LAB In-Person Meeting: May 2025

This month’s in-person meeting, as usual, will be held at Mash Paddle Brewery – 92 Enid St, London SE16 4AW.

This month is our annual Hayesenbrau competition, on the style of brew your best Rye Beer. The competition is open to any member that comes to the meeting, and will be judged by the members present.

Any sort of Rye beer is allowed; there is no minimum rye content but the beer should display rye characteristics, as listed below (shamefully lifted from ChatGPT)!

If you’re planning on bringing a beer, please bring at least 3 litres so there is enough to go round the whole club for samples. You are welcome to bring more than one beer, but if there are too many beers to fit into the evening we may only have time to sample one of them.

Meeting Schedule
19:00 Arrive and grab a beer, followed by club news and updates.
19:30 Haysenbrau entry tastings.
21:30 Meeting to close – feel free to stay and have another beer!

Rye beer is a unique style of beer made with a significant portion of rye malt in the grain bill. Its characteristics depend on the specific brewing process and style, but it generally exhibits the following traits:

Flavour Profile

Spicy and Earthy Notes: Rye imparts a distinct spiciness, often described as peppery or herbal. This is one of the defining characteristics of rye beers.
Dry Finish: Rye tends to create a drier finish compared to beers made exclusively with barley.
Malty Backbone: While rye beers can have a robust malt character, they are often balanced by the spiciness of the rye.

Mouthfeel

Full-Bodied: Rye beers can have a fuller, silkier mouthfeel, thanks to the higher beta-glucan content in rye.
Crisp Texture: Despite being full-bodied, they often have a crisp and clean texture, enhancing drinkability.

Aromas

Spicy and Nutty: The aroma may echo the flavor with spicy, nutty, or even slightly toasty notes.
Hop Influence: In some rye beers, hops are prominent, adding floral, citrus, or pine notes.

Appearance

Amber to Dark Brown: The color can range from light amber to deep brown, depending on the proportion of rye and other malts used.
Hazy: Rye’s higher protein content can result in a slightly hazy appearance.

Beer Styles Featuring Rye

Rye Pale Ale: A hoppy beer with added spiciness from the rye.
Rye IPA: Combines the bitterness and aroma of hops with the spicy and dry characteristics of rye.
Roggenbier: A traditional German rye beer, similar to a hefeweizen but brewed with rye, often featuring banana and clove notes from the yeast.

Versatility

Rye is often used in small proportions in various beer styles to add complexity, even in beers not labelled as “rye beers.”

Rye beers are beloved for their balance of spice, malt, and occasional hoppiness, offering a refreshing and unique drinking experience.