Rye 71
Against The Grain Brewery

 

 

 

 

Drank this out of a blue glass so I couldn't really see how it looked besides for the great lasting head and lacing. The smell was fantastic with a spice rye hop smell. Has a good bitter hoppy citrus taste. Great medium body with medium carbonation. Fantastic beer that'd get again!

 

 

Citrusy aroma, rye bite on the lightly peppery finish. A tad bitter. Nice toasted malt presence. And great grapefruit and pith notes. Interesting brew!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a taste of grit and grain, Against the grain takes us on a hoppy journey that's a bit off the beaten path. With the foundation of American IPA as its springboard, they aren't simply content with the commonly treaded recipe but uses elements of Belgium and Germany for decoration and detail.

The hazy and dark amber ale unleashes a burst of hops immediately. Aromas of white grapefruit, a fruity-floral bouquet, spicy herb and torn pine needles both tease and pang at the olfactory. But initial taste is malty-dry with caramel, biscuit and husk.

The middle lightens in the malt department as the sweetness recedes and allow the hops to take fuller command. Still, a fruity-floral sense remains with notions of marmalade and honey drizzle. The spicy hops link up seamlessly with rye spice for a special zing that hits on the front of the mouth and spreads from there. Grapefruit, orange and pineapple trend bitter, stemmy and pleasantly vegetative.

And its that herbal tea-like presence that fuels full dryness and the unique peppery bite of rye. With trailing sweetness and creaminess- final impressions are crisp, clean and highly refreshing. While echoes of orange peel revisit the senses, its the snappy rye character and yeast-derived spice that give the hops that extra umph to set the strudily headed beer apart from the common American IPA