Ruthless Rye IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Ruthless Rye IPARuthless Rye IPA
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Rye Beer
Ranked #40
ABV:
6.6%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,095
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 11.31%
Reviews:
1,201
Ratings:
5,319
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 03:19 AM
Added:
Dec 29, 2011
Wants:
  118
Gots:
  848
Rugged and resilient, rye has been a staple grain for ages and its spicy black pepper-like flavor has been prized by distillers and brewers for centuries. Rye thrives in the harshest conditions and comes to life in Ruthless, a rugged IPA with fruity, citrus and herbal hop notes countered by the dry spiciness of the rye. Holding a steadfast balance between contrasting malt and hop character, Ruthless is bold enough to inspire even the most brazen hop head to bear down and embrace the flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of evanwoertz
Reviewed by evanwoertz from California

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
smell is little bit absent but otherwise a fantastic beer. the look and feel are just right. look is translucent copper-brown and the feel is thick and crisp at the same time. taste is a little metallic but i quite like it and think it resembles an english style winter warmer.
Sunday at 03:19 AM
 
Rated: 2.68 by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

Jan 20, 2024
Photo of LeinenkugelDrinker
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A very good brew, but not if you don’t like spice.
Look: Red with a touch of orange. Large head.
Smell: Fresh baked bread with a hint of hops.
Taste: As it does with the smell, the rye really comes through with the taste. The spices from the rye are very prominent and make for a really savory flavor.
Feel: High carbonation, has a surprisingly light finish.
Overall: This is a very bready, spice filled beer that will warm your ass up on a cold December day. I personally am quite fond of this beer, but many may find it over-powering.
Dec 26, 2023
Photo of J-legend-K
Rated by J-legend-K from Colorado

3.81/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Surprisingly good for 6 months old and nice for cold weather.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

4.29/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I'm having this not at its freshest (4-5 months old) but it doesn't matter. It still drinks great. The rye offers a nice spiciness that compliments the other flavors. Well balanced, smooth and delicious.
Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Dec 04, 2023
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
11/27/23 12 oz bottle purchased at Caliente Pizza and Draft House in Crafton, PA

Bronze tinted deep amber look. Pepper on the nose with a bit of cigar on the taste. Definite peppery, grapefruit rind in the taste.

Nice to find another rye IPA.
Nov 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by StArnoldFan from Texas

Nov 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by PopeGrundle from Texas

Oct 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.68 by Zigzach from Florida

Oct 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.95 by TonyStarks2231 from New York

Oct 10, 2023
Photo of whynot44
Reviewed by whynot44 from Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear copper color with a modest but lasting off white head and a bit of lacing.
The aroma is fresh rye bread, hints of citrus and caramel.
The taste is slightly sweet malt, rye bread, caramel, lemon and black pepper. The finish is dry with some lingering grapefruit zest and pine, tasty and nicely balanced.
The body is medium, moderate carbonation, very smooth and very drinkable.
Altogether, this is a very enjoyable brew, I'm fond of rye ales and this is a very good example.
Oct 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by Jcal2023 from Pennsylvania

Sep 30, 2023
Photo of InAmberChad
Reviewed by InAmberChad

2.56/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Drank from a Peroni glass left in the freezer for ~40 minutes. Served cold.

Color: clear with a couple very tiny floaters; dark amber, pushing into the red territory

Head: 2 cm deep with 1-3 mm bubbles; head has a slight yellowish tinge and a nice gradient from big bubbles in the center and little bubbles on the periphery; I personally like when the top of the head separates from the lower portion with the smaller bubbles, and this beer did not dissapoint; left only left a couple rings on the glass but I was drinking it pretty quickly

Aroma: sweet, spicy, caramel when first poured; caramel became more pronounced as the beer warmed

Taste: a little bit of sweet at the beginning followed by a pure peppery flavor as it coats the tongue; strong - but not unpleasant - alcohol flavor despite only being 6.6%

Mouthfeel: crisp carbonation; coats the tongue well and sits in your mouth for awhile

Overall: I don't think I'd sit down and drink a 6-pack of these, but I'm glad Sierra Nevada brought it back. Additionally, they put it in a sampler 12-pack along with some other re-hashed one-offs. I might try drinking one room temp on a cool autumn night as it definitely reminds me of the Fall, my favorite season.
Sep 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by HabaJohnTheReal1 from Illinois

Sep 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.81 by SpaethJam from New York

Sep 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by Buck_Jones from Michigan

Sep 10, 2023
Photo of Wattie83
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a teku glass. Looks copper colored in the body with an off white head that sticks around a bit. Not a perfectly clear beer but looks still in the glass as far as carbonation. Smell is brown bread, grain, slight citrus from the hops. Taste is pretty well balanced. You get the dark bread, pepper, spiciness from the malt coupled nicely with the grapefruit, lemon, pine from the hops. These flavors seem to be well balanced with none really dominating. Feel is medium bodied with low level carbonation. Beer seems to linger a bit on the tongue. Overall, I remember this beer very differently from before. This is a very pleasant drink as it is substantial, balanced, and very good. A bit different, obviously, due to the rye. I enjoyed it.
Sep 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 08, 2023
Ruthless Rye IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 5319 ratings