Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

kdawg105

Georgia

5/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow I think I have found one of my favorite IPAs to date. Apparance out of this world more than you expect with caramel color with lots of beautiful lace. Taste has nice citrus kick but with some spice added, the moutheel is perfect very smooth easy to drink. Please purchase this beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 00:39:08 | More by kdawg105

lsummers

California

4.96/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Had this on tap and in a bottle for this review. Pours an amber honey orange. The attenuation is high on this one, as is the lacing. A nice offwhite two finger head lingers for a minute.

Smells of spicy pine with some barnyard and lemon/orange. Touch of herbal nature. Touch of pineapple/grapefruit.

Taste is so very well balanced. Piney hops and spicy rye hits with a bitter note upfront. Slight cereal note with a touch citrus pineapple. Very clean herbal peppery notes from the rye.

Mouthfeel is clean with some fizz bouncing off the tongue and smooth.

Overall, this is a definite go to for me. It's perfectly balanced yet diverse enough to still be interesting. I will continually seek out this rye ipa.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 06:43:48 | More by lsummers

naharah

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is by far my favorite Rye I.P.A that I have tried so far. After I was pouring in into my pint glass the beer left a nice two inch head. My nose was lit up as I took in the inviting smell of spice, citrus and oh those hops. Every sip you are required to savor the taste and enjoy the carbonation as is glides down your throat. I hope that Sierra Nevada decides to make this beer year round, as I have been sending them letters asking so. If you have not tried this beer I would recommend it ANY time you see it! I am glad to have had the pleasure to enjoy such a well crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 18:50:02 | More by naharah

ThePortlander

New York

4.9/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So, I normally love Ruthless. As far as I'm concerned this is a brilliant addition to the SN lineup, and a classic in its own right. In the cask, however, I LOVE this IPA! I had it at Bierkraft in Brooklyn, and was simply blown away by everything from the appearance to the taste. The light carbonation enhanced the malt flavors, and boosted the mouthfeel giving this Ruthless a bigger presence. Amazing.

Serving type: cask

04-05-2012 02:31:04 | More by ThePortlander

chiccabeer

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this beer out of a bottle and poured it into a glass. I have to say I was stunned when I had it. It has a great smell that has a nutty smell to it. You can smell the aroma hops at work. The taste is definitely strong and reminiscent of an IPA, but it has a strong rye favor. I can taste some spice in the beer, but over arching I can taste a pleasant conflict of orange and rye. It seems like such a simple blend, but definitely crafted perfectly. It has a smooth feel and leaves a strong sweet after taste. I would definitely suggest this beer anytime, and a good beer to give to friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 00:39:08 | More by chiccabeer

purdueracer

Ohio

4.88/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is an incredible beer. It has a unique flavor profile. It hits you hard with the hops and the rye. It finishes with a really nice dry aftertaste. It's a beer that you enjoy for a minute when you're done drinking. It is one of my favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 05:35:02 | More by purdueracer

thebrood1987

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +24%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Smells very fruity and floral with a sharp grapefruit smell that I get from Sierra Nevada beers and Victory beers due to the whole cone hops both breweries use. I also get a bit of that bready rye smell as well.

It has a spicy bite up front then quickly turning into the rye bread spicy maltiness and then quickly turning to a sharp bitter piney citric bite. They use experimental hops in this one and you can tell its a different hop flavor than their Torpedo. This has more of piney resin taste to it. Its great though backed with that spicy malty rye.

Between the experimental hops they use in this beer, the malty rye bready taste and the spicyness from the rye and hops melding together makes this my favorite Sierra Nevada beer. Definitely too bad they don't have this as a year round beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 04:58:09 | More by thebrood1987

threeviews

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle (bottled on date of February 3, 2012) into a 14oz Libbey Snifter...fresh, fresh, fresh!

A- Pours a clear, deep amber color with a 2-3 finger off-white, meringue head.

S- The aroma is pungent with rye spice & pine. As the head subsides and the beer warms (as well as swirl it in the glass), subtle orange and grapefruit notes reveal themselves. Despite a Citra presence in the dry hop bill, the Chinook and "Experimental Hops" dominate with spice and pine.

