Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

MickeyD

Kansas

3.34/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I poured this from a 12oz bottle into a clean pint glass.

Appearance: Nice and golden brown with a nice head however it dissipates quickly, good carbonation.

Smell: Perfume with floral and pine. Not much malt that I can smell. I am really looking for the rye in this one and am not finding it.

Taste: definite pine from the hops, a crisp bite from hops and carbonation.

Mouth feel: Slight bite more spice and floral hops, a slight malt taste is detected once swirled around the mouth.

Overall: I have had one other rye/IPA and I must tell you that that one was much better balanced. This seems to be an IPA ONLY with very little to no rye. Good beer however and I would buy it again but not often. If I want an IPA I would buy one! I wanted that balance with the rye.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:56:33 | More by MickeyD

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.61/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Type: on tap 25 oz
Glass: Oversized mug
From: R.U.B. Pub in Ann Arbor
Price: $7

Appearance: a light brown/orange color. perfect clarity. not much foam or retention

Smell: rye and hops all day

Taste: citrus hops and spicy rye. i was hoping for a bit more complexity

Mouthfeel: not quite as sticky and bitter as I would have expected. good slightly fuller character

Overall: this beer is good and well done. i just wanted a bit more complexity out of it

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 16:49:31 | More by SportsandJorts

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.23/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Appearance - light copper color, fulll 2 finger frothy head.

Smell - hops, bitter, and a touch of soapiness

Taste - mild malty sweet, maybe a pinch of bread, followed immediately by pine.

Mild hops start in the middle and linger after swallowed. Not nearly the Hops profile i was expecting considering 1) the smell, and 2) it's called an IPA. I don't know much about Rye Beers but I think the only thing Rye added to this was color.
...15 minutes later, near the bottom of the glass as the beer warms, you get a earthy spice flavor, and after that, the alcohol become more predominant. + for the spice, - for the alcohol, and the taste rating is back to where it was.

Feel - Thick, full bodied, like a dark beer. the head is creamy and really add the experience.

Nothing too special here. I want to rate this beer higher, but I have to start setting my standards higher.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:45:22 | More by TastyAdventure

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 3/13/13

Appearance: Deep amber in color when viewed from a distance, more of a reddish, copper orange in the light - mostly clear, with some chill haze - larger than average, off-white head - keeps a nearly solid cap, leaves a wall of spotty lacing - very pretty

Smell: Bright, citrusy hops and a ton of spicy rye - grassy, spicy, bready rye, apparently "ruthless" wasn't just thrown in the name for alliteration - orange and grapefruit flesh, with some rind and some pith - bready caramel and amber malts in the background

Taste: Rye and citrus, both in abundance - fleshy, pithy, lightly oily grapefruit - bitterness is moderate, seems amplified by the rye - there is a lot of spicy, grassy rye the flavor profile, perhaps a bit too much, honestly, reduces drinkability - very earthy overall - grainy, bready caramel and pale malts

Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, nicely carbonated, very dry finish

Overall: This is indeed devoid of ruth

Ruthless Rye is decidedly flavorful and interesting, but the rye gets rapidly tiring. I've previously had it on a few occasions, and I've never been convinced that buying a sixer is a good idea. I'm finally reviewing it because I found a single. And while I do like this beer, I'm not in a rush to have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 05:43:46 | More by angrybabboon

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.86/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Copper brown with three fingers of white head that leaves a ring around the glass with every sip.

S - Hops present, citrus, pepper, resinous

T - Nice bitter rye like, resiny hop punch, fresh wet hops, citrus, pepper.

O - Seems like I can't find a SN brew that I don't love. Well done. Easy drinking RyePA that blends similar hop profile and drinkability that the standard SN Pale ale with a bit of a twist. A definite try.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 02:24:10 | More by andrewjraab

estlinska

Arkansas

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On Tap 3/11/13 in a tulip.

