Spaceway Brewing “Seen It Comin’ “

Style: Rye ale
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: 29

Having been to Rocky Mount several times to visit other breweries, we were surprised to learn that we hadn’t heard of or made it to Spaceway Brewing Co. Luckily, we had this nice Friday evening off and were able to make the trek. Admittedly, it was not what we expected; it appeared to be attached to an art gallery from the outside, and after entering the establishment…we confirmed, it was in fact attached to an art gallery/studio. The space itself was not very large, but with the opportunity to bring your beer along as you peruse the art displays in the adjacent room, it made for a unique experience that we both enjoyed. We even got the chance to talk with one of the local artists and see her work, making this beer tasting an occasion to remember.

Joe’s Take:

Spaceway, a new brewery for us but a great experience. When we pulled into the parking lot after missing the turn I was not expecting us to end up in a taproom that was situated in the middle of an art gallery. The beer, however, turned out to be as artful as the paintings adorning the walls. Nick and I reached for the new…and the unusual for us, the dark rye ale “Seen It Comin” this beer poured a dark as night black/brown in the plastic cup that we received. On top of the dark brew was a tan/brown head that persisted throughout the tasting.

The aroma of the beer didn’t fully resonate as a rye for me but still exhibited some of that characteristic spice. The predominance of the aroma came to me as nutty roasty malt scents. Reminiscent of a whole grain bread or fresh from the toaster toast.

The mouthfeel of “Seen It Comin” was smooth and lightly carbonated. The carbonation was moderate at first, but then died down to a smooth yet medium-bodied brew. There was a subtle mouthcoating feel to the brew but it wasn’t drying or overly astringent.

Taste was all malt with the dark rye and I enjoyed roasty cocoa and toasted bread. I described the flavor to Nick as an almost liquid form of toast with a hint of Nutella spread on top. The nutty, chocolatey flavors played well with the dark roasted malts of the brew. The rye spice was also evident, but not overwhelmingly so. I think that this character played well with the other flavors of the beer and made for a well rounded flavor profile.

As far as drinkability goes, “Seen It Comin” ranks relatively high. It was smooth and flavorful, but won’t wreck your palate. It sipped easily and is a great year round beer. I was glad to have experienced it.

Nick’s Take

When I got my pour of “Seen it Comin”, I was taken aback at the rich, dark brown color. Having only the knowledge that it was a rye ale, I expected something closer to an amber ale, but was handed something that was more on par with an imperial stout. It sported a soft tan head that faded into nothing but a wisp throughout the entire tasting.

While the appearance resembled a stout, there were stark differences between this ale and the bold, roasty aromas of stouts. “Seen it Comin” was malty, but also had sweet bready notes, some cocoa aroma, and seemed to be syrupy. A touch of spice was also found on the nose.

The initial sensation I got when taking a sip was of bright carbonation, but it quickly disappeared and left behind a soft, pillowy mouthfeel. This left me debating taking a nap in the beer (I was tired after an early morning), but knew I had to carry on with my tasting.

There was a bit of complexity to this rye ale, but overall, the profile was sweet. The bread flavors came through strong, and definitely lent themselves to rye bread. I tasted a bit of cocoa nibs as well, and the finish provided a touch of spice. I could see something like clove or cardamom being comparable. 

I really enjoyed this beer, and as it warmed up (while I took my time enjoying the vast collection of artwork on display) it truly evolved in the glass. It was smooth and sweet, while still having an exciting mouthfeel and flavor profile. I was committed to being the DD, or else I’d have gone for another beer at Spaceway Brewing. I highly recommend that you make the trip there (keep an eye on their hours), as the experience can’t be matched if you’re an art enthusiast.