Three Floyds Ham on Rye

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Smoked
Munster, Indiana USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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Tap at Beer Geeks. Not your normal beer by any means. Very light and smokey. Leaves a hammy after taste. Different. =)

Growler. Pours mahogany with a tan head. Smells of smoke, caramel, ash, peppery. Tastes of smoke, some sweet undertones, spicy, breaddy with more smoke on the finish.

Tap at fff. Nice clean meaty ham, smoked salmon smoke, breads. Doughy. Creamy caramel campfire toast. Good beer.

16 ounce pour at the Three Floyds brewery. I heard that this is a collaboration from the brewers at Piece Brewery and FFF, and they both know their stuff. It’s complex and unique in flavor. With every sip you can nail down a different ingredient - each identifiable but they all nicely complement one another. Not your average beer and worth the trip to the brewery.

On tap at the brewpub. Tasty but rather uninteresting in the beginning and middle. Ends perfectly smokey and slightly hoppy. I’d enjoy a maltier middle I think. Still really tastey.

On tap at FFF. Pour is dark amber with a modest off white head. Delicate for a ham beer? Why yes it is. Florals on the nose. Light ham and campfire aromas but mild. Mild to the point that this brew is atypical of a FFF brew. Its no aecht schlenkerla, how’s that? Either way. Drinkable. Nice. Floral bouquet with a bit of smoked ham. Nice!

On tap at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL. Pours a cloudy, deeper amber-copper colored body with a finger-width, dense and creamy, tan head that dissipates slowly and leaves a nice lacing throughout. Aroma is full of smoke and meat with a light caramel sweetness to balance. Some dark fruits, rye spice, and some spicier hops. Flavor is similar. Lightly sweetened caramels, some bready rye spice, lots of smoke, dark fruits, and a touch of herbal hops. Finishes smooth and slightly dry with a very light, spicy bitterness and a moderate amount of smoke and bready caramels in a lengthy aftertaste. Medium-thin body and a moderate carbonation. Overall, a pretty solid smoked beer. Well balanced and tasty. Nothing too crazy, but very enjoyable.

2 oz. taster at Bavarian Lodge. Cloudy—dare I say "smoky"—brown, with very little foam. Smoke in the nose is more of a Gouda with rind on than a ham. Very low carbonation, did not find out if this was on cask or not, but the lessened bubble do in fact fit the taste. Keeps the smoky taste smooth, again like a gouda cheese. I even got some sherry and fruity wine notes. Plays well with all parts of my tongue, not harsh like some smoke beers. Rye spiciness in the mash figures nicely, too.

From notes, 12/2009. Collaboration between FFF and Jonathan Cutler of Piece Brewery in Chicago. A rye beer brewed with smoked malt. As a demi-vegetarian, I almost felt guilty drinking this. Caramelized amber with a one finger lightly tanned head. Like bread. The beer leaves minimal lacing. Aroma is where this beer wins. Bready malt, rye, and a nice smokiness. I’m not much on rauchbiers, but the smoke in this one is honest-to-God like smelling cured ham. Spicy and sweet, this is a fine nose. The taste is good, but it isn’t quite as Ham on Rye as the nose is. Sweeter caramel malts with smoke lingering in the background. Some spicy hop presence. Medium-bodied with a nice creaminess. Easy to drink, and a nice complement to a good meal. When I saw the name on the menu, I had to try it, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Appearance: clear deep copper under a puffy white head which slowly crawls up the sides of my glass.
Nose: gentle smoke. Cedar chips. Touch of spice in the back tickles. Massive loaves of freshly baked and cooling rye bread happily dominate the middle. Apple chips in the back; crunchy and sweet.
Palate: smooth and bready. Chewy rye breads up front and in the middle with smoke smooth and long in the back. Clean finish and mouthfeel; medium. Apples mingle in the middle with the rye bread. Exquisitely quaffable. Touch of meatiness in the middle complemented by the smoke; bacon. Only bitterness is from apple skins.
Final Thoughts: I love smoke, though it can be an acquired love it/leave it for some. Whether subtle such as this or BAM in your face, I’ll take my smoke both ways thankyouverymuch. A tasty brew enjoyed in the cozy confines of the 3Floyds Brewpub. Indeed, life is good.