ABV: 5.3% IBU: 19

PorchDrinking.com recently had a round table discussion about what beer best suits our personalities.  I found myself unable to come up with an answer that I thought really encompassed the various traits I have.  Sometimes I can be slow and sweet (stout), occasionally aggressive and powerful (Imperial IPA), sometimes delicate and light (Pilsner).  Ok I’m reading that last line and maybe I misunderstood the assignment.

The point is, like everyone, I’ve got a lot of different traits and I also have a varied taste in beer.  Sometimes I want a stout, sometimes I want a saison.  But I’m also very frequently drawn to beers that somehow marry different qualities in a way I’ve never had.  So when I read the description of Reuben’s Brews Roggenbier, a style I’d never tried, as a rye hefeweizen, I was immediately drawn in.

I enjoyed a pint on draft in the Reuben’s tap room.  It poured hazy brownish amber, with no head to speak.  Had a bubblegum and banana aroma from the yeast and wheat, with rye very much asserting its presence.  Not much hop profile, but that’s ok because it had plenty else going on.  It starts out a little sweet with plenty of banana and clove before you get an awesome spicy finish that almost makes your lips tingle and just a touch of sourness to clean everything up.

I’ve found that hefeweizen can sometimes be a little one note to my palate, without the depth to go beyond a simple, refreshing summer brew.  In fact, I was a bit surprised at overall how enjoyable I found Roggenbier, but the addition of rye gave the beer another dimension that added character, warmth, and made it something you would be happy having year round.  I’m certainly looking forward to having one in the spring… then the summer… then the fall, and oh you get the idea.   Enjoy!