Brewery: Sixpoint Brewery, Brooklyn, New York
Beer: Righteous Ale
Serving: 16 oz can
Glassware: Sierra Nevada imperial pint
Information: 6.3% ABV, 57 IBUs, 19 SRM, Best before 10JAN2013 on bottom of can.
Style: Rye Beer
Price: $8.99 / 4-pack
Availability: Year-round
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Peppery cheese; Monterey or Pepper Jack, pulled pork with spicy BBQ sauce topped with coleslaw.
Appearance
Having caked the pint in clumpy lace, a lumpy pile of ivory foam sits lifeless just above the beer that’s crimson walnut in color and crystal clear; a very sexy start.
Smell
Righteous Ale is very well balanced upon first whiff, neither hoppy or malty but meeting in the middle. Toasted malt and spicy rye suggest a crispy bagel sprinkled with spice. Not quite as potent as an “everything” bagel (my personal favorite) but of the same ilk. Earth-toned hops balance the whole deal out for some great, inviting aromatics! A swirl gives the beer a citrus fruit undertone from the hops that also adds a totally new dimension.
Taste
A little more malt forward in flavor, Righteous Ale has quite a bready characteristic that continues the bagel-like aspect of the aroma. Sharp rye adds some spice characteristics to it, balancing the caramelized sweetness too, but certainly not something that aggressively pops. Hops become somewhat of an afterthought behind the malty complexity.
Mouthfeel
Despite being dry-hopped, Righteous Ale’s hop aroma falls away in flavor, only to emerge once again in the mouthfeel with a very well-balanced bitterness to take on the malt sweetness found in this beer. Dryness and spice accompany the bitterness on the finish to round out the medium-full body of the beer for a drinkable rye.
Overall
Instead of your typical American amber, Righteous Ale promotes rye first and foremost with earth and spice attributes that meld well with the subtle hop characteristics and a malty backbone for a drinkable beer that’s still appealing to a more broad spectrum of drinkers while giving said “base style” a new spin.
Score: 84 / 100 - Very Good
Cheers,
-Andy
