Karl Strauss Holiday Beer (Rye IPA)

On tap at the Karl Strauss Brew Pub in La Jolla, CA. 13oz glass. Poured a medium and hazy amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of rye, some spiciness, and citrus. Tastes of the same spicy rye bread with a grapefruit bitter finish. Body a little on the thinner side. Dry and clean finish. Actually, not that bad of a Rye or IPA.

On tap at Sorrento location (6/20). This was a really nice IPA, which I wasn’t really expecting to find. Poured clear amber with a small white head. Aroma of citrus and pine hops with some light rye. Taste is well balanced between rye, toast, & malt and the hops. Body was medium bodied with some mild carbonation.

Looks better than it tastes...a bit rough. Rip off a chunk of marbled rye, soak up a bit of grapefruit juice, and start chewing. Yeah, doesn’t sound appetizing to me either.

On tap at Churchill’s. Pours golden amber, clearish, with a thin white head, specks of lace. Smells citrusy hoppy and somewhat astringent. Tastes citrusy and light with a good amount of grain flavor as well, grassy. Medium/thin body, good vibrant carbonation.

On tap at Universal Location, labeled as Rye IPA 7% ABV. Its seems to me that this beer is Rye based DIPA by flavor, but I can’t confirm. Either way, my favorite beer from lunch. Ultra floral and grapefruit aroma with plenty of spiceyness. Golden body with a long lasting, white head, great lacing. Well balanced IPA (DIPA?) with plenty of malty caramel sweetness and floral hoppiness. Slight rochefort in the taste. Fizzyish and watery mouthfeel. Notes say it contains plenty of Phoenix hops, which work well in this.

Pours copper with a thick white head. Heavy rye aroma with some grapefruit and pine. Toasted rye bread and grapefruit in the taste, kind of harsh. Sweet caramel and citrus finish. Different, but not really that good.

~Pours orange, off white head, some lacing. ~Citrusy grapefruit hoppy scent. ~Strong citrusy hop taste, ~Feels astringent and acidic. ~ I guessed I missed the rye in this one. It’s decent. Seems too citrusy and acidic.

On Cask at PB TapRoom. Cloudy amber-bronze color with a thick and creamy beige head that left spot and strings of lace. Aroma of brash hops, with florals and pine foremost, rye notes, mixed with toasty malts. Flavor is that of a nice hoppy west coast IPA, with the added tangy dryness of rye, more of the pine notes, with citrus rind and a bit of spice in the finish. Medium body, smooth and creamy cask carbonation. Quite nice.