Destihl Antiquity Rye Wine

Aroma: “Lemon, pine, whiffs of citrus, white wine, and fresh-cut grass. Virtually no malt in the aroma. Lemon grass and a mild grape-must character stand out.” Flavor: “Hops flavors of evergreen trees, chardonnay, and lemongrass set the stage for a surprisingly smooth beer. Bitterness is smooth, and despite the appearance of the beer, the malt character is more than just a blank canvas. Finish is dry and pleasant. The complexity in hops flavors that was promised from the aroma is delivered quite well.” Overall: “A delightful IPA. It’s light on the tongue and even spry in its delivery of interesting modern hops varieties. Malt backbone is surprisingly apparent despite the very light appearance. Bitterness is pleasing and complementary. A great IPA that could even pair well with light seafood such as sushi. Citrusy, spritzy fun.”

**Aroma:** “Moderate spice and vanilla, light hops, caramel, and toast, very light ethanol, big fruit. Rye pepper character. Some vanilla, oak, wood. Surprising tropical fruit notes. A hint at some rye spiciness, but the overall impression is quite unexpected but very pleasant. A touch of smoke.” **Flavor:** “Vanilla and wood/oakiness. Outstanding love-it-or-hate it rye avor. Spicy, musty, and earthy—it’s everything you want from rye. Some fruity esters add pleasant complexity, while the hops bitterness delivers just the right amount of support for the substantial malt structure. Pleasant alcoholic warmth.” **Overall:** “Wonderfully surprising and delicious, this beer uses the rye well to enhance the properties of the barrel. This is a well balanced sweeter beer with just a touch of bitterness from the barrel and hops.”

**Aroma:** “Fairly low apple aromatics with a touch of white grape and honey. Lovely effect—could use a stronger dose of it. Sour apple emerges as it warms, with a touch of black pepper and light brown sugar. Some young cider aroma (earthy, bitter, light ‘spoilage’) and moderate sulfur.” **Flavor:** “Awesome—sweet and sour apple, a light grapey note, and lower acidity in the balance, but it works. Low astringency—fruity and fun. Compared to the nose, the flavor was a surprise in its strength. The bigger splash of apple hangs with you well into the aftertaste. Moderately dry with a soft finish.” **Overall:** “Complex apple character with a touch of grape and a pronounced lean toward the sweet side, but not cloying. Could use a touch more acidity to invite the next sip, but very well-done—a definite crowd pleaser. Some might prefer a cleaner, crisper finish, but the apple expression is clear and pleasant.”