Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Amber with off-white, 1 finger head. Perfect lacing. Very clear

S- Citrus. Mellow hop aroma. Not as pungent as you see with most world class IPAs

T- Hops hit you up front. Very nice surprise given the mellow aroma. Initially, I didn't think it was too complex of a beer, then the spice/pepper finish kicked in about 5 or so seconds after drinking. Another delightful surprise. Good blend of bitterness with the rye.

M- Good drink ability. Mid to full bodied. A little bitter bite at the end, but nice.

O- Solid IPA. Not my favorite, but I also do not have much experience with rye beer. I would like to come back and re-review this beer in a couple years after i have had the chance to taste other rye IPA options. I would have again. Best if sipped to enjoy the finish.

$8.99 for 6 pk

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 23:23:11 | More by Bosoxfan20

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.11/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into a mug at cellar-fridge temperature.

L – Medium amber color with a 2-finger frothy, foamy, creamy colored head. Nice retention with that characteristic awesome Sierra Nevada lacing. Clear with a moderate amount of bubbles.

S – Caramel malt, grainy and peppery rye, and a nice hop bouquet with pine, floral, and grapefruit notes. There is a great balance between the malt and hops with the prominent addition of spicy rye.

T – Grainy and spicy rye is apparent up front with sweet caramel, toffee, and bready malt shining through once the peppery spice of the rye mellows. Smooth but prevalent hop bitterness comes forward at the finish with grapefruit, mango, pine, and some floral notes. Like the nose, the taste is nicely balanced.

F – Medium-bodied with great carbonation, a sticky, creamy, and mouth-coating feel, and a spicy, bitter, and dry finish. Bitter citrus hop and spicy rye flavors linger on the tongue for a nice amount of time.

O – This is a tasty beer. Nothing really sticks out in particular that sets this apart from the pack, but it’s a great example of the style. Actually if I had to pick a thing that could set it apart, it would be the great balance between the malt and hops in both the aroma and the taste. This is a tasty and very drinkable beer, and I think Sierra Nevada picks the perfect time of year to release a beer like this. The little bit of spice from the rye is reminiscent of some holiday beers, but its grainy nature mixed with the nice hop bouquet has me feeling like spring is coming. Another nice beer from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:10:57 | More by BlackBelt5112203

gr0g

New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

8 week old bottle. Pours a dark copper color capped with a two-finger head. Retention and lacing are pretty good. Distinct note of rye on the nose, kind of a spicy "twang" that stands out from the barley malt. Earthy, herbal hop notes fill out the aroma, along with a bit of lemon zest.

A moderate bitterness persists throughout. Malt body is fairly understated, but the rye shines through. A clean, competent, and pleasant flavor that's nonetheless perhaps a bit bland. A dry finish caps it off. The texture is definitely the best attribute of Ruthless Rye thanks to an excellently engineered carbonation that finds a great balance between aggressiveness and creamy smoothness.

Celebration is a tough act to follow but Ruthless Rye offers a nice twist that adds another dimension to Sierra Nevada's stable of hoppy beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:06:06 | More by gr0g

AmitC

Indiana

4.04/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured the 2013 Ruthless Rye into a snifter.

Less than a finger thick white colored head. Beer is deep amber to slightly copper colored with some ruby hues. Slight suspensions. Some haze. A few bubbles. An excellent lacing with some good head retention.

Aroma is a typical west coast and especially Sierra Nevada hop aroma. Some flower and earthiness. A bit of rye and malt backbone. Some bread and biscuit like aroma. A nice aroma from the hops. Strength is moderate.

Flavor has some additional bitterness due to rye in addition to the one coming from hops. A good bitterness here. Back heavy with front and middle more filled with malts. A nice balance with bitter finish. No alcohol.

Mouth feel is medium bodied and low to moderate carbonation. A nicely drinking rye IPA. Take out rye and it is much better and close to normal. Slight bitter astringency.

Style Rate: 4
Personal Rate: 4

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 00:25:05 | More by AmitC

NatetheGreat

Nevada

4.19/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This IPA is a beauty: deep amber with hues of mahogany and red beneath a huge, tight, white head. Sweet aroma of honeyed fruit, grapefruit and pine noticeable; very enticing aroma. taste begins sweet with a burst of hops bringing the palate to life; finishes with a spicy, peppery note. smooth mouthfeel with a substantial body, alcohol warmth comes through, especially as the beer warms.

this is a very fine IPA; I think I prefer it to SN torpedo IPA, because of the complexity. cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 14:57:08 | More by NatetheGreat

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz.

Pours a mostly clear golden brown. Sudsy yellowish head retains as a film.

Smells of mild piney hops, rye and hemp.

Tastes of mild piney hops and rye. The rye is fairly mild.

