Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Denver, Colorado USA

12oz bottle pours deep clear copper with short lived white head. The first impression of the nose and flavor is, Lager-y. In the aroma I get vague sugary sweetness becoming slightly hard cherry candy mixing with slight caramel malts and an inviting level of grains on a deep pull. The taste begins sweet with a mix of caramel malts, a bit of crystal, sweet sugary floral hops and some bright red cherry candy. By midway it picks up a bit of rye spiciness that can burp up with a pleasing sensation of aroma and taste. It sweetens out into the finish with the addition of a thin layer of dates and prunes.

Appearance is amber with thin white head. Aroma isn’t very strong, slightly earthy and some malt in the nose. Taste is where I have issues. Rye seems to overpower the flavor to me and not in a good way. I just don’t think the marzen style takes on the rye flavor very well. Worthy experiment, just not for me.

I can see the old lady from the Wendy’s ads years ago...."Wheres the Rye?" In all fairness this is a very drinkable brew, bready malty etc Just not what I expected.

Pours from the bottle a clean red-orange color with a very bit fluffy, white head that is thick and stick around for a good amount of time. Nose is overall kinda faint. The lager yeast provides a typical lager yeasty nose, mild Vienna toasted malt presence, rye is very faint with a light spicy noble hops nose. Flavor has a very solid toasted malt presence, lots of solid rye note to compliment the toasted notes, hops is very earthy with a spicy noble hops presence toward the end. Moderate to heavy body with a very clean and crisp texture and low, fine carbonation that gives a head that leaves great lacing. Overall a very well done beer in that the toasted malt notes compliment the rye perfectly.

Picked up today at The Foodery. 12oz bottled on 9/3/09. Pours a clear dark golden orange color with lots of visible carbonation bubbling up and a .5 finger white head that quickly fades into a lasting ring. Toasty malt aroma with hints of sweet caramel and rye along with some subtle spice and dark fruit. Slightly earthy with hints of sour dark cherry complimenting the roasted malt character. Softly carbonated up front with a medium body that has a nice balance of roasted malt sweetness, earthy bitterness and sweet dark fruit. Very clean and crisp with a slightly dry finish. Toasted caramel malt with prominent rye flavor which is balance by a slight earthy tartness. Hints of sour dark cherry add to the sweetness and balances this beer out pretty nicely. The alcohol is well masked and none of the flavors are overpowering making this beer pretty quaffable. Decent "session" beer if you can call it that at 6.2%.

12oz bottle. Medium off-white head atop crystal clear amber body. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, some bread/toast, earthy, cherry, light orange, rye. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, rye spicy, some earthy, cherry/raisin, light nut/salt. Medium boy, somewhat sticky. A bit too sweet, but decent otherwise.

Pale amber pour. The nose is fairly clean with a kiss of light spice. The nose is fairly clean though with a touch of crackery malt in evidence. The flavour is actually quite spicy with a touch of fruity character. It is a little bit doughy with a kiss of light sweetness. As it warms up a very distinct noble hoppiness picks up. Light spice from both the rye malt and the hops. A bit of light lemon and a really well-made beer. Damn tasty.

Bottle pours a hazy, but radiant, orange body with a medium beige head. Aroma is bready and toasty caramel with a hint of spicy hops. Creamy carbonation and a medium body. Taste features bready toasted caramel, spicy hops, and some pumpernickel. Lots of earthy rye malt sets this marzen apart. Nice one, if you’re a fan of rye.