HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged)

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Francisco, California USA

On tap @ Bistro BA Fest poured a clear copper with a lingering ring of amber foam. Aromas of rye, carmel, light eartthiness and light vanilla. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of rye, pepper, light oak, light earthiness and light vanilla with a smooth lingering bittersweet finish.

Draft at EBF in 08.l Pours a brown body with an off white head. Whiskey is all over this but its not clean like a nice bourbon or scotch flavor, a bit rusty. Hop notes of pine and citrus, then back to the overbarreling. Strong etoh finish but that was a plus for me.

On tap at Mr. Dunderbak’s in Temple Terrace, FL. They really bring in the good stuff.

Poured up in a nice Gulden Draak tulip glass. It has a hazy orange-ish brown-ish body, off white head and cobweb lacing. The aroma is fairly big with wood booze notes of whiskey, some oak, rotten tangelo sourness and some faint malts and hops from the base beer. I think the mixing of sharp tart un-ripe grapefruit and boozy wiskey creates a rotting citrus note to the whole experience. The taste begins like the nose with boozy – whiskey infused with mild oak notes. Rotting grapefruit citrus then wells up just after and peaks about midway where pine hop bitterness begins to make an appearance to interrupt the tart to sour un-ripe grapefruit. Some malt sweetness pokes out briefly before the finish. It ends with booze and sour grapefruit juice and a faint oak note going deep into the after taste. Very cool experience but nothing I’d prefer to drink too often.

Tap. Pours a slightly hazy deep amber with a large light tan head that lasts leaving good lacing. Heavy aroma of rye whiskey with notes of resiny citrus hops and sweet caramel. Taste is the same as aroma with a hint of vanilla and oak. Medium mouthfeel with a moderate amount of bitterness and smooth alcohol warmth. Very good.

Nice hazy copper/yellow coloring. Resin-citrus aroma. Good hoppy punch on the palate. Spicyness and hops linger along with notes of the malts. An almost wet feeling at the end. With 11 hops-11 malts, and 11 % al. this has a lot going on. good stuff

On tap at brouwers. Strong hop and whiskey nose. Surprisingly smooth and doesn’t seem as hoppy as the regular RIPA. Very drinkable. Very unique beer. barrel aged IPA’s are not the best combo but are still good. This is a fun beer to drink.

Extreme Beer Fest 2/15/2008: Pine, cirtus, and whiskey were the most notable flavors. I didn’t get any rye. Mostly, the whiskey was too overpowering.

Tap at HDG. Man this one hits pretty hard. Pours a weird rusty woody brown, some haziness and a thin diminsihing head. Aroma is very hot- fusel alcohols, paint thinner- acryllic and oil paints- spicy yeastiness and lot sof nice whiskey/bourbon which was ok. Flavor has some sweetish malts, spicy, dirty murky yeast, sharp alcohol burning, and you can actually get a wierd spicy rye whiskey note as well. Finishes a bit minty and earthy with more alcohol. Must be stronger than 10%.