Medium body with a light tingly carbonation on the tongue.

Pretty good IPA and the rye is a nice touch, but it could stand to have more rye to it. You could be forgiven for not knowing the rye is there at all in the taste. That aside, solid IPA and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 23:47:54 | More by Cylinsier

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Clear deep amber with a massive frothy white head.

S - Earthy and piney hops, light citrus, a touch of sweet malt. A bit too subtle.

T - Fortunately, the taste is much more pronounced than the aroma. Strong pine, citrus, and spicy hops. Sweet grainy malt and rye blend in to lend balance. Finish is earthy with a slight bitterness and lingering bready flavor.

M - Creamy, medium bodied. Crisp, clean, slightly dry finish.

O - A nice, above average IPA. Super easy to drink with a solid hop profile and full malt body.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 05:33:06 | More by mooseo

Kerrie

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I must say, I missed the "IPA" part of the label since it was so small, and expected more of a red beer. That said, this is still pretty good.

A- A nice reddish/copper color. I got very minimal head, unlike the reviewer below me, and no lacing. Weird.

S- Has a slight IPA hop smell, but nothing too strong.

T- Tastes great and is very drinkable. Slightly hoppy but again, not too strong.

M- Very drinkable, not too thick or thin.

Overall I'm enjoying this but it's nothing special. I'd probably buy a single again if the mood struck but wouldn't commit to a whole 6-pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:50:01 | More by Kerrie

jacket_fan

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured aggressively from a growler to a pint glass.

A
Dark color with a full 2 finger head. Lots of carbonation in the lacing.

S
Earthy, straw aroma

T
Slaps the back of my mouth with a strong bite, which must be the rye. Not a lot of experience with rye beers. This one leaves an aftertaste on the tongue and back of the mouth. Not bad for a strong beer but caught me off guard.

O
A strong, aggressive taste. I will need to explore the rye beers more. Will look forward to finishing this growler to see if this style grows on me.

Serving type: growler

02-11-2013 02:36:46 | More by jacket_fan

macrosmatic

Florida

3.74/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Russian River pint glass.

A: Pours a clear burnished copper with a thin white head. Medium amount of visible carbonation.

S: Surprisingly low amount of aroma – pine & lemon citrus hops with some toasted bready malt. But not much of either.

T: Follows the nose – citrus, pine, and grassy hops, and lots of bready malt. Moderate bitterness in hang.

M: Almost a chewy mouthfeel, medium body. Alcohol very well-hidden, and a great amount of carbonation.

O: Good, but nothing outstanding. Very drinkable, but I had higher hopes for this one. Needs more hoppiness, especially in the nose. And the rye character could have been more to the forefront as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:16:58 | More by macrosmatic

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.35/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12 oz beer. This poured with next to no head and only minimal lacing around the glass. The beer itself is a medium amber color, very reddish with fairly apparent carbonation. It almost looks like an amber ale.

The nose here is very peppery. The rye malt really works well with the hops and are noticeable in equal measure. The hops are a little bit piney (minimmally so) and quite pleasant.

The first thing that hits the palate is hoppy bitterness, much more so than I would have expected just from the nose alone. The initial bitterness lingers on the palate quite ahile and really never dissipates, to be hoenst, its one of the bitterest IPA's I've ever had.

Overrall this beer is just great, solid nose, taste, and mouthfeel. For $9.99 a sixer its also a great value. I will definitely be purchasing this beer again when it comes out next spring!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 14:49:20 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

Biffster

Michigan

4.09/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a brilliant deep copper amber, with a very persistent tawny head.

The aroma is amazing, with a big spicy peppery, woody, grapefruit and piney nose that mingles with a distinct graham cracker rye bread aroma. It is basically clean, with no objectionable phenols or other esters that distract.

This beer is all about the hops, from the crisp bitter sip. There is a brief splash of bready malt before the hops take over in earnest. Once they do, this beer becomes a bitter, piney crisp drink, with a long lingering spicy peppery rye and hop finish.

The mouthfeel is big, creamy, and almost fluffy. The carbonation is moderate at best and is not at all spritzy.

This is a spicy, hoppy beer. The spicy, peppery notes of the rye accentuate and multiply the hops. I dont get a lot of citrus in this sample, but the pepper and spice more than make up for it. The relatively big mouthfeel helps counter the aggressive hop bite.

This is an aggressive but tasty and approachable beer. I am buying another sixer of it as soon as I see it.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 07:22:48 | More by Biffster

Jsteez

New Mexico

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a dimpled beer mug. The bottle said 2013.

A-Pale to medium amber in color, with a deep orange hue. It poured a tan, bubbly, almost creamy 2 inch head. The head dissipated to a lovely foamy and thin surface. Sticky lace on the the glass throughout consumption. Nice lookin beer!

