Bear Republic Brewing Company's Hop Rod Rye

I hate just about everything about California. From their false environmentalism to their deficit creating social policies, California could use a major overhaul.

Except leave the beer alone.

Bear Republic was a real surprise. I have yet to have a beer of theirs that is anything less than great. Hop Rod Rye is no exception. It pours a deep copper, almost like a bock, with a light tan pillowy head that very slowly fades. Good, slow carbonation.

Smells zippy and grainy. Unadulterated. The bready malt is secondary to to a twangy rye smell.

Great bitterness. Not grassy, not floral, just a bitter zap to the back of your tongue that stays. Smooth feel to it that makes sense with the slow carbonation, it has good body for a rye. All in all it's more substantial than other ryes. It's like a zippy pale, with a rye zing to it that picks it up and gives it more than just a bitterness that accompanies a pale.

Great beer. Glad Spec's carrier them in 12 oz bottles now. It'll be a mainstay.