Assiduous: Rye | Reverence Barrel Works
Score: 94/100 - Outstanding
From a 500ml bottle served at cellar temperature at 12 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. The temperature is slightly higher than the recommendation. No date information on the packaging. I picked up the bottle straight from the brewery just over a week ago and my expectations are high given the previous beers I've had from Reverence.
Appearance (6/6)
A gusher. The beer pours a veiled pale gold with 3cm of moderately dense, creamy, white head which dissipates into a solid cap within 2+ minutes. Great lacing with decent head retention. A good looking beer.
Aroma (22/24)
Medium-strong intensity with great balance. The aroma is vinous and as beautiful as it is enticing. A well-built oak is paired with pleasant pome fruit (apples + pear), white grapes, and pineapple. A touch of hay with earth and spice along with faint barnyard character and supportive malt-sweetness. Low ethanol for a slight edge and no apparent off-notes. The dry nose is fruity-oakey-spicy. Fuck, yass.
Flavour (38/40)
Follows the aroma with medium-strong intensity, superb balance, and moderate perceived bitterness. The palate opens up quite vinous with notes of white grapes and pome fruit making way for a sophisticated center featuring notes of pineapple, alcohol-soaked dried fruit, spice, and whisky (vanilla + oak). The medium-length finish is balanced and of moderate strength with notes of dried apples, spice, low grainy-crackery malt, a hint of wet hay, and oak. So good.
Mouthfeel (10/10)
Medium-light body with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp and delicate with a nip of creaminess, restrained alcohol warming, and an off-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate. Excellent.
Overall (18/20)
Reverence Barrel Works' Assiduous: Rye is an outstanding beer. A gusher, so be careful when opening this - the beer just leaps out of the bottle. A pleasing appearance sets the stage for a charming, balanced, and complex aroma which plays out beautifully on the palate. The mouthfeel follows with an elegant quality and classy weight. I'm impressed. This beer is worth a trip and it's my favourite Reverence offering to date. I highly recommend you try this as it's worth seeking out. In addition, I suggest this as a gateway beer for wine drinkers.