New Holland Brewing - Rye Hatter

As Steve mentioned yesterday, we had one hell of a weekend.  Friends came to Minneapolis from all over the country, and lots of good times were had.  You should see some photos from our 4th of July excursion on Lake Minnetonka later this week...

Tonight I'm going to break out this 22oz bottle of Rye Hatter Rye Pale Ale.  This is New Holland's Pale Ale on Rye-roids....rye typically adds a level of spiciness and creaminess to beer that compliments other flavors, especially in an IPA.  There is very little information available on this brew on the website - I know I've commented on this before, but New Holland's website sucks!  There is very little actual information, and those tidbits of actual information are difficult to find among all the clutter.  A website overhaul might not be a bad idea, New Holland!  Shoddy website design always grinds my gears. 

Now for the fun part - beer!  This brew is a dark orange-amber color with a slight haze and less than an inch of creme head the hangs around for the duration of the drink.  The aroma is faint, with toasted rye bread, caramel malts, and some citrus fruits.  The flavor is FULL of spiciness up front, complimented by citrusy lemon rind bitterness.  These two flavors ride on the palate from start to finish and for a while after.  In the middle, caramel sweetness comes in and out of existence, always fleeting.  The mouthfeel is medium, creamy, with heavy carbonation. 

Overall Rating:  This is a nice Rye PA, lots of spiciness, but not overwhelming.  If you like this style, then this is definitely worth a try.  B+