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

(Bottle 65 cl) Courtesy of Thomas_E. Clear, amber golden with an off-white head. Very fresh and citrusy nose. Quite full-bodied with burned caramel notes and oily hop notes. Very distinct bitterness in the finish. 160607

bottle. above average frothy khaki head (pretty lingering lacing) into cloudy dark pinkish red (held up to light). strong aromas of hops (resin, citrus, and floral) and caramel are very big and powerful. flavor is bitter all the way from beg. to end, but does have sweet notes that float in and about. rye is more noticable after a few sips. sticky mouthfeel. moderate body. dry texture. not quite fizzy carbonation. long long finish duration. alcohol is hidden well, though it is noticed through warming. Strong IPA in Aroma and Flavor, but a little less would have been appreciated.

This dark amber ale poured with a decent off-white head. There is a very bitter full flavor that is actually a bit chewy. The malt flavor tries to overwhelm the hops, causing an imbalance in the overall taste. This is an exercise in excess.

This pours a beautiful red with a thin off white head. The aroma is of rye and a hint of hops hiding in there. For the flavor, it has the taste of rye mixed into a good hoppy IIPA. It starts with a creamy sweetness, before giving the show over to the bitterness of the hops. The alcohol is very well hidden in this beer, and overall, a nice tasty selection.

Shared 22oz. bottle. Pours a dark hazy amber with about 1 inch of dense head. The head disolves slowly and leaves lacing all across the body of the beer. The smell is of sweet malt, and some floral hops. Taste is a bit sweet up front, but it finishes with a nice floral hoppy kick that leaves a pleasant bitterness from halfway back on your tongues down your throat. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Very good beer. Not as extreme as some IIPAs I’ve had but still a big tastey beer.

Pours opaque brown with a light tan head. Aroma of malts and cascade hops. Solid mouthfeel with a strong hop bitterness, but complimented by a creamy malt body.

For the longest time, I’ve always held Bear Republics Hop Rod Rye as the watermark rye-based beer. This has surpased it. This is really a fantastic beer on every level and incredibly drinkable. Aroma is sweet malts, an incredible floral/citrusy show of hops and a good bit of alcohol. Appearance was a burnt reddish/orange color, nice two finger head. Mouthfeel was sticky without being cloying. Flavor was suprisingly sweet at first but then the hops kick in and then the golden raisins and rye kick in and everything just mingles on your tongue. Insanely drinkable for a DIPA.

2/15 Tasting at RFD: Nice light brown. Lots of rye. "Rye, hops, and more rye." And in true Lenny Bruce style, i have the word "c*cksucker" written in the margin on my ratings sheet.