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

Bomber. Lovely deep amber color, can almost be mistaken for a lighter red ale. Copious off-white head that develops nicely. Sweet, very malty butterscotch and hops aroma. The caramel is very evident both in the aroma and in the flavor. Each sip has a nice earthy undertone while the sweet caramel malt is present throughout each taste, complimented by a very green hoppy finish. The rye is most present as a palate-finisher, leaving a somewhat bready aftertaste. Finishes a bit syrupy. If this brew was a bit more balanced between the sweet malts and hops, plus a crisper palate, it would be outstanding. Good brew.

22 oz. bomber. I’m up-rating the appearance for the label alone--it’s brilliant! Red-amber pour with a smooth, frothy head. Uneven lacing, but it seems to decrease as the beer warms. Everything good about an IIPA is in here, plus extra malt, plus extra plummy, winey goodness. Age this thing in port or sherry barrels, and you’d have a true monster.

Bottle: Pours a rich reddish brown with a thick, creamy beige head. Nice lacing. Nose is hoppy and sweet with caramel and maltiness. Tastes hoppy, yet a tad subdued with the sweet, bready malty presence. I liked the rye character and overall balanced feel.

bottle: pors a gorgeous deep red amber colour with a large off white head. aroma is lovely with hops galour featuring the scents of citrus, pine, and earthy. there is also a nice deep caramel malt and a touch of some sugary dark fruits. the flavour is dark fruit and burnt sugars with a nice bitter earth hop finish. also some of the rye. a very full flavour beer that is thick and chewy on the palate and leaves a bitterness on the roof of my mouth, that is welcome.

Bottle. Poured a slightly hazy copper color with a thick almond head. Strong lacing. Aroma is malty, caramel, and hoppy. Amazing full mouthfeel. Flavor is a nice hoppy taste, with grapefruit, rye, and pine hints to it. Ranks right up there with Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye as the best rye beers that I’ve had.

22 oz bottle, poured out reddish brown with a nice thick off white head. Aroma is hoppy with a nice undertone of caramel and malt. Flavor is lots of hops up front with a nice malty backbone. Reminded me a lot of Lagunitas’ IPA and Maximus.

This poured an amberish-brown color with a thin white head. It had a big aroma of hops with some grapefruit and citrus fruits as well. It also had a bit of a sweet flavor from the malts. The flavor was much the same with the hops dominating in the forefront. It wasn’t overly bitter because of the sweet malts that balanced it out nicely. This was a full flavored beer with a nice smooth finish. Big thanks to mgumby for sharing this tasty brew with me.

pours a reddish bronze with nice initial carbonation and lacing. smells of fruits and big hops with some sweetness. tastes of hops and malt with some caramel sweetness. thick on the tongue but fairly well balanced, the pomegranate was nicer in my opinion but for a 10% ipa it is real nice.