T- As you exhale, the rye dominates your senses but its (spicy) flavor is kept in check by the hops (grapefruit rind is secondary to the rye spice). It is so well balanced that your palate is left relatively unharmed and left with a lingering piney-ness reminiscent of Torpedo.

M- If familiar with their beers, it is classic Sierra Nevada. Moderate, soft carbonation that supports but never interferes with the flavors.

O- I could have easily given this brew 5's for all categories, as it is simply excellent. However, the Rye IPA style is somewhat of an acquired taste and I don't see it being overly sessionable. What's more, I would prefer a bit more citrus profile in the nose, as the rye and pine aromas tend to dominate. Although Torpedo and Celebration Ale reign supreme, Ruthless Rye is a worthwhile, tertiary offering.

All fans of IPA's and Sierra Nevada (Pale Ale & Torpedo) should not hesitate to pick this up while it's still available.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 21:07:52 | More by threeviews

MidwestMaverick

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The only reason I don't give this beer a perfect 5 is because I didn't actually see God, and ya gotta leave room for perfect. That said, for those who like a nice full bodied, hop forward, west coast IPA, it's pretty hard to beat this. I feel like it's balanced for it's style in that it has a nice rich mouth feel and full body, yet the flavor is all hops, without getting over the top and into imperial IPA territory. I feel like the rye must contribute more to that body than the flavor, adding a subtle peppery note without the syrupy sweetness often found in more 'balanced' IPAs. Hopefully they keep putting this out. Gets me through the second half of these looong midwest winters.

Plus, you gotta dig that label art.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 03:05:46 | More by MidwestMaverick

mjurney

Texas

4.73/5  rDev +21%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Bright copper color, hazy. Good amount of carbonation rising. Foamy head.

Aroma:
Very piney. Spicy. Malty.

Taste:
Very well balance of hops and malts. Piney-citrus hops. Very bready, spicy rye malt, doughy. Spicy dry finish.

Body:
Medium bodied. Carbonation is moderate.

Well made beer!!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 22:16:27 | More by mjurney

burnerfinger

Texas

4.73/5  rDev +21%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from the 12 oz bottle into my new belgium goblet:

A: dark oragnish hue - maxi head with sticky generous lacing. head settles to a thick tocky layer:

S: pure HOPS. very nice indeed.

T: malt takes a backseat to the piney hopiness. LOVE this

M good body, generous ABV well hidden. medium carbonation

D: low score here, this rich and thick brew is NOT to be guzzled. but it's GREAT!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 04:41:21 | More by burnerfinger

bbeerman

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A..A relatively dark golden pour with minimal to no head; no lacing present.

(As a side note, the label on this beer is one of the best I have seen. A robed maiden stands with a large sickle in a field of rye, while an old farmhouse stands in the background. The colors are gorgeous.)

S..This one smells fresh. Then again, most SN brews do (this one is reminiscent of Torpedo IPA).

T..Sierra Nevada created a terrific beer yet again! The rye here is original and wonderful. Some malt present, but not in an overpowering way. The combination of grains (which are great...did I mention that yet?) make me think I am drinking a glass of kind bud.

M..Easy to drink a couple, though I would not call this a session beer. Medium bodied, but it is a strong presence on the palette.

O..Looking forward to this one again, but already unhappy it won't be available all year. Awesome spring beer that SN should continue with each year.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 13:53:48 | More by bbeerman

sagefool

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just saw this at the grocery, in between my standby Torpedo IPA and a shelf down from the Ranger.

My. Lord.

I'm a Hophead by definition. My other non-hoppy "go-tos" are Spaten Optimator and Negro Modelo, mainly because it's a long drive to anything better. I used to be DFH all the way, but the price tends to get in the way.

I thought Torpedo was the best thing Sierra Nevada had going (big fan of their Kellerweizen, as well).

This is the IPA I have been searching for. It's just incredible. Great pour into a pilsner glass with a 2" head that slowly dissipated.

Strong hops up front, with a peppery finish on the back end. Doesn't leave you with that bloated feel you get when you've had too many of the Torpedo.

Malts are in the background, where I like them. Haven't had any spicy food with this yet, but I believe this beer can hold its own.

