Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Lerxst

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A-pours a clear and very dark amber with a one finger off white head that slowly recedes to a thin cap. Leaves ample amounts of lace. This is a good looking beer.

S-prominent notes of rye, citrus and pine are backed by a slightly sweet bready malt. Very aromatic and pleasing.

T-citrus and piney hops bite first. Equally representing is the earthy, spicy rye. A bit grassy. A subdued assist from the slightly sweet bready malt rounds this one out. All of the flavors are complementary to one another and work in unison to make this one shine.

M-Medium body with crisp carbonation. Smooth with a slightly dry finish.

O-I really enjoyed this one. Another very respectable beer from a very respectable brewery. I'll be picking up some more of this for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 20:45:47 | More by Lerxst

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this from a bottle pour into a "fish bowl" glass.
A bit darker than expected with a nice tan head and a fair amount of lacing.
Actually very much as expected. Like Sierra Nevada beer and this one was no exception.
Seemed to have the typical Sierra Nevada "house" flair. Spicy hops in the nose as the malts mixed with the grains and rye.
Not as hopped up but good none the less.
Mouth feel good too.
Will have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 14:46:28 | More by dmamiano

ThePorterSorter

New York

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

Appearance:
A clear, thin looking dark amber beer with a foamy white head. The carbonation is adequate and there is sticky lacing.

Smell:
This is quite a hoppy beer with biting alcohol and a hint of malt sweetness.
The big fruit of the hour is: grapefruit.

Taste:
Overwhelming hops with a hint of spicy rye and malt sweetness. The initial sip is delicate, but the aftertaste is...ruthlessly bitter!
I'm just not getting the rye taste... maybe they should have thrown in some loaves of rye bread like in ta henket...just kidding.

Mouthfeel:
Light bodied with a generous amounts of carbonation as well as pungently bitter hops. I'm not getting as much rye as I would have liked or anticipated, but it's still a tasty IPA with potent house yeast character. It's a relatively smooth beer given the alcohol bite in its nose.
There are also napalm hops that sit on your palate and satiate each sip until the next, but that gets a little old after awhile.

Overall:
Great price for a tasty IPA attempting to be a Rye-PA. I've had a few good RIPAs that put this one to shame, but it's sure better than SN's previous spring seasonal!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 04:47:20 | More by ThePorterSorter

ms11781

Massachusetts

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

Bottled on 12/16/2011. 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a brilliantly clear amber with a nice fluffy off white head that reaches about a finger and a half high. The foam settles in nicely as an off white cap that collects most around the edges of the glass. Lacing presents itself in nice rings of foam around the glass that mark where each sip began. The beer is so clear that carbonation is evident from even a few feet away.

The nose is pretty nice on this one. There is a lot going on with a few aromas playing nicely with each other. Big citrus hops come across with a lighter blast of pine. A good dose of some earthy spice is here as well and actually challenges the leading citrus notes to be the dominant aroma.

The taste starts like the nose with a big hit of citrus hops. A touch of sweet malt peeks its head out before a combination of big spicy, earthy rye and some bitter piny hops completely take over. A pleasant bitterness comes at the finish along with what seems to be some grapefruit rind in the aftertaste.

Crisp and clean. Medium body with carbonation to match. The crispness gives the beer a bit of a bite. Despite the crispness and the bite the beer still seems to be pretty smooth overall, which is a feat on its own.

This is a great Rye IPA. Most beers that label themselves as such are either just IPAs with maybe a touch of some spice or just an amber ale with some good rye character. This beer pulls off being an IPA while showcasing the rye sufficiently. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:38:55 | More by ms11781

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

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

A-Pours copper color. Not much haze in the body. Off-white head is smaller but retains its form throughout. Leaves a lot of lacing.

S-Good dose of rye. Rye mixes with citrus and pine hops and is also complimented with a very bready malt. Rye is quite spicy and mixes well with the other components of the aroma. Not very intense but pretty attractive.

