Free State Black Eye Rye

Growler. Pours black with burgundy highlights and a finger of creamy beige head that diminishes with time. The nose is of chocolaty malt and spicy rye...simple but pleasurable. Light to medium-bodied and slightly grainy it finishes with a spicy and lightly astringent finish. The flavor features a forward spicy rye note up front with an ashy, baker’s chocolate malt note in support. This is a solid session beer that highlights the use of rye better than most of the ryes that I have sampled. Having said that, that could be to its detriment, overall. If you aren’t particularly fond of rye, this one might be a bit too much for you.

Date: February 25, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub
Appearance: clear dark ruby red, fine beige head, spidery lace
Aroma: dark chocolate aroma with a light spicyness and floral character
Flavor: sweet dark caramel flavor, nice roasted character, light earthyness with the rye makes for a dry finish, light bitter finish
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Growler, via kp. Filled 11 days previous. Pour is clear cordovan, more towards the ruby side of the color. 1/4 inch beige head - ok lacing. Aroma of roasty maltiness, smoky peatiness and the rye. Taste is smoky charred malt, and a sharp grainy flavor. The rye is present in the finish and lingers really long. Perhaps longer than I would like. The peat also appears near the back. Palate is relatively flat, thin to medium, long rye finish as mentioned. Drinkable, and interesting beer. Thanks for bringing this to me Keith!

Taster at the brewpub. Color is black, has a small khaki head. Aroma is clean German matls with light roast and a bit of effervescence (for me it is wheat but i guess its the rye). Taste has slight roast again which is offset by the effervescent rye again. Its a cool schwar (or it could be a stout, but I am thinking schwarz) with that side component of rye.