My new "King of the IPAs".

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 03:00:03 | More by sagefool

shcufj

Vermont

4.68/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle to tall tulip glass.

A: Deep copper, light amber color. Solid, white effervescent head, dissipated quickly. some lacing

S: Strong hop aroma, with floral and very slight citrus hints. I also picked up some peppery notes on the nose

T: Nicely balanced malty, hoppy, and rye flavors. Finish was a peppery hoppy flavor, with the hops diminishing first

M: Medium bodied and crisp mouth feel, adequate if not slightly over carbonated.

O: I really enjoyed this beer. The rye coupled with an already very nice IPA created a nice drinking experience. Overall, I highly recommend this beer and will probably always have a few in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 02:19:13 | More by shcufj

LordChesterfield

Oregon

4.68/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I picked this up at Safeway on a whim. I'm so glad I did. It's a deep reddish brown color and forms a rocky tan head. The nose is floral and hoppy, but the malt comes through in what some would describe as metallic. It's not. That's spicy rye goodness. It tastes just phenomenal, at any temperature. The hops are very present but completely balanced. People say the malt is spicy, but it's big and complex with a sweet, buttery flavor that lingers on the front of your tongue and in your memory. This is my first rye PA, and it has me wondering if they're all this good. It's a perfect early spring beer and here in Portland it already feels like early spring. This is jut perfect after a long bike ride.

UPDATE!!!: I just read that this bear contains more hop oils than any other Sierra Nevada beer, and I totally agree. It smells like really dank POT. Hops are related to cannabis after all. Betcha didn't know that. BOOM!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 08:20:50 | More by LordChesterfield

bbrown29073

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12-oz bottle to a 16 oz glass.

A-NICE creamy 1-inch head. Lacing followed all the way down, as I consumed it.

S-Hoppy...like an IPA should be

T-Grapefruit followed by a slight bitterness. VERY pleasant.

M-A touch more carbonation is called for, IMO

O- I bought a 6-pack that I do NOT intend to share with "just anyone". This is a VERY good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 20:35:07 | More by bbrown29073

xShoWTeKx

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Poured from a bottle into a pint glass, has a good sized white head that holds for quite a while and leaves heavy lace. Color is a transparent copper.

S: Very strong spicy, citrusy hop smell with a slight rye bread and sweet caramel smell.

T: A nice spicy kind of rye bread taste with very light sweetness and a strong piney and citrus hop flavor ending.

M: Medium body with good carbonation, this beer is very very smooth.

O: This is a very dynamic and smooth beer that I thoroughly enjoyed and will enjoy again. Would definitely recommend trying this beer if you haven't.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 04:07:54 | More by xShoWTeKx

theveganbrewer

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I have been officially blown away. I have never liked this beer before but it was cheap so I picked up a bottle of the 2013 batch. The mouthfeel and taste were fantastic, I found myself wanting more after just the first sip, and ended up basically chugging the beer.

A: Everything I'd expect from a brewery like SN. Clean, nice head, good lacing, some nice amber colors around the edges.

S: Rye spiciness and hops

T: Piney, resinous hops highlighted by a spicy rye

M: Chewy, with a nice bite. Addictively dry and smooth.

O: From the first sip I loved this beer. Everything seemed to line up right for me on this one. It's amazingly refreshing and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 04:46:23 | More by theveganbrewer

dcook11

California

4.63/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured in to a pint glass. Wow, this looks fantastic. Thick, creamy white head with a generous amount of sticky lacing that just clings to the glass. The beer itself is a cooper/burgundy hue, with some fine bubbles rising to the top of the glass. The aroma is quite complex. Initially, I’m struck by the hop profile. Nice, grapefruit notes, followed quickly by a strong, yet balanced rye scent. As it warms, more tropical fruit notes make their presence known, and a caramel sweetness begins to take over. At times, the beer seems to take on a sweet tartness (kind of like the candy). As the beer approaches room temperature, it begins to take on a funky, musty, aroma. Maybe also a touch of simcoe like aroma as well. The taste, is crisp, with a strong hop punch at the start. Fresh hops on the tongue, followed by a lingering, drying bitterness. The rye also balances the brew nicely, providing more of a balance to the aggressive hoping. The abv is well concealed. Very nice. The mouth feel is medium bodied. Overall, this beer is a must try for the IPA lover. If you’re not a fan f Rye beers, give this a try, it may change your mind.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 02:08:18 | More by dcook11

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bought a single bottle from Total Wine in DE. Had this on tap a few weeks ago and really dug it. Wanted to try it again in the comfort of my home.