T-Rye is pitched perfectly. Piney and floral along with citrus in regards to the hops. Finishes very grassy and very floral. Malt is slightly overshadowed by the rye/hop combination. Moderately bitter and dry.

M-Medium body with ample amounts of carbonation. Lasting bitter aftertaste. Alcohol is masked well but becomes more noticeable as the beer slowly warms.

O/D-Pretty good. I don't even know if I really love Rye IPAs but perhaps I was expecting a bit more from this one. It isn't a disappointment. Still, its another solid addition to the juggernaut Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:27:08 | More by VelvetExtract

scottfrie

California

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into Portsmouth snifter.

A: Pours a dark burnt amber color with a very thick and greasy off-white head that took forever to fade into a thick oily film that left a complex network of lacing down the glass. Very fresh, oily, and impressive. Great head retention.
S: Huge notes of spicy rye, marijuana, grassy herbal hops and light citrus zest. Spicier and more earthy smelling than a normal ipa.
T: Just like the nose, the rye really shines through and compliments of the fresh herbal, dank and citrusy tasting hops. The finish is full of dried grains and grass flavors, and the aftertaste has a nice pine needle/citrus rind bitterness to it. I get a hint of lemon zest as well.
M: Body is on the thicker side of medium, mouthfeel is viscous and has a good chew to it, and the carbonation is bright and fluffy.
O: Definitely a spicy rye lovers beer. The type of bitterness in the finish of this one may not be for everyone as this beer definitely isn’t a standard C-hop forward ipa, the rye adds a unique bitter dimension. Well done SN.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:16:49 | More by scottfrie

aasher

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This just arrived yesterday. It pours a very clean and bright true copper in color with a soapy one finger cream colored head. It smells of sweet caramel malts, honey, tree resin, and has a light spice to it. You could describe it as mellow. The flavors consist of caramel malt, toffee, light maple like resin, the hops are sharp and fresh. It's nice, light and drinkable. The rye makes for a smooth drinker. This is a nice IPA, as should be expected. The light spicyness due to the rye is welcome and makes this a welcome addition to their seasonal lineup.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 02:48:40 | More by aasher

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange amber with a good tannish head... nice sheets of lace.

The nose on this one seems pretty mild... pale malts... a bit bready.. grassy hops... no yeastiness to speak of... pretty clean and again, mild.

Flavor mirrors the aroma with a bit of minerally fruitiness on finish that I am having a hard time pinning down... earthy and grassy hoppiness...

Medium body with smooth everpresent small bubble carbonation.. very drinkable given the ABV... I would probably get bored after a bottle or three, but I will pick this one up again.

4/3.5/3.5/3.5/3.5

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 02:42:58 | More by JohnGalt1

1Adam12

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Stumbled upon this on accident. Pours amberish. Slightly thin looking, but still looks good. Smells hoppy, and I can smell the rye on the nose. Moderately hoppy taste, followed by a bitter taste. The finish really makes the rye noticeable. The mouthfeel is sharp and very bubbly. Overall this is very tasty. Just what I'd expect from SN. Nothing too spectacular, but very solid none the less.

Edit: Holy crap, thats the first time I've ever had a review come back with a 0 rdev.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 20:27:17 | More by 1Adam12

Philousa

California

2.85/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Was excited to actually see this on the shelves, so I picked up a sixer right away. Pours a dark rust/ruby color with one finger head, which laces thinly and consistently. Aroma is all about the hops. It's well balanced and strangely familiar. I thought it smelled very similar to their Torpedo IPA, in terms of hops aroma: fresh cut grass, pungent, a bit of lemon. There's malt in there too; browned biscuit dominates the aroma. Malt & hops battle it out for aroma dominance. Who wins? (hops) Bitter caramel starts out the flavor department, turning to burnt chocolate/caramel and a woody flavor. Bitter malt turns to bitter hop oil flavor, noting that the hops are well balanced. There's a lingering familiar tart rye flavor in there as well. Feels a bit acidic but mainly balanced.

