Rye is a versatile ingredient that can lend itself to a variety of beer styles. It can bring a pepper/spiciness and earthy flavor to beers, while also contributing positive characteristics from increased head retention to a more rounded body and mouthfeel. Rye ales and rye IPAs may be the most common styles where rye plays a role, but craft brewers have been expanding its use as style boundaries continue to be pushed. But many brewers shy away from brewing with rye due to its reputation as a challenging ingredient during mashes. BYO’s Technical Editor Ashton Lewis walks you through the world of rye and how you can proceed with caution to create unique beers.