A: Pours a clear dark copper with nice frothy head that's long lasting.

S: Spicy, peppery, citrus & pine hops. Has that signature Sierra hop character with a spice-like quality I'm assuming is coming from the rye malt.

T: Quite a wallop at first with the spice & pepper notes! A nice burst of hop character. Some caramel sweetness that helps round out the aggressive hop flavor.

M: Strikingly bitter at first that softens into a mellower malt flavor. Feels medium to medium-full with the sticky hop residue seemingly weighing it down.

O: I think SN hit another home run with this one. The rye character lends an interesting note. This is easily now one of my favorite SN beers. I would place this one next to Celebration, Pale Ale, and Bigfoot. Great effort - I dig this one a lot!

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 21:01:48 | More by jwhancher

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.61/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Sierra Nevada leads the craft brew industry, not because of popularity ...because of they're delivery! This is the best rye beer I have ever had, I find rye beers to be an acquired taste, they have a funky bite to them, and until now I did not see how they could be balanced well enough to be properly enjoyed.

Great bronze color, nice rye taste ....(more like a pumpernickel taste ) roasted caramel tones, and what you would expect from Sierra Nevada hop profile ....bold but well balanced.

This is a must try beer if you have not done so.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 13:51:55 | More by FlatRabbitRed

berliner07

New Hampshire

4.6/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another slam dunk from Sierra. Such an engaging, but drinkable beer. At first I expected more hop character in the nose, as is typical with Sierra. But, the subltety of the hops really let the rye flavor shine. I find that some rye beers are overwhelming in the rye flavor. This was just enough to keep the beer interesting, but not too much to make it overwhelming. Spicy, but drinkable. Yeah Sierra!

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 22:51:18 | More by berliner07

BeerRoach

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden amber, medium head fades into a thin head which sticks around for the long haul.

S: Floral notes combined with grapefruit and citrus make this aroma fresh and inviting!

T: Heavy on the hops, but more tart than bitter. The hops are nicely balanced with citrus flavors which linger in the mouth.

M: Refreshing and easy on the mouth.

O: One of my new favorite brews. The hops take the spotlight, but are perfectly balanced with the citrus flavors. It may be too bitter for some, but for others it will really hit the spot.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2012 13:31:33 | More by BeerRoach

Mosstrooper

California

4.6/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 16oz Pensacola Bay Brewery branded tumbler glass.

Appearance: Caramel color with an orangish/amber hue. Large yellowed head dissipates fairly quickly and leaves behind plentiful lacing.

Smell: West coast hops with rye spiciness dominate. There is a touch of citrus and a bit of biscuit as well.

Taste: Begins with sour lemon and sweet orange, before rounding out to biscuity goodness. Finishes with a pleasant hop bitterness highlighted by the spiciness of rye.

Mouthfeel: medium body with medium carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: While the aroma of this beer left me thinking "this is going to be another good rye beer, not much more and nothing less." However, I tasted an excellent one- this is a beer where the rye and hops play off one another very well, while most ryes have one dominating the other (even if only slightly so). The true beauty of this beer lies in its balance.

Would give this a five overall, but it may just be that it's only the best rye I have had recently- and i haven't had many in close to a year.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 04:59:57 | More by Mosstrooper

Auraan

Arizona

4.59/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured a beautiful amber with a one finger off white head that receded quickly but left behind lacing down the glass. Scents of northwest coast hops and spicy rye. Flavor is pronounced northwest coast hops, rye spice, slight grapefruit and excellent pine notes. Mouthfeel is of medium thickness with medium carbonation that makes it easy to drink. It's a good IPA not the best of Sierra Nevada's many different seasonal IPA offerings, or even their year round, but it's a very good rye IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 04:21:06 | More by Auraan