Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye Ale

Brewed by Bear Republic Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Healdsburg, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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An interesting beer that combines elements of the IPA and Amber Ale style, with the charecteristic crisp, dry rye flavor at the end. The hop nose is all classic American C-hop, with a finish of grains and bitterness. A great hybrid beer, and an interesting American IPA.

UPDATED: FEB 15, 2004 (Rerate): Really appreciated this more the second time (and I gave it a 4.3 the first time!) Really thought the bottled version was better than draft...the flavor was near perfect and the body was perfect. (Original Rating): Had at the brewpub in Healdsburg. Poured a wonderful ruby color with hints of brown. Excellent lacing and a nice tan creamy head. Aroma is basically that of an IPA. Lots of citrus and floral notes. The taste is all IPA up front with interesting rye flavors after the swallow. Great mouthfeel and medium dry finish. Very surprised with this excellent brew.

Pours a deep mahogany, with a huge tan head that lasts, lacing very nicely. Aroma is big fresh hoppiness, slight smokiness, and maybe a hint of rye in the back. Flavor has a tinge of smoke, an even smaller tinge of rye, and a huge wallopping hop attack, very bitter, a little spicey, and lingering on just about forever. Medium to full bodied, lightl hints of alcohol on the 2nd half of the bottle. A tasty and large brew (maybe a RyePA?)

The deep amber body of this brew is topped by a thin to medium thick off-white head with lots of lace left behind. The aroma is slightly sweet and citrusy (grapefruit and lemons) from the hops with a slight maltiness in the background. The hoppy flavor is sweet yet slightly bitter and grapefruity with a slight sourness and a touch of rye and malt. Medium bodied, smooth and slightly dry.

Poured a rich red/copper color with a creamy tan head. Aroma reminded me of a barleywine- strong caramel/toffee malts, but with grapefruit and pine hop presence. The sip begins with strong, caramely malt followed by dashes of grapefruit and pine, tangy, bitter rye and a very bitter hops aftertaste. Body was the perfect consistency for the style. I did not find the hops to be dominating or overwhelming.

Enjoyed this one a few times and would even more if it were available here. Can sure taste the rye ... and hops for sure. What a pleasant combination. Not wild or crazy, but different all the same. Previously had a bottle, this was a draught and both hit the spot.

UPDATED: DEC 20, 2004 (draught) Deep chestnut-amber; nice, slim & dense white head, good lace. Superb hoppy nose with restrained pinewood or tree-like notes, like stepping out under the canopy of a cool mixed forest. Quite hoppy taste, hop-oil character. There’s quite some malt underneath, but it gets overwhelmed all the same. Well bodied. The finish and texture are a little thinner - the overt hop character? I had hoped for a somewhat less hard taste, and the nose certainly promessed such. Can’t win them all. <P> bottled 12/04 Seem to get more tobacco and freshly roasted coffeebean notes, ending in a chicory-like bitterness. </P>

A gorgeous dark ruby hued ale. Aroma was similar to that of Bigfoot -- strong malt and hop balance. Incredible sticky texture. I am a fan of rye ales, especially when they are not using the grain as a gimmick. An incredibly flavorful, multi-dimensional brew.

Deep ruddy amber hue. Sticky light tan head. Fruity resinous nose. Starts with sweet malts, light caramel, maybe even cherries. Medium oily body. Musty, earthy, dirty hops, slap-in-the-face hop bitteness. Big hop burps from this one. A unique rye spiciness to this one, very delicious, very drinkable, and very nice. Now available in Massachusetts!

A deep amber color, with a cream-tan head. This beer is quite clear from the get go. It has a spicy hoppy aroma to it with notes of lychee and grapefruit. The first thought after taking a sip was that this beer is redolent of a hop syrup. This is all about the American hops. As for the rye, maybe there is a certain fullness/ silkiness fro the rye, but it is not all that evident, the hops overpower any taste that one might get from the rye character as well. This beer is big bodied though, and it is pretty good.