Notes: 6/13/15: Brew day for this one. Was originally going to be aged on cedar but we decided to keep it simpler here. In fact, simplicity is the name of the entire game with this: single-hopped with Amarillo and with a basic 50/30/20 ratio grist, it should end up being light in color, light-medium in body and with a tropical, floral and spicy aroma and flavor.
We are brewing a counterpart single gallon version of this with 100% rye malt and the same hop schedule apart from a hefty dose of dry-hopping (also Amarillo). Should be interesting to see how differently they come out.
6/20/15: Pulled a sample to take a reading a week after fermentation began and we seem to have nailed this beer! Perfectly hit our terminal gravity. Nose is vibrant with floral and juicy Amarillo hops but also possesses a strongly spicy rye edge. On the tongue, it's light bodied with bright and flavorful hops that finishes with a quenching and surprisingly-dry earthy and malty note. Very well balanced and eminently drinkable. Excited for this to be bottled and track its evolution!
9/4/15: FINALLY opening one to write about. This was probably one of our simplest brew days and easiest, fastest ferments so far. It's been conditioning for a long time and, though I've had a few bottles and we've split them and discussed them before, I feel that it's come into its own after a few months in the bottle. Color is brilliant golden-yellow and the beer presents with a sparse ring of foam on the collar that sticks around indefinitely. Hazy surface with small clustered bubbles and heavy opacity when held up to the light. The nose is spicy and funky in a way that only rye can be, but it also has some distinct floral and hoppy notes from the Amarillo single-hopping. Crushable, distinct and with a nice, smooth and rather full body. No off flavors and nothing crazy... just a well-rounded, flavorful rye beer made for simple times. We're proud of this one and will probably tweak the recipe and brew some variations, as it could definitely be a good blank slate for interesting/deviant ideas. -A |