S-Earthy, piney, hoppy, and a touch of malt, perhaps some rye, too. I could really smell the American fresh hops.

T-Again, earthy, piney, woody, a touch of spicy rye, and the fresh, bitter hops were complemented by the sweet caramel malt. This brew reminded me of picking up a bunch of pine needles and a chunk of sticks and earth, and turning them into beer (not that I've done that before). It's a down-to-earth beverage. Nice bitter aftertaste that lingers the whole time I nursed it. Great dry feeling in the aftertaste as well. Great balance!

M-Crisp, fresh, and a full bodied brew with a light body feel! Very sessionable! Moderate carbonation.

Overall, I'd say the name says it all: Ruthless. This beer is a perfect February beverage. I have more in my fridge to enjoy, and I will buy more of them during this "tumultuous transitiion to spring!"

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:24:14 | More by Jsteez

Doc_Hops

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- THis beer puors with a nice, deep amber body with a crisp line of white head that leaves somewhat quickly

S- Lots of spice a pepper on the nose with a big burst of hop aroma

T- Just like the nose, lots of robust pepper. This has a earthy taste as well coming from the rye grains and a clean, somewhat smooth hope finish on the end.

M- Crazy mouthfeel on this is one! It's medium bodied and ver tingly which lasts as long as it's in your mouth.

O- Totally love this beer. I liked it last year and it just keeps getting better. Wonderful taste. Fairly sessionable. Fantastic IPA.

Serving Type: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:05:12 | More by Doc_Hops

laramis

South Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A: it was a reddish orange color there was a small head white in color weak retention little lacing

S:Earthy hops some grain notes not overpowering actually the aroma is quite mild

T: Strong flavor at first then there is the bitter taste of hops but instead the sweat aftertaste one would expect the rye flavor takes over and remains on the pallet

M: Pleasant theres not to much there is medium carbonation

O: This was a beer that i could drink again, i am not a huge ipa guy but i liked the rye flavors and appreciated that it was not overly alcoholic and still flavorful

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 03:01:25 | More by laramis

wowbagger

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a thin pale orangish-red. Decent head that dissipates quickly.

From the bottle it reeks of hops, but that is dispersed much better in the glass. Smells as if there are a few different hops going on.

First sip gives a nice kick with some sweetness, fruit and a generous dollop of hop. A little dry, maybe.

A larger swallow comes of mellower, though the hops are a little one-note in a sense and it still dried out my mouth. A decent complexity in the back of my mouth that's malty and round, but I would have liked a little more balance from the hops.

Overall, it's a better than average IPA. Wouldn't be the best IPA to win over those who don't like the style but it's enjoyable for someone like me who likes less aggressive ones.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 00:23:36 | More by wowbagger

smcnulty1981

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: pours with a hazy golden copper color with hint of red had about 1 finger of an off white head that dicepated after a few moments with a good ammount of lacing on the glass

S: starts off with yeast followed earthy spicy tones with a s,isn't hint of resin however I don't get any of the citrus described

T: spicy caramel malt backbone followed by a good ammount of piney hop bitterness however there is a slight off flavor which may be a bit of alchol detected

M: not as dry as most ipa's has more of a full mouthfeel

O: easy to drink overall I would prefer torpedo over this for a Sierra Nevada selection however as a bonus the artwork on the label was very nice

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 06:27:09 | More by smcnulty1981

sirdrinkwell

Florida

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: pours into my pint glass as an attractively browning gold, with modest bone colored head that fades to a nice lacing throughout the glass

S: the nose is a mild but pleasant interweaving of hops (grapefruit, pine) and grainy breadiness. the hops strengthen as the brew warms, and the overall aroma grows more sweet and sugary.

T: peppery up front upon first contact, followed by a sweet wash of hops and mild molasses. The rye then becomes more pronounced as an earthy undertone towards the finish.

M: smooth feel and decent, medium carbonation.

O: not bad at all, this brew has a lot of character. above average in its distinct categories, as a whole i actually find it greater even than the sum of its individual parts. i'll be back.

salud!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 04:21:41 | More by sirdrinkwell

JPlo

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Copper-honey color, hazy. Head above avg lasting and very good lacing.

Taste: Peppery rye, citrus, earthy, slightly herbal, grainy, sweet. Good hop bitterness, about avg for an ipa.

Feel: Smooth medium body. Light carbonation and a long finish.

