Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

znichols

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-nutty, slightly auburn color with fluffy, cloud-like white head. Good, not great, lacing. Big bubbles seeping up from the bottom. Looks like a slightly darker SN Pale Ale.

S- hmmm, smells like SN Pale Ale. Slightly citrusy hops with a touch of sweet herbs. Not a ton of rye present in the aroma, just a hint of spice if you look for it. Really seems to be the aroma of Sierra Nevada's flagship ale. That's not to say it aint good, though.

T- Slightly sweet resinous hops right away. The rye makes a solid appearance in the middle but doesn't last long. Just the right amount of spicy malt to counter the grapefruit, pine hops. Moderate bitterness and little to no alcohol present. Not a bad tasting beer at all. I could get used to this offering.

M- The mouthfeel is somewhat similar to their Pale Ale too. Perhaps a little fuller and slightly more slick. Hefty carbonation and medium body. Solid.

O- This is a really good Pale Ale. It happens to also have a little rye in it. I would put the flavor profile somewhere between SA Pale Ale and Torpedo IPA. More resinous, piney hops than the Pale but not quite as in-your-face as Torpedo. Still has the similar hop-cocktail flavor of both, perhaps a similar mix of hops is used in all 3. The rye adds a touch of complexity but doesn't overpower the hops. This beer is made in the Sierra Nevada fashion; perfect amount of hoppiness and sweet malts as well as drinkability. Not bad for $7.99, either. Seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 01:07:00 | More by znichols

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

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-15-2013 21:45:57 | More by firstlighthiker

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-15-2013 18:30:39 | More by twenty5

CoreyClark

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-15-2013 17:39:23 | More by CoreyClark

JG_McNaulty

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-15-2013 13:52:59 | More by JG_McNaulty

jburd19

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-14-2013 19:14:27 | More by jburd19