Free State Blue Sky Rye

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Specialty Grain
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Draught. Malty, grainy aroma, showing hints of the rye, along with some light citrus and faint hop spice, some herbal tinges present as well. Deep copper color, clear, with a slight head but nice lacing to go along. Fruity, lightly tart, spicy flavors, some grapefruit and lemon, along with a drying bitterness that belies its low IBU count. Some husky grains and a a faint nuttiness noted as well, so is more malty than hoppy, ultimately. Some faint brown sugar flavor, but low sweetness detected, toasty and with some lingering bitterness and rye character. Smooth, lightly oily palate, body is light-medium. Very easy to quaff. Overall shows some respectable rye quality. As it warms, gains a touch of sweetness and even a hint of bubblegum. Not bad.

From the tap, the beverage was medium amber in color with a small fizzy white head that was mostly diminishing but left some lacing on the glass. The aroma was lightly malty with significant notes of rye and floral hops. It had a medium body with fizzy carbonation and a watery texture. The flavor starts out lightly sweet but takes on a light bitterness as the flavor matures through the medium-long finish.

Tap, at the brewpub. Orangish red pour, with a fairly small off white head. Aroma is nutty and hoppy, and a bit of heavy grain (I will assume this is the Rye). Taste is bready with some tart sweetness towards the end. Something was not 100% right with this one, though still quite drinkable.

Draft: Orange rust. Creamy condensed white foam. Aroma consists of toasted nuts, floral hops, caramel, and pumpernickel. Hints of diacetyl. Silky carbonation gently pricks the palate. Smoothly toasty malt structure seamlessly blends with a snappily spicy hop backing. Quite succulent, as well, with soft underlying floral suggestions and ripe fruity ester hints. Rich malt flavors continue to inundate the palate to complement the snappy minerals. Leafy-hop acidity counteracts the sweetness before finishing with a marvelously balanced arrangement of sweetly nutty toast and a boisterous echo of juicy hops. This is a top-notch session brew.

Crisp malt accentuated by maple syrup and pecans. Flavor is bready and lightly floral, with a subtle yeastiness (different from their usual strain, it tastes like, to me). Light toasty finish with a sour rye note. Perfect lacing and nice lasting froth. Would be a terrific session beer. Wish I’d gotten a growler.

On Tap: A very nice beer. Feel fortunate to be the first to rate it. Had a nice definite hoppy flavor to it, as well as aroma. A very good beer, one of Free State’s best, which is saying a lot.