Poured with 2 fingers of big foamy head full of tiny bubbles. Reddish brown color like a worn out copper pipe mixed with red licorice and lots of tight lacing. The smell was full of citrus and resin and a little bit of sweet fruit on the back end. It smelled a lot like a bowl of hops resting in water; very fresh. The taste was not as sweet; very spicy like a rye beer, but the sweet malt sits there in the front with that spicy rye flavor on top. It was very tasty and had a nice bittering hop flavor. The hops flavor was backseat by far though. it was pretty fizzy overall with a pretty full mouthfeel, approaching the oiliness of a big IPA. Overall, this beer is pretty awesome overall. Well balanced between a classic IPA and a rye beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2013 01:39:35 | More by estlinska

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.61/5  rDev +18.2%
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

Lognar

Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pour - Pours a reddish amber/copper with a finger and a half of beige head.

Nose - Peppery spice and grain along with some maltyness - like fresh rye bread. Not much hops though. The nose is on the weaker side.

Taste - Lots of peppery spice and bready malt on the front. The rye is definitely out in front. Next comes the expected piney hop bitterness balanced nicely with the dry bready malt. The piney hops and the spice carry the finish.

Mouthfeel - Chewy, but that might be because this brew makes me want bread. Feels a bit more full bodied than other IPAs.

Overall - The peppery spice of the rye really works well with bitter hop qualities of an IPA. This one really makes me want some bread. It's an interesting style, but comes across more harshly due to the peppery spice from the rye.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 00:59:21 | More by Lognar

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep amber/mahogany hue with decent clarity. Thin soapy off-white head with some nice lacing.

Aroma: Biscuit, grassy hops, and just a hint of white pepper from the rye. Not sure of the age of the bottle but it's not all that aromatic.

Taste: A pleasant flavor at first sip that gets slightly more intense as I get further into the glass. Starts with the classic Pale Ale malt bill with the addition of rye that gives the bready flavor a nice peppery note without being overdone. The hops character and bitterness build together from right before midway until long after the finish. The hop flavor here is grassy and earthy with a hint of grapefruit buried deep below everything else. I'd estimate the bitterness is about 50-60 IBUs. Lots of good flavor at only 6.6% ABV. About a third of the way through the glass the flavor does intensify as the combination of rye and hop character saturate the palate but it never gets extreme and always stays balanced between the grains and hops. If I had one complaint it would be that I'd classify the flavor as more of a Pale Ale style than an IPA based on the biscuit malt taste that persists throughout.

Mouthfeel: A tad below medium in body with a pretty smooth feel despite the combination of bitter flavors. Above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: Ruthless Rye IPA would make a great aperitif. It really wakes up the taste buds and does a good job of providing a flavor that is as-advertised. Fans of rye beers should check this one out. Would I drink it again? Yes, but I would not seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 19:16:09 | More by JamesMN

McStagger

California

4.29/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Re review for the 2013 batch.

A: Pours a beautiful brick/garnet with excellent clarity. Two fingers cappuccino foam head. Moderate carbonation, with small bubbles rising lazily to the surface. Excellent retention with excellent lacing as well.

S: Lot of the standard west coast IPA notes. Citrus, spiciness, lot of milled grain with a bit of that rye edge. Bready and yeasty notes with a bit of soapiness.

T: Malt is immediately present, but this quickly transitions into black pepper, citrus, with a bit of bitter, bruised mint. The rye is definitely present in the taste, and lends a spiciness and a certain rustic quality. Alcohol warmth in the finish. Finishes dry, with the grapefruit finally making an appearance among the other flavors.

M: A bit heavier than medium bodied but not quite full bodied. The subtle carbonation and full malt bill give this beer a slightly creamy edge. Borderline slick, but the carbonation keeps things balanced.

O: One of those beers that's greater than the sum of its parts. Stylistically, Sierra Nevada absolutely nailed this one. From the killer bottle art all the way to the rough, unpolished taste profile, Sierra Nevada did an excellent job in highlighting the rustic aspect of this oft derailed grain. Cheers to them.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 09:07:55 | More by McStagger

ktblue22

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I really enjoyed this beer - in my opinion, a very straightforward Rye IPA but Sierra hit the nail on the head.

A - dark orange copper, frothy head of over half inch
S - crisp and hoppy - not getting a lot of smell but it could be that I don't have the right glass for this beer (just a standard pint glass - our craft beer glass is in the dishwasher....)
T- earthy, gritty, subtle hops with a great showcasing of rye. Perfectly carbonated with a danky moss aftertaste
M- medium body but the carbonation makes it feel lighter, grittiness that is appealing and also adds to the rye flavor.

