Debuting in 2010 and most recently released in 2015, Rye on Rye is coming back in early 2018! In the past couple of years we’ve released variations on Rye on Rye: Rye on Rye on Rye and Rye on Rye – Classic Sazerac Cocktail, but we felt it was time for our original Templeton Rye barrel-aged ale to return.

The origin of Rye on Rye can be traced back to 2009 when we had the opportunity to add freshly emptied Templeton Rye casks to our barrel collection. At the time we agreed to purchase the barrels, we didn’t have a beer in mind, but Brewmaster Steven Pauwels and our brewing and quality teams quickly decided it would be interesting (and ultimately crazy delicious) to explore what would happen to a giant, tawny rye beer if we transferred it into wet rye whiskey barrels following primary fermentation.

A rather sturdy beer composed of our two-row base malt layered with German rye, English crystal rye, Cara 50 and Munich malt and then accented with brown sugar, dark brown sugar and dark candi syrup, the base beer for Rye on Rye is hopped with Magnum, Citra and Styrian Golding hops. Following primary fermentation with Scottish ale yeast, Rye on Rye is transferred to freshly emptied Templeton Rye barrels. Following aging, optimal barrels are selected and blended with 33% fresh beer to create a delicate balance between spicy, slightly boozy rye whiskey barrel characters and the base beer. This release of Rye on Rye is composed of beers that range in age from six to 18 months.

Pouring deep garnet in color, Rye on Rye pops with aromas of spicy, fruity rye malt with equally present notes of rye whiskey, vanilla, toffee and charred oak. Certainly warming at 12% ABV, Rye on Rye is of medium body offering chewy caramel/toffee malt character balanced by earthy, herbal, citrusy Styrian Golding and Citra hops.

Flavor Profile
Aroma – Toffee, distinct and spicy rye whiskey, vanilla
Malt – Caramel/toffee, bread crust
Hops – Supporting, subtle, earthy/spicy flavor and aroma
Balance – Malt, whiskey
Body – Medium to full

Characteristics
Alcohol by Volume – 12%
IBUs – 33
Color – 58 EBC

Food Pairings
Pastrami, salted caramel ice cream, jerk chicken, bread pudding, bold cigars

Rye on Rye returns starting in the Greater Kansas City Area on January 8^th (draft) and 9^th (750ml bottles and four-packs of 12oz bottles) with other regions to follow in the coming weeks. Expect to find Rye on Rye in locations that typically see Smokestack Series Limited Release and seasonal beers like Saison Brett, Rye on Rye on Rye and Love Child Blends.

- Jeremy Danner, Ambassador Brewer