Rock's Rye
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

 

I just came across a few notes that I made from reviews at Great Lakes Brewing Company this winter. Here we go

Appearance: Light golden yellow with a lasting white head. Only a slight amount of cloudiness, but this doesn't last long. There is only a very slight amount of lacing after the beer is consumed.

Aroma: The contribution of the Rye is apparent right away. There is a slight amount of lemony malt and hop presence that mixes pretty well with the Rye aromatics.

Taste: The Rye is unmistakable and adds an unusual flavor when used in this quantity. There is some citrusy and slightly floral hops here that accent the Rye well. The malt is reserved, but the Rye malt leads the finish over the hops.

Opinion: This is a pretty good beer overall. I like how the flavors blend to make a rather unusual experience for the palate. I also like that it doesn't have the yeast driven phenolics of many Rye examples that use the Weizen yeast. It is pretty good, but not my cup of tea overall.

A- A light brown or maybe a rich honey in color. Really nice and clear. Not very much head at all and little lacing.

S- Not very much rye at all compared to others I've drank. Maybe a yeasty smell or bread but not a whole lot.

T- Not a whole lot jumped out at me on this one. I could pick up a tiny bit of rye and some sweet malts.

M- Medium body with a good amount of carbonation.

D- I'd say easy to drink. I've had this one on two different occasions. Not my favorite from GLBC but its alright and worthy of a try.

Appearance - deep golden color, possible deepened by muted lighting in the bar. Thinnish white cap spreads out to a patchy cover, maintaining a small, steady collar.

Aroma - bare and brief touch of grain and some associated sweetness. Nothing rye or otherwise noteworthy here.

Taste - very light rye presence...I think. I don't think I could detect it blind. It's tasty with some late roasted elements and some hop balance. Finishes with part sweet wetness, part hop dryness, though neither one has much volume. A very safe pick for the unsure.

Mouthfeel - to the thin side; crisp and refreshing.

Drinkability - I'm thinking this is their beer for the cross-over crowd. Not the head-turner like the rest of their taps, but one they would have year-round to ease the macro drinkers into a better existence. Certainly easy to drink and very sessionably safe at 5.7%, but the other taps are calling to me...

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a clear honey color but little head and no lacing; something going wrong with the carbonation on this one compared to the other beers on tap

Smell: Biscuity aroma

Taste: Sweet and biscuity malt up front with some sour rye elements that arrive mid-palate to make things a little interesting

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation

Drinkability: Totally unexpected for a rye ale; sweet and malty with only some vague rye elements

Had this at the GLBC last night as it is another of their on-tap only "pub exclusives". Served to me in a pint glass. Pours a light golden color with a white head about 1/4 of an inch thick when poured. Settles to a decent surface layer with ok lacing. Slightly sweet, malty aromas were present with some hints of rye and slight hop notes. The taste is pretty much as the smell. A bit bland and sort of a let down from GLBC with this beer here. It has a medium bodied, crisp and smooth mouth feel with moderate carbonation. Easy to drink. Worth a try but nothing special here.

Eric

Poured a crystal clear golden color with a nice big foamy white head. The aroma was pretty blank with some straw barley notes, slight sweetness, and faint fruit. No rye notes what so ever in the flavor and in fact tasted like an MGD. Some corn sugar sweetness and rice. Its like they forgot the rye? I don’t know GLBC, I was very let down on this one. Didn’t even feel like finishing it.