HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A

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

Cloudy orange brown hue. A small head that dissapears almost immediately. No carbonation in the glass. Fruity orange and more pineapple with just the tiniest hint of hops. A delicious aroma - do not drink this when hungry. The flavor is nothing like the aroma. Flavor is super heavily malted and even higher levels of hops - it is super packed with those two beer staples bursting at the seems. A silky palate but not as heavy as one might anticipate. The 10% alc is covered by all the hopping. This is a must try for those who appreciate the raw ingredients that goes into beer.

Bottle. Reddish copper pour with a tan head. Aroma of hops and pepper. Taste of caramel and toffee but mostly dominant hops with a really bitter peppery finish.

Nice reddish/brown color. It has a rich flavor that is a nice balance of hops and malts. Smooth delivery, with a bittersweet aftertaste. Very nice aroma.

Pours dark amber with lasting head, flavor is sweet, and bitter hops, very good

Bottle. Pours a dark amber/brown with a thick light tan head. Aroma is quite malty with some citrus hops. Flavor of lots of malt/bread/cracker. Mostly bittersweet hops with some citrus and lemon zest. Also some iced tea. I didn’t get much rye though, sadly (because I love rye). This was more like an ASA to me because of the strong malt presence. Pretty tasty though, although the hops may have faded slightly from this one.

Poured from a 22 oz bottle at GOBF ’08...poured an amber-copper color w/ a thick off white head. Part of the aromas were an off-putting mix of alcohol, ammonia (got a whiff of the cat pee smell for the first time!), and the other parts were fresh, floral hops, and some caramel. The flavor was caramel malts, toffee, alcohol and some bittering hops. The beer was very well balanced. The palate had a chewy mouthfeel, and a lingering bittersweet finish.

~Pours a light reddish copper color with big fluffy and creamy white head. ~Aroma of rye bread and grapefruit. Sweetness present. ~Sweet flavor with a balanced amount of bitterness. Crystalized malts and earthy hops dominate. ~Thick chewy feel. Sweet and bitter finish. Bitter finish outlast the sweet finish. ~Interesting brew. Flavors very similar to Dogfish head 90 minute. Maybe the Warrior hops? I like it. Possibly buy again.

22oz bomber. Pours a deep orange copper color with a slight off white head. Aroma is hop based with the citrus, spice, and pine,although the rye sticks out from the backgroud and is pleasent on the nose. Likewise on the tongue. The hops are up front checked by a sweet malt, with the rye breaking through in the after taste. Full body, syrupy texture, dry feel, and a little soft on the carb. Very interesting and balanced beer. High quality IIPA that is a little different. I would certainly drink this beer again and recomend to others.