CRAFT BEER REVIEW: Rye me a River: this brown ale is a Revelation!

RYE River brewing company released yet another new addition to their ever popular seasonal small batch release and this time it's one with a difference.
They've brewed this latest beer in collaboration with Crisp malts which is a malting company in Ryburgh, Norfolk.
On the side of the can, Rye River explain how they were inspired by Crisp's innovative malting technology and decided to use it to brew this week's beer for review, a brown ale that I fully expect to focus heavily on the malt expression rather than any interference from noisy hops.
They go on to say the beer is highly expressive of coffee thanks to the use of Crisp's signature range of malts.
They have also opted for a Belgian strain of yeast which I find intriguing and somewhat unexpected but should produce a nutty roast character. Time to crack it open.
At 7.1%abv it's going to be full bodied and the head confirms this with its stability atop the brew.
A nice Belgian yeast profile of bubblegum and candied sugar pervades and melds with an aroma of coffee.
The first taste is amazing, giving milk chocolate and coffee in equal parts.
I should note that the coffee comes from the degree of roast in the malt from Crisp malts range.
You'd swear someone had handed me a cold brewed coffee with these flavours which is obviously due to the talented manipulation of the malt.
More Belgian esters from the yeast combine and build a robust flavour that comes across as smooth yet full flavoured. No hops to speak of.
This beer is all about showcasing what malted grains of barley can do for a beer when they're handled the right way.
I can't fault this beer and it's perfect for this time of year.
I picked up Revelation Brown ale in Carryout Tullamore!

Craft beer reviewer Brendan Sewell is a Tullamore-based chef, award winning brewer, founder member of the Midlands Beer Club and creator of the Views on Brews YouTube channel.