Rye flavor brings tremendous balance for an IPA. Very drinkable for the non-hophead.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 02:25:31 | More by JPlo

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Ruthless Rye IPA opens to a nicely hoppy nose, pink grapefruit and grapefruit rind dominating, but supported by a nice mélange of pine, eucalyptus, mint, dandelion stem, and a touch of anise. The emphasis is clearly on hops here, and those aromas make up the greater part of the nose. There are still, however, nice aromas underneath, including an incredibly sweet candi sugar-like blast that mixes with orange, cherry, berry, and apricot fruit esters to form an almost crystallized fruit sugar extract sensation. The nose also brings a nice peppery undertone from the rye, adding a welcome layer of spice to the sugars and bitter hops. Finally, deep beneath lies a bed of toast crust, wheat bread, and Grape Nuts cereal. As a whole, the nose is excellent, bearing enough hoppy and sugary notes to make the salivary glands start flowing, and the flavors themselves nicely balanced (even if geared heavily towards the sugars and hops), and containing a fine variety of notes. This is especially impressive considering the 6.6% ABV, which would normally indicate a far lesser quality and strength of aromas.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a spicy, hoppy blast, the hops and rye fighting for attention. The hops win in the initial moments, bringing pink grapefruit and grapefruit rind, with mint, eucalyptus, dandelion stem, and pine, but the peppery rye notes keep excellent pace, coming in a close second. Sugars kick in after a second or so, adding the nice and surprisingly strong crystallized fruit extracts noted in the nose, and in the same flavors. Good touches of toast crust, wheat bread, and biscuit form an earthy layer at the bottom. In subsequent sips there is a lessening of sugary notes, the hops simply too powerful in competition, and the hops themselves lose some of their nuance as the tongue numbs under their blast, but the beer still remains tasty. The aftertaste is mainly hops, with faint lingering sugars and breads, and stays on the tongue for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is a very nice rye IPA, and for the low ABV, it’s surprising how much flavor is in here. The notes are very nicely balanced, and the beer as a whole is surprisingly tasty and smooth, even over the course of several mouthfuls. The hops are especially nice, being full and rounded and heavy in oils, which helps boost the mouthfeel. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 20:52:20 | More by jondeelee

billybob

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

pours a dark copper color with about a two finger tightly formed head and good amount of sticky lace. you can smell the hops there and there is a nice freshness to it. medium mouth feel and a crispy carbonation. strong hop taste some citric and spice notes but its all about the balance there are some bready and sweet notes also. i'm not a big hop head fan but enjoyed this beer a lot and would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 20:02:52 | More by billybob

kemoarps

Washington

3.91/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

a clear mahogany amber topped off with a soft nicotine white head. Nice patterns down the glass

grasssy hops with a bready malt. the bite of both hops and rye.

gentle sweetness to open that gives way to spicy pine and citrus hops and then the rye

A surge of carbonation initially gives way to the bittering bite of the finish. The aftertaste is more citrus

I'm enjoying the six pack I have, but would probably go elsewhere initially before repeating it again (which I will no doubt eventually do)

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 07:51:19 | More by kemoarps

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tall tulip

A: Pours a dark amber color with two fingers of fluffy white head. Retention is great. Lacing is extremely good.

S: Spicy rye is the strongest aroma - behind it, I get a nice amount of bready malts. Behind that, I get some hops, though they are a bit faint. Hops come in as slightly minty and dank.

T: Spicy rye is also very apparent in the flavor. Hops come in after that as piney and slightly herbal with a hint of mint.

M: On the thick side with strong carbonation.

O: I could use a bit more hop character for an IPA, but the malt bill is really nice. The hops I get in this are interesting, but I wish the aroma and flavor were a bit stronger.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:54:41 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Mojo

Alabama

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle -> Sierra Nevada balloon glass

This beer pours up an amazing crystal clear deep copper with a nice light tan head about one finger in height, decent retention, and large amounts of delicate and elaborate lacing left on the side of the glass. The smell is very bready and earthy, with a little hint of spiciness. Taste is very satisfying with an initial citrus fruitness follwed by a soicy hop finish. Mouthfeel is neither thick nor thin, but nice and satisfying. If Sierra Nevada makes a bad beer I've yet to have one.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 06:15:45 | More by Mojo

weonfire

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I had this on tap at Patrick Osheas in Louisville, KY poured into a Irish Pint Glass.

A - Very frothy tremendous head. Head lasted a full 10-15 minutes which i found to be a negative. Copper color.
S - Smells like a lot of hops Not sure of the IBU but I think it would be high. Very good dose of citrus and pepper.
T - Taste of carmel. I may be off but I don't taste any rye. I may be confusing the bitterness in for some of the rye taste. Again tastes like high IBU.
M - The bitter taste stays with you all the way down your throat and into the proceeding nest few minutes.
O - Descent IPA. I wish I could decipher the rye more- but that might be my own fault. I would order this again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2013 14:54:36 | More by weonfire