Rye beer is a special beer style typically made with about 50% rye malt, with an alcohol content ranging from 4.0% to 6.0%. It is primarily produced in Germany and Finland.
History
In the Middle Ages, red or rye beer was widely consumed in Germany. However, after the Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516 prohibited the use of rye and wheat in beer production, rye beer disappeared. The modern version emerged in the late 19th century in Regensburg, Bavaria, as a variation of wheat beer using rye malt instead.
How it is made
Rye beer contains about 50% rye malt, though some brands use 60-65%. The remainder consists of pale Munich malt or wheat malt. Special yeasts give the beer characteristic banana, citrus, and clove aromas, while noble hop varieties provide bitterness and flavor. The beer ranges from light copper-orange to dark red in color and has a creamy, dense foam.
Characteristics
Rye beer has a grainy, slightly sour taste with a strong aroma of rye or dark bread. It has a hazy, opaque appearance. The alcohol content ranges from 4.0% to 6.0%. Typical brands include Paulaner Roggen, Bier Paul 03 Roggenbier, Bluegrass Roggenbier, and Baltika 4 Rzhanoy El.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Ржаное пиво, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.