Category: Beer News, Beers

The origin of Rye on Rye can be traced back to 2009 when we had the opportunity to add freshly emptied Templeton Rye casks to our barrel collection. At the time we agreed to purchase the barrels, we didn’t have a beer in mind, but Brewmaster Steven Pauwels and our brewing and quality teams quickly decided it would be interesting (and ultimately crazy delicious) to explore what would happen to a giant, tawny rye beer if we aged it in wet rye whiskey barrels following primary fermentation.

The 2019 release, Rye on Rye 6, is extra special - thanks to some fantastic barrels from our friends in Iowa. Templeton Rye is typically barrel-aged for at least four years. Occasionally, however, a special batch is allowed to slumber for two more. To our great good fortune, a truckload of those six-year barrels found their way to us. This tawny celebration of spicy rye malt and rye whiskey delivers notes of vanilla and charred oak with a delightful, boozy sweetness.

Pouring deep garnet in color, Rye on Rye 6 pops with aromas of spicy, fruity rye malt with equally present notes of rye whiskey, vanilla, toffee and charred oak. Certainly warming at 12.9% ABV, Rye on Rye 6 is of medium body offering chewy caramel/toffee malt character balanced by earthy, herbal, citrusy Styrian Golding and Citra hops.

Fermentable Ingredients

Pale malt, malted rye, Munich malt, Cara 50, Simpson’s Crystal Rye, dextrose, brown sugar

Hops

Magnum, Citra, Styrian Golding

Yeast

Scottish ale

Aging

10 months in freshly emptied Templeton Rye 6 barrels

Unlike previous batches of Rye on Rye, Rye on Rye 6 is 100% barrel-aged.

Flavor Profile

Aroma – Toffee, distinct and spicy rye whiskey, vanilla

Malt – Caramel/toffee, toasty bread crust

Hops – Supporting, subtle earthy/spicy flavor and aroma

Balance – Malt, whiskey

Body – Medium to full

Characteristics

ABV – 12.9%

Bitterness – 16 IBUs

Color – 58 EBC

Pairings

Pastrami, salted caramel ice cream, jerk chicken, bread pudding, bold cigars

Rye on Rye 6 will be available in four-packs of 12oz bottles and on draft and will debut starting in the Greater Kansas City Area on March 4th with other regions to follow in the coming weeks. Expect to find Rye on Rye 6 in locations that typically see Smokestack Series Limited Release and seasonal beers like Plaid Habit, Chocolate Ale and Love Child blends. Please note that we do not have access to our distributors’ delivery schedules and will be unable to confirm when Rye on Rye 6 is available near you.

- Jeremy Danner, Ambassador Brewer