Rye beer
Encyclopedia
Rye beer refers to any beer
in which rye
(generally malt
ed) is substituted for some portion of the barley
malt.
One example of this is roggenbier which is a specialty beer produced with up to sixty percent rye malt. The style originated in Bavaria
, in southern Germany
and is brewed with the same type of yeast
as a German hefeweizen resulting in a similar light, dry, spicy taste.
In the United States
another style of rye beer is being developed by homebrewers
and microbreweries. In some examples, the hop
presence is pushed to the point where they resemble American India pale ale
s. This style is often called a "Rye-P-A," a take-off of the abbreviation for an India Pale Ale, "IPA."
Finnish sahti
is another style of rye beer, produced by brewing rye with juniper berries and wild yeast.
Another type of rye beer is kvass
, although the alcohol is low enough to be considered an NA in many cases.
In theory, a rauchroggen could be made by drying some rye malt over an open flame rather than in a kiln, although there are currently no commercial examples.
, particularly in Bavaria
, to use rye
malt
for brewing beer. However, after a period of bad harvests, it was ruled that rye would only be used for baking bread
, (thus only barley
was to be used for beer, see the German law known as the Reinheitsgebot
). Roggenbier virtually disappeared for almost five hundred years. In 1988, it reappeared in Bavaria.
The modern version of roggenbier is typically about 5% ABV and is fairly dark in colour. The flavour is grainy, often having a hearty flavour similar to pumpernickel
bread. Typically, at least 50 percent of the malts used to make the beer are made from rye.
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
in which rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
(generally malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
ed) is substituted for some portion of the barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
malt.
One example of this is roggenbier which is a specialty beer produced with up to sixty percent rye malt. The style originated in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, in southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and is brewed with the same type of yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
as a German hefeweizen resulting in a similar light, dry, spicy taste.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
another style of rye beer is being developed by homebrewers
Homebrewing
Homebrewing is the brewing of beer, wine, sake, mead, cider, perry and other beverages through fermentation on a small scale as a hobby for personal consumption, free distribution at social gatherings, amateur brewing competitions or other non-commercial reasons...
and microbreweries. In some examples, the hop
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
presence is pushed to the point where they resemble American India pale ale
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale or IPA is a style of beer within the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 19th century.The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835...
s. This style is often called a "Rye-P-A," a take-off of the abbreviation for an India Pale Ale, "IPA."
Finnish sahti
Sahti
Sahti is a traditional beer from Finland made from a variety of grains, malted and unmalted, including barley, rye, wheat, and oats; sometimes bread made from these grains is fermented instead of malt itself...
is another style of rye beer, produced by brewing rye with juniper berries and wild yeast.
Another type of rye beer is kvass
Kvass
Kvass, kvas, quass or gira, gėra is a fermented beverage made from black...
, although the alcohol is low enough to be considered an NA in many cases.
In theory, a rauchroggen could be made by drying some rye malt over an open flame rather than in a kiln, although there are currently no commercial examples.
Roggenbier
Until the 15th Century, it was common in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, particularly in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, to use rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
for brewing beer. However, after a period of bad harvests, it was ruled that rye would only be used for baking bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
, (thus only barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
was to be used for beer, see the German law known as the Reinheitsgebot
Reinheitsgebot
The Reinheitsgebot , sometimes called the "German Beer Purity Law" or the "Bavarian Purity Law" in English, was a regulation concerning the production of beer in Germany. In the original text, the only ingredients that could be used in the production of beer were water, barley and hops...
). Roggenbier virtually disappeared for almost five hundred years. In 1988, it reappeared in Bavaria.
The modern version of roggenbier is typically about 5% ABV and is fairly dark in colour. The flavour is grainy, often having a hearty flavour similar to pumpernickel
Pumpernickel
Pumpernickel is a type of very heavy, slightly sweet rye bread traditionally made with coarsely ground rye. It is often made with a combination of rye flour and whole rye berries. It has been long associated with the Westphalia region of Germany. The first written mention of the black bread of...
bread. Typically, at least 50 percent of the malts used to make the beer are made from rye.