Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

BeerPhan86

New York

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Funny that there is another Ruthless Rye IPA made by Barrier Brewing Company, this is the Sierra Nevada version I am reviewing. Saw some Sierra reviews for the other beer, uh oh! Been wanting to try this since it was released.

A - Pours a pretty clear brownish amber with a good finger of light tan, almost light brown head. Great retention on the head and some exceptionally sticky lacing!

S - Lots of citrus (mainly grapefruit) with some peppery, bready malt. Very earthy and spicy.

T - Citrus and piney hops blend well with the breadiness and spices. There are some really nice grapefruit flavors in here that remind me of a West Coast IPA, but at the same time it is darker and earthier than most West Coast IPAs. A little dry and boozy in the finish. Really nice peppery rye finger lingers on the tongue along with some piney notes.

M - Medium bodied and well carbonated. Fairly sticky and coating but not overly so.

O - This is quite a decent IPA and a huge step up from boring Glissade Golden Bock. A nice, spicy, hoppy beer that is perfect for the upcoming rainy trainsition to spring (what we mountain people call the "mud season"). I'll definitely be getting more of this, very unique while being completely in the Sierra Nevada style.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 03:21:24 | More by BeerPhan86

MadWolf

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-25-2013 17:09:19 | More by MadWolf

jaswilson2

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-25-2013 03:10:14 | More by jaswilson2

andrew8626

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-25-2013 02:37:27 | More by andrew8626

Spaz7

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-24-2013 21:09:27 | More by Spaz7

Redrover

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Mellow Mushroom is Jacksonville Beach. It was served in a standard pint glass and the beer is brassy dark amber. There is a very sticky beige head.

It has a pleasant aroma of spicy rye, sweet malts and some pine.

The taste leads with a bit of pine resin and subtle peppery rye and caramel malts. Beer is well balanced with a lot of nice facets.

The mouth is semi-thick and a bit oily. It is coating.

This is a nice rye beer. Well done!

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2013 17:19:01 | More by Redrover

Leitz

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-23-2013 21:41:10 | More by Leitz

drh1382

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-23-2013 20:10:09 | More by drh1382

ipas-for-life

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-23-2013 13:10:02 | More by ipas-for-life

Illos

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-23-2013 04:56:04 | More by Illos

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-23-2013 02:03:39 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

tswater

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-23-2013 00:45:13 | More by tswater

Marty91

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 21:54:03 | More by Marty91

DStoked

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-22-2013 13:47:10 | More by DStoked

watermelonman

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pouring to a deep gold amber, this looks great in glass with moderate head and lace. Mild carbonation keeps up throughout.

Citrus hops and rye dominate the smell, and in taste are joined by barely enough caramel malt to give body and balance. The flavors I want and love in a rye pale are a little flat and flimsy, especially considering the lighter mouthfeel, but in terms of a balanced IPA this is as well done as any. The spicy taste of rye is apparent but I usually want more body to back it. The finish is clean and lightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 05:10:20 | More by watermelonman

BigOldOaf

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 03:01:17 | More by BigOldOaf

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-21-2013 01:51:24 | More by Kingcurio

Lucoli

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-21-2013 01:22:53 | More by Lucoli

tittymcj

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Drank at a bar in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Good looking beer. Nice and frothy, lots of head. Solid color and clarity.

Very smooth, if I remember correctly. Not a lot of bite, but not overbearing with the malty flavors. Very well balanced.

I'd recommend for being a good beer, but not particularly impressive on any front.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 13:51:53 | More by tittymcj

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-20-2013 04:10:58 | More by Kmat10

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

This beer always gives me the knarliest farts. They fucking stink too. The beer's good, and the 6.6% always leaves my liver working hard to make me sober enough to work the next morning. I like the fact that I can drink a bunch of it, fart enough to make my domain a gas chamber, then wake up and walk out of the room without noticing the deadly smell that the beer gave me. It leaves a chalky hungover taste in your mouth after you drink 10 and wake up without brushing your teeth, but that's the life of a true alcoholic. An alcoholic's beer if the ABV were a touch higher and the farts were a bit stinkier.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 07:33:05 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

nick_asian

Nevada

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 07:11:41 | More by nick_asian

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-19-2013 06:55:07 | More by Budinetz

bluestar0828

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 21:10:51 | More by bluestar0828

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-18-2013 15:05:08 | More by jbarletto