Overall very drinkable and exceptional to pair with a hunstman cheese

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:41:29 | More by ktblue22

PaleZombie

Arizona

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A- A wonderful amber color with a decent amount of carbonation bubbles.

S- Strong smell of rye, hops, some malt, and some caramel like hints.

T- Strong hop presence here you get the rye more in the finish with a decent amount of bitterness.

M- I love the feel on this one, just the perfect amount of carbonation and slightly more than medium body.

O- This is a good one and worth a try, it took me a couple to get a feel for it but I find I like it more as I drink more of them.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 07:43:56 | More by PaleZombie

lsummers

California

4.96/5  rDev +27.2%
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

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Sam Smith pint glass.
Pours out a translucent copper, plenty of carbonation creates a solid 3/4 inch head with decent retention.

Rye, minerals, grass and a hint of citrus make up most of the smell.

Rye and pale malts combine with a bit of pine, grass and lemon rind to start this off. Slight hint of sweet malts and more rye spice at the finish. The mouth isn't as heavy on the carbonation as I expected. Nice, smooth, moderate body.

One awesome rye IPA! Thanks Sierra Nevada, this is an excellent seasonal offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 01:06:51 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

RaulMondesi

California

3.66/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Chilling out on a weekday and Raul was simply feeling it. I've never had one, so why not prance on a waiting gazelle? Conclusion: not bad. Not bad at all. It's not like I was expecting the prom queen after a few wine coolers, but it was tasty enough.

Raul digs it. Raul digs it enough to dig for another.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 09:41:52 | More by RaulMondesi

scot_chale

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Beautiful copper/amber/orange body with 2 fingers of heavy white foam and very active carbonation flying around. Lacing is solid and the head hangs out.

S- the peppery, spicy, bready character comes out with some citrusy hop notes and some yeast but it's faint. the overall aroma is pungent and inviting.

T- total herbal hops. it's floral yet spicy and mean. it's very cool. challenging, in a good way. you get a bit of that rye malt when the hop bomb fades.

M- very hard carbonation bite on the tongue. it's dry, medium bodied, and clean.

O- holy cow. this is ruthless rye 2013. it's spicy, hoppy, bitter, complex, and everything that makes the american IPA a neverending adventure in beer. I'll keep this around for brewing sessions. Skol.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 04:06:03 | More by scot_chale

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark amber to copper color with a moderate white head and moderate lacing. Scents are grapefruit with some mild malt in the background. Taste is a nice balance of sharp pine with sweet malt, with a touch of spicy rye and pepper. Nothing spectacular, just a tasty and all-around good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:38:26 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

tronester

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a clear reddish amber with a huge light tan head that sticks to the glass impressively. Aromas of fresh pine cones, and a hint of pepper. Taste begins with some tart grain, followed by a smooth hint of vanilla, then some fresh bread. After that is a smooth resinous pinecone flavor that washes over. A quite clean finish. Mouthfeel is good. Overall an excellent IPA. Not especially bitter, but with plenty of hop flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:41:22 | More by tronester

barnzy78

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2013 - 12oz bottle, pours light copper and is topped with a fluffy, ivory head that holds excellent retention & leaves chunky lacing down the glass. Aromas are earthy rye coupled with citric, grapefruity hops, and mild pine. It smells a bit light struck, as did the previous three from this 6-pack, but I've had this before and I'll just ignore it as artifact so to speak. Tastes are spicy rye, earth, biscuit, dank resious, grapefruity hop, pine; astringent on the finish. Thinner body, moderate carbonation, oily hop resins stick and linger on the palate while finishing dry. Overall, very good, but I remember enjoying it more last year.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 23:15:22 | More by barnzy78

thegodfather1076

Ohio

4.11/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Awesome label with great graphics and color scheme. Neck label states 2013 and gives a small description of the beer. Back label gives a small description of the beer, ABV info, and web info.

Appearance: I poured this from its 12oz bottle into a 13oz tulip glass. Pours out a clear copper orange color with a 1½ finger golden cream foam head of medium density. Head retention was 2min 37sec before fading into a frothy coating. Excellent lacing.

Smell/Aroma: Smells of grapefruit and floral hops. Also has a spiciness in the nose and has hints of sweet malts. Very interesting.

