UPDATED: SEP 24, 2019 Fun take on a traditional style. Plenty of rye hops to make this interesting and somewhat of a hop presence as well. Overall, quite enjoyable.

Retro. Dark orange-amber pour. Noticed a missing favorite (in-style at least) when updating those. Hoppier than expected (kinda like Hopzeit) but biscuit & spice still king. nice malty finish, lightly bitter.

From May 2008 I got this can in a trade with Wasatch. Thanks John! Yet another Surly beer for me to try. ;^) This pours a slightly hazy amber with a big +2 finger head of billowy foam. I see some floaties but I'm hoping that won't negatively impact the flavour. Oh and there's plenty of sticky lacing. The smell is very nice! Lots of lemon citrus matched equally by lots of rye and some caramel malt. To me, a perfectly balanced nose. The taste...hell, there's no denying that this is a beer using rye as it's right there and it's tasting great. The single hop that they are using gives me both lemon and some pine and the rye and a bit of caramel malt compliments the hops very nicely. Good medium mouthfeel and fairly light carbonation make for a very drinkable beer. This is just a real palate pleasing, easy drinking brew and I could drink a few of these easily without getting bored. With the final pour, I didn't get any more floaties,(a good thing)just more of that hazy amber goodness. Btw, great head retention here. Well done, again, Surly! Bottom line: This is a very tasty and drinkable Rye beer that I wouldn't hesitate to try again. Highly recommended!

On tap at Ellyn's Tap & Grill in Glen Ellyn, IL., shaker served displaying a clear & bright, amber hue, with a presentable layer of persistent, off white froth, and sheeting spray as lacing. The nose was mild grain, toast, with slight hints of citrus & spice. Medium bodied, with decent carbonation, the taste was like notes, including an earthy, toasted/near roasted, dry, and lingering bitterness. Rye made the difference as I appreciated the more German-style approach for a welcome change from the usual caramel sweet, Americanized versions.

Pours slightly hazy golden orange with a thick beige head. Aroma is roasted malts and sweetness. Flavour is sweet but not too heavy but very malty. Finish is a little thick and slightly sweet.

Deep amber in color with some nice spice character from the rye bill. I understand they are wanting to do something different, but stylistically, this is terrible. The style should have little to no hop character, but this has hop aroma and taste. Decent for what it actually is, but a poor representation of the indicated style.

Pours a clear orange/amber with a not too impressive off white head. Aroma is piney cones. Taste is sweet caramel malt, buttered crackers, some palate cleansing rye and a medium citrusy hop bitterness.

Tap - good size foamy head, nice dark copper/Amber color, fairly balanced with some earthy hops and mildly sweet caramelly malts with a touch of eye spice, very good overall ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

not quite sweet enough for me. the rye is definitely unique but i tend to look for more traditional when it comes to oktos. its very smooth and well rounded, no off notes whatsoever. but not quite what i was looking for.

16floz can, COD: 08.22.2017, paid $10 for a four-pack, poured this one into a mug glass. Looks good, amber in color with a small head that fizzles a bit. I can smell that this is an American remix of the style - hoppy like a forest of pines. Rye comes through in the palate, along with buttery biscuit, and herb bitterness. Good as American amber ale/lager (whatever yeast was used).