Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

billshmeinke

California

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic.

Darker golden, almost a touch amber, great clarity. Three fingers of off white head. Fantastic lacing. Solid cap of foam is retained pretty much throughout.

Aromas of grain and spicy rye grab me at first. I find the rye surprisingly noticeable as I often can't pick up any rye aroma in a beer even if I know it is supposed to contain rye as an ingredient. Citrusy and zesty notes are there with hint of fruitiness that reminds me of papaya. There's something that makes me think of Sierra Nevada's pale ale as well, I'm guessing it's the yeast/hop combo.

Hearty biscuit and grain notes up front. Punchy bitterness, same papaya like fruitiness as in the nose, and mild hoppy/zesty notes jump in only to give way to rye spice and a lingering resin like bitterness.

Mouthfeel is on point. Medium body. Perfect carbonation. Medium acidity. Fairly dry. Bit tongue coating in a resin like way.

Overall, a really solid effort from Sierra Nevada. Kinda like a more resinous and slightly less zesty cousin of Torpedo with a spicy rye element that makes itself known quite a bit more than many other rye beers.

Definitely gonna buy at least another six pack of Ruthless Rye this season.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:03:13 | More by billshmeinke

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

mattsucks

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-18-2013 14:10:30 | More by mattsucks

beernads

Florida

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-18-2013 06:58:11 | More by beernads

anewlanguage

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 22:31:18 | More by anewlanguage

Newenglandcraftbrew

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-17-2013 21:18:44 | More by Newenglandcraftbrew

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

3.44/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light copper color. Moderate off-white head with good retention and moderate lacing. Medium rye and herbal hops in the aroma. Flavor is mild caramel malt, grassy and piney hops and a moderate dose of rye. The spiciness of the rye and bitterness of the hops predominate--I would have liked a bit more malt for some sweetness and balance. This is a beer that couldn't really decide what it wants to be--it needs more hops and rye to be a really aggressive rye IPA. Or it needs more caramel sweetness to be a more "mainstream" beer. Instead, they split the difference and the result, while good, is not as good as it could have been.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 21:05:43 | More by BeerRefugee

Xzfgiimtsath

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-17-2013 12:45:38 | More by Xzfgiimtsath

somethingcreative

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-17-2013 01:01:53 | More by somethingcreative

AL89BR

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-16-2013 23:04:07 | More by AL89BR

mverity

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-16-2013 21:39:40 | More by mverity

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-16-2013 21:33:01 | More by InspectorBob

ajtorres311

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-16-2013 15:38:34 | More by ajtorres311

Achilles811

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-15-2013 23:41:20 | More by Achilles811