What do you want on your tombstone? Anybody who has walked through their supermarket frozen pizza aisle knows what that's a tagline for. When it comes to beer though, specifically Lonerider Tombstone Rye Stout, the question might be more accurately posed as what do you want in your tombstone? That's because this stout is brewed with rye, not an uncommon ingredient in beer but not as common indeed for stout.
Tombstone Rye Stout is a new offering from Raleigh’s Lonerider Brewing Company. So new in fact (released fall of 2014) that there is no information about the beer on the company website. I was fortunate enough to find this beer on tap at Taco Mac one fine Sunday afternoon and enjoyed a foaming draft mug of it. There are reports of the beer being offered in cans, but I have yet to see it.
From the label:
This could be your huckleberry (no fruit added, just wordplay). Boasting flavors from chocolate and rye malts. Tombstone Rye Stout is our fall seasonal offering. The addition of flaked rye adds an earthy character in this full bodied stout that finishes smooth.
Lonerider Tombstone Rye Stout has an alcohol content of 5.4% by volume, and I paid $6 for a delicious 20 ounce mug of this beer.
That mug of Lonerider Tombstone Rye Stout arrived an opaque ebony color with a goose smack of roast and chocolate in the nose with a hint of rye toast to boot. Taking a sip, I get a medium body with good roasty notes of coffee and chocolate, toffee like a Toffifay candy, and a roasty finish with spicy rye notes and a hint of licorice.
I just love this beer! It may just have been the best beer of the four I enjoyed here today, and its definitely a beer I would buy again. I’ll be on the hunt for it in cans for sure, and you should be too.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler