Lager, but it certainly adds to the taste layer and smoothness. For a lager, this is remarkably tasty and it actually has some body. It's a little more bitter than most commercial lagers, but the rye adds a little more smoothness and taste layer to compensate. Overall, it's a good addition to the rye family.

(16 oz can, purchased a cold 4-pack from Barrington maybe a month ago... poured into a tubinger mug... reviewed from memory, having had a can a few days ago and others over the past few weeks)

'Rye beer' should be like rye whiskey - at least 50% of the grain bill; this is essentially a rye-tinged helles... puts up a solid, spongy foam atop a subtly-hazy, straw gold liquid... dry grain on the nose with hints of bread crust and malt sugars... similiar in taste, with a delicate tinge of underlying earthy rye... soft and foamy in texture, undercut with a thin layer of oily crispness... it's more or less a helles colored with a supporting grain; good stuff, but not a repeat package buy, though I would like to sample this on lukr (2432)

Light gold very clear appearance
Would say the body as well the carbonation both hover around medium
Aroma is a nice strong hit of yeasty bread, crusty toast, cereal and grain.
Taste doesn't stray too far from the aroma.
Overall a really well done beer

16-ounce can courtesy of @jonphisher. Enjoyed in a half-liter Becher glass.

Look:
The body is a slightly hazy golden yellow. Great color. The bright white foam lasts into the bottom half of the glass and leaves plenty of lacing in its path.

Smell:
The nose is rather helles-like, with lots of toasty and mildly sweet malt. I also smell floral hops and subtle spicy notes of dried orange peel. I don't smell any rye, though, even after the beer warms.

Taste:
The taste starts with bready malt that's a notch or two sweeter than the nose suggested. It dries out a bit in the middle, with notes of unsweetened tea, lemon peel, wheat toast, and a pinch of something earthy. The finish is crisp, semi-sweet, and softly bitter. Some warm and spicy rye comes through at the end of the aftertaste, and it is very much worth waiting for.

Feel:
Really nice feel to this beer. Medium-bodied and a little creamy, with spirited carbonation.

Overall:
While I wish the rye were a bit more prominent, this is still another winner from Tonewood Brewing. It has an excellent nose, a tasty collection of toasty malt flavors, and offers marvelous drinkability. When the rye finally comes through, it's wonderful.

 

 

Pours a translucent straw gold with a two-finger bright white head that leaves a coating. A bit of sediment left in the can that after letting it warm and pouring into the beer leaves everything cloudy (and as expected ramps up the aroma and flavor).


What a blend of aromas: grapefruit, deciduous forest, wildflower meadow, spicy rye, fresh bread.

The taste for me starts out all Pilsner. Fresh-baked bread drizzled with honey, biscuit, cracker, all with a herbal note. Through the middle honey sweetness and floral notes come to the fore, setting up nicely for the big rye kick at the finish. Through the aftertaste I get earth, wood, and rye bitterness that leaves you ready for the next sip.

Despite the great taste, the feel may be the best part. It's simultaneously smooth, coating, creamy, and effervescent. Feels heavier bodied than it is. It's not nearly as thick, but the same kind of feel as mango juice.

Overall, this is simply fantastic. It's got a bit of everything. Sweet, earthy, woody, floral, bready, plus rye. And that texture! Pilsner? Nah, they should make this their house beer and call it Oaklyner.

Pours a cloudy but see-through dirty straw; white head, good cohesion; thick cap that sticks around for a while; some nice lacing.

The nose is absolutely beautiful; it’s intoxicating to me; rustic bread, lightly toasted, soft herbal notes, a touch of spice.

Taste is much like the nose; their is bread like but real; three ingredient bread with real crust; the softest of herbal character, gently lingers in the foreground allowing the malt to shine; sort of morphs into floral-land before rye pops on the finish; noticeable but well balanced, upon warming some more hop character shows; citrus without the sweet and aromatic side.

The mouthfeel is so smooth and creamy; but the carbonation is vibrant, it’s a very nice combination; light body; this beer is so clean on the finish, goes down like water; nice little restrained bitter bite to go with it.

This beer represents perfect balance across the board; what a drinkable beautiful beer.