Lazy Monk Rye IPA Review

Name: Lazy Monk Rye IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.1% (Per Untappd)

Today I've got another beer courtesy of Lazy Monk Brewing based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This time, I have their Rye IPA which is aptly named......Rye IPA. Having had their Pilsner last time around, I'm quite eager to try this out. Plus it has been a good while since I've had any beers with rye in it.

Appearance - It pours a fairly hazy orange color with a mild amount of visible carbonation. The head is thin in width, but has a rather thick feel to it. To top it off, the lacing is quite abundant

Aroma - I'm getting some potent citrus hoppiness in the nose upfront, but that rye spiciness manages to poke its head though. It also possesses a fairly strong caramel maltiness and even a hint of grape-fruitiness as well

Taste - The citrus hops & caramel maltiness are the strongest flavors here and linger throughout. However the second half of the flavor is where the rye and bitter hops start to shine through....sort of. While the bitter hops are most certainly there, the rye element of the flavor is very underwhelming when compared to the rest of the flavor.

As it stands, Rye IPA is a good beer but as I just mentioned, the actual rye aspect of the flavor falls flat, even after it warms up. However the rest of the flavor is quite good and that alone merits checking out this beer if the availability permits.

Lazy Monk Rye IPA - 8/10

Lazy Monk Bohemian Pilsner Review

Name: Lazy Monk Bohemian Pilsner
Style: Pilsner
ABV: N/A

Well look at this, a brand new brewery to be featured on this blog! Hailing from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, we have Lazy Monk Brewing! Today I've got their Bohemian Pilsner, which is considered to be their flagship beer. The thing that makes this beer (and brewery) so unique is that the brewmaster, Leos Frank, is a native of the Czech Republic and has set up shop in America's Heartland.

Appearance - Clear yellow color with a mild amount of visible carbonation. The head is rather thin in appearance but with a good filmy retention with no visible lacing.

Aroma - Strong pilsner maltiness in the front of the nose with some pale maltiness as well. I'm also picking up on some biscuit and yeasty notes. Interestingly enough, I'm not getting any earthiness in this.

Taste - Strong buttery-biscuits and pilsner malts make up the front of the palate, with pale malts and a light bitter hoppiness making up the back end of the flavor. The aftertaste is quite dry save for a lingering pilsner maltiness

You know when you go buy an Imported Pilsner but it smells and tastes skunky because it's been sitting on the shelf longer than your dog has been alive? Well that's not the case here, because it not only tastes fresh but it also feels very refreshing. As cliché as it may sound, it's like they took an authentic Czech Brewery, placed it in Wisconsin and created this. What I'm trying to say is that this is an excellent beer and one of the best pilsners I've had in a long while. Right now they only distribute to the Southern half of Wisconsin, but I hope one day to see their distribution expanded even further.

Lazy Monk Bohemian Pilsner - 9.5/10