Sixpoint Brewery Righteous Ale
The use of rye within the magical depths of beer is nothing new. It’s been around for several years now, though it does appear that as the number of breweries increases on a daily basis, the number of rye beer options also increases exponentially. I’m all for the ingredients inclusion in many beers, but as with any fad, you tend to get more bad than good. Thankfully, Sixpoint Brewery’s Righteous Ale is on the good side of the spectrum.
This 6.3% ABV and 57 IBU rye beer has got quite the hop profile. Herbal and citrusy hop notes balance out the earthy rye for a beer that is both refreshing and full flavored.
Appearance
Righteous Ale pours a murky reddish brown with a dense, light tan head.
Aroma
Lightly roasted malt, rye, bread, caramel and light citrus hops all come together nicely.
Taste
Light roast coffee, bready rye, caramel and toffee arrive first forming the balanced backbone for Righteous Ale. There’s a much more pronounced hop character here — citrusy, herbal and piney with a fresh, earthy nature with a lingering touch of astringency that’s not too overbearing on the palate. The brew is medium bodies with an active carbonation that helps accentuate the hop bite.
Overall
While some of my favorite rye-based beers tend to focus on the hops (Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye, for instance), Sixpoint has opted to go for a more balanced approach. It’s a deceptively easy drinking beer with a full and layered flavor profile. I will be buying more of this.
Rating:4/5
