Sunrye Ale

RedHook Ale Brewery
Woodinville, WA

Available: nationwide

Sunrye is brewed with two barley malts and a small amount of rye, with Hallertau and Tettnang hops from Germany, and Saaz hops from the Czech Republic.

Alcohol by weight: 3.7
Color: 5.6
Bitterness: 16
Gravity: n/a

The head is beautiful, with a slightly cloudy body, in accordance with the brewer’s design. The beer has an enticing bouquet and the taste is quite pleasant, although I detect no rye character, which is sad because such would enhance it nicely. Never mind; it will serve. I just finished mowing my lawn, and the beer is quite refreshing, indeed.
- Fred Eckhardt

The words light and refreshing on the label seem to reflect the Anheuser-Busch side of the family tree, and the beer claims to be slightly unfiltered. Its a hazy, full gold, with a light orangey aroma. Crisp hopping gives it a nice snap up front, and light, wheaty flavors play through the dry center. It vanishes in the finish. It is quite refreshing, I must say. A beach and a basket of fried clams, and I'm good to go.
- Garrett Oliver

Gold may be the most common color among beers, but this is slightly more distinctive: greeny- gold, perhaps? Lime-and-lemon? So far as I can see, no citrus is added to the beer, but I find lemon in the aroma and the entrance to the palate. Becomes sherbety and refreshing, in an attenuated, cleansing manner. Less spicy than earlier rye beers: more summer ale-ish.
- Michael Jackson

Fred Eckhardt
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer Styleand Saké.

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

Michael Jackson
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.