Flavor/Taste: Has a large rye spiciness on the front end with a good deal of biscuit-like malt flavors. This is followed by a bitter fruity citrus hop bite that turns a bit sweet before fading to a back end dominated by toasted malts. Excellent.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: Medium bodied and slightly creamy with an above average carbonation. Very drinkable.

Overall/Comments: Extremely tasty brew that any hop head will love! I really like the spice character the rye imparts on this IPA. Excellent!! Classified as an American IPA at 6.6%. Consumed 2-16-13.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 10:30:38 | More by thegodfather1076

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a nonic glass

A- Poured a clear, rich, dark amber color with big soapy off-white head with big bubbles that left glass coating and dense lace. Lots of visible carbonations. Sierra Nevada makes the most incredible looking IPAs.

S- Big peppery, floral, and earthy hop aroma. Definitely get the rye character more than other RyePA's I have had, some citrus hops as well.

T- Big spicy and peppery character from the rye, lots of floral and earthy hop flavor, some citrus hop character, quite a bit of graininess and caramel malt. Pretty high bitterness, especially on the finish

M- Very dry, prickly carbonation, smooth, medium body. Very effervescent and quite refreshing.

O- A really nice RyePA with tons of that spicy rye character and nice floral hop character.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 04:16:31 | More by Hoptometrist

Samuel906

California

3.35/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

My favorite thing about this is how it looks. The color is simply gorgeous, a deep reddish amber, but perfectly transparent. Thick head and sticky lacing top it off. Some very fine particles of sediment can be seen suspended in the brew, likely the rye. Smell is mostly of the resinous hops, but has more bread and grain and less citrus and fruit than most IPAs. Taste is fairly standard for an IPA up front leaving behind some bread and malt on the back of the palate along with some mild rye flavor. As a fan of big bold flavor, my biggest qualm is that there is not enough rye flavor. Caraway seed are one of my favorite spice flavors, and I was really wishing this beer would host some of that flavor. Overall, a good beer, but since the rye is a bit of a letdown, I don't think I would ever choose Ruthless over Sierra's standard IPA, Torpedo.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 04:10:04 | More by Samuel906

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a deep golden brown color with a thin head and poor retention. Minimal lacing.

S-Very earthy hops. Unforgivingly yeasty. I'm also picking up on some notes of peppery basil leaves and citrusy, tangy fruits.

T- Yeasty bread, peppered mandarin oranges

MF-Surprisingly smooth for an IPA. Very good balance between smoothness and crispness

O-One of the better IPA's I've had. It is not too abrasive, which seems to be the problem with most IPA's in my opinion. This one is very subtle and forgiving and has no notes that kick you in the teeth.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 01:21:03 | More by Jacurdy60

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, with no apparent bottled on date present except a code and 2013 printed on the top label.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a semi-clear dark copper color with one finger of doughy white head with extremely nice retention. Some nice sheets of lacing clinging to the glass.

S - Skunky, orange citrus hops, and of course rye and spices. A boring, unimpressive nose, in all honesty.

T - Grainy and spicy. Heavy taste of rye and cracked peppercorns. Hoppy bitterness with maybe a bit of blood orange in the end, but not very much citrus or floral aspects to it. Decent body, okay carbonation, I just feel that something is missing somewhere. Slight touch of sugary sweetness coming out in the end.

M - Bitter and dry feel. Smooth and clean. Some hop resins hanging onto the tongue along with that touch of sweetness.

Overall, Sierra Nevada has failed to impress me once again. It is by no means a bad beer, just fairly bland and simple in it's approach. I was unimpressed with the Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA also, and I'd probably wager that their Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was the best I've had from them so far. I need to try another Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA and see how far that one gets me. A drinkable beer with a decent body and a decent 6.60% abv, but there are far better rye IPA's to be had.

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 23:26:11 | More by mfnmbvp

Steven91

Arizona

2.23/5  rDev -42.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75

A - First pour was awasome finger head with big bubbles that recess to little ones
S - You really smell the rye for sure but than goes to a bitter hop smell with some pine not a whole lot of smell going on
T - Bitterness is first with a slow rye taste after followed by some nectar taste
M - This feels lighter than normal light for an ipa
O - Not impressed by this beer it's worth trying but not my number one

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 03:48:08 | More by Steven91