Sudwerk Brewing – Rye Of The Lager

With craft beer shelves dominated by IPAs, some consumers are looking for something different. That’s why Sudwerk Brewing Co. created Rye of the Lager, an IPL it calls “a needle in the shelf stack.

“It’s the first rye India Pale Lager available at stores on the West Coast that I’m aware of,” said Trent Yackzan, co-owner of the 25-year-old brewery that is redefining the American lager.

With ales, naturally occurring esters can at times compete against other ingredients, especially in the finish. That’s not the case here. In contrast, lager yeast provides a platform to let the other ingredients shine through. Stone fruit aromatics combine with lemon and pepper flavors, a pleasant blend of spice, and a bold finish. The fruity, subtle flavor from Simcoe and Amarillo hops balances with the dry spiciness of the rye. (7.0 ABV, 70 IBU)

Rye of the Lager is the culmination of more than a year of trial batches, in search of the perfect balance. Last fall’s small batch released at the Sudwerk taproom, The Dock, was so well received, “we knew this was the beer that should become our next year-round West Coast lager,” Yackzan said.

Sudwerk Brewing Co.’s Rye Imperial Pale Lager will be available throughout California, in 22 ounce bottles, starting in early August. Suggested retail price $5.99 to $6.99 per bottle. It’s also available in 15.5 gallon and 5.17 gallon kegs. Sudwerk will host a release party for the beer from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 31 at The Dock, 2001 Second St.

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