Smuttynose Julio’s Ry(e)an Ale

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Specialty Grain
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Serve in Shaker, Tumbler

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Thanks to Skyview! Copper color with no head. Light aroma of apple and oak. Strong malt and bourbony flavor. Light oak/vanilla.

There is some sour rye in the flavor. Brown sugar and bourbon, which makes this hot on the palate, and also a fairly thick beer. Very little carbonation. The bourbon works about as well as bourbon can work in a beer.

(22oz bottle, courtesy of Exiled) Pours a clear amber body with a medium beige head. Aroma of vanilla, bourbon, citrus, oak, caramel, and rye. Flavor of vanilla, bourbon, rye, pepper, caramel, and citrus.

Deep amber pour and a thin white head. The nose is peppery and a bit sharp. A bit of unusual woody character. The palate has a whole lot of rye character. A touch of peppery flavour and a spicy sweetness. Lingering chewy palate and a long earthy/spicy finish. Decent but it doesn’t really come together like it could.

Bourbon and rye come through big in the nose: vanilla, light vegetal. I am less enamored of the flavor. Almost too much rye (I can’t believe I just typed that!) and has a slightly sour note in the finish. I would probably prefer a little more sweetness to hang all that barrel-aged character on.

UPDATED: NOV 4, 2010 Rerate! Purchased $8.99 from Julio’s 10/29/10--they had many cases left. Clear medium dark brown with a one finger medium beige head, fair retention. Bourbon caramel nose with some light cherry tang following as well as a little tobacco. Flavor is much the same with some spicy rye added. It’s very much barrel forward, light to moderate sweetness, less tobacco. Finishes semi-dry with low bitterness peaking at a 3, light alcohol presence. Moderate carbonation with a full body. Not too bad. New rating 7-4-7-4-13--3.5. Old rating follows. 22oz, bottle, thanks to Terry for sharing. Clear ruby brown with a couple finger beige head good retention. Lots o bourbon up front with plenty of spicy rye bourbony notes, some sweet caramel. . Flavor has tons of barrel influence, maybe a bit overdone, a little vanilla-y. Bitterness peaked at a 4, dry finish. Not bad, but too much barrel. 8-4-7-3-13--3.5

Bottle share thanks Skyview. Pour was caramel in color and was hazy. Aroma boozy dried fruit with roasted malt. Taste bourbon sweetness and caramel. Palate slick and sticky with a dry finish.

22 fl oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a huge tan head. Aroma is roasted malty and slight fruity. Caramelish and roasted malty. Lingering dark caramelish and slight roasted. Dark malty and roasted finish. Slight bitter.

Sample thanks to Skyview. Hazy dark brown pour, no carbonation and a funky subtle apple and booze aroma. Flavor is plenty of bourbon, herbs and finished syrupy and boozy. Very good beer, but just not too much complexity to make it really interesting.

22oz bottle Thanks grownfool @PreJam Gathering-pours a tan head and amber color. Aroma is bourbon/wood, dark fruit. Taste is bourbon/wood, dark fruit, medium malt.