Free State Blue Sky Rye

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

Sampled from 64-oz growler during Darkness Day 2009 in Brooklyn Center, MN. Pours a semi-clear amber colored brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to a thin head with some spotty lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, some dry spice, a hint of citrus and some rye. Taste is medium bodied, slightly dry with flavors of toasted caramel malt with rye, citrus zest, some light bubblegum. Finish is semi-dry with a toasted dark bread aftertaste and some mild bitterness.

Draft at Free State. Pours an amber body with a white head. Pine, rye, grapefruit, some dank malts. Over ripe fruit, butter and a bitter end. Eh.

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.

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.

On tap at the brewpub
Pours dark red, almost brown. Thick tan head.
Spice rye aroma with a nice dose of hops.
Big rye flavor, with some fruity hop flavor and mild bitterness.
Medium body. Average carbonation. Dry finish.
Not really a stand out beer, but really a pleasant drink.

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.

Growler courtesy of mreusch. Pours a translucent copper with a finger of creamy, beige head. The nose is a pleasant blend of of fruity pale malt, light caramel and rye. Medium-bodied and soft (almost creamy) with a lightly dry, bitter finish. Sweet pale malt, caramel and rye notes up front with a somewhat toasty finish complimented by earthy, bitter hops. A light blend of hops and rye linger in the aftertaste. This is a pretty nice session brew. Thanks for picking it up for me, Matt!

Old rating. On tap @ Dansting’s-Thanks! Reddish copper color with a dark khaki head. Aroma is sweet rye, fragrant fruity hops. Taste is earthy rye, woodsy, and moderately hoppy. Finish is moderately bitter.