The aroma was great, but the flavor was ultimately too tart and feel too acidic. I can't see myself drinking more than one a night. There's just too much rye in there. It almost tastes like copper towards the end, and I'm not a huge fan of metallic tastes in my beer. This one coulda been a contender.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 16:27:26 | More by Philousa

tone77

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of hops and citrus. Taste is delicious. Citrus and hops up front, some rye and malts at the finish, very flavorful. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall this is a quality beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 15:37:35 | More by tone77

bobhits

Kentucky

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

Who took over Sierra Nevada and started with this art work? I mean really this is way out of their normal stuff. This one comes with a huge nerd requirement i suppose....oh wait check.

Pours medium orange with a bit of a white head and good lacing. Nothing special here by any means.

The nose even from the cracking of the bottle gives off this huge funky dank aroma that then turns to this really nice rye aroma.

Rye is showcased here with hops here to accentuate it and just enough malt to avoid one making a bitter beer face. Peppery spices, sharp hops, and a mellow sweetness I can't place. This is really tasty stuff.

Rye gives beer a rather dense and hard to drink quality. 1-2 of these is no problem but even at 6.6 where a 3rd could be acceptable on a weekend night I"m not sure I'd want it. I see myself needing another option asap with this one. A good if not great beer with a meal though.

This is a rye showcase which I think will make it a bit more polarizing than some of the other well known rye's, but I'm sold. A good beer by sierra even if it replaces a beer that imo should have been kept.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 15:36:38 | More by bobhits

raffy313

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer made it to N TX shelves today, and I just picked up a 6'er at my local Central Market. Excited to try, as rye has become one of my favorite ingredients added to my beer.

Pours a clear copper color, with a frothy 2 fingers worth of tan head. Solid retension, that leaves behind a fair amount of lacing.

No overly pungent aromas coming from this beer, but definately picking up the funky, grainy rye smells that I really like. Also has some subtle citrusy, piney hop aromas coming through. Really nicely balanced nose.

Flavors follow the nose to a tee. Abit more spiceyness from the rye coming through on the tongue. Again, excellently balanced flavors.

Medium body, with an appropriate amount of carbonation. A bitter, dry mouthfeel that doesn't take away from the overall drinkability.

I heard this beer is replacing the Glissade in SN's seasonal lineup. I enjoyed Glissade... but this one will be a nice addition to a style that, IMO, there just isn't enough of. Keep bringing it, SN... and I'll keep buying it. A very solid beer!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 05:15:09 | More by raffy313

obrike

Texas

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bought a 6 er at Specs in Round Rock today...was very happy to finally see it on the shelves.

Loved the look of this one...bold copper color with a huge frothy head...stayed for quite a while. Just a pretty looking brew.

Not knocked away by the scent, but certainly picking up some of the bitter rye, a bit of sweet malt, maybe some piney hops as well.

Wow...this is a bitter rye blast to the palate...I'm torn here between a 4 and 3.5...initially I scored low, but the flavor grows on you after a while. This is not a big hop forward IPA...rye first, followed by piney/earthy dry hops and malt. Almost like a rye infused Torpedo.

Carbonation is high, but it adds to the character of the beer. Very dry, very bitter...a good version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:25:38 | More by obrike

snaotheus

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle

Pours a coppery brownish color with a nice sized creamy looking head. Smell is malty with a hint of spicy hoppiness. A little grainy, a little tiny bit yeasty.

Taste is surprisingly dominated up fronts with nice hoppy bitterness, with a really nice nutty/hay/malty finish.

Mouthfeel is a little sticky, a little abrasively fizzy. Maybe it got shaken a bit in transportation. I think the checker might have tossed the whole case on its side.

Overall, I'm a fan. It's good.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:45:42 | More by snaotheus

khumbard

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a standard shaker pint.

I just saw this for the first time today and had to give it a shot. I always love trying new Sierra brews. Pours a deep amber/copper color with a nice fluffy head. Aroma is a bit spicy, but mostly big citrus hops. A nice mix for sure. Taste is similar to other sierra pale/ipa's, but with a little extra bready spice from the rye malt. The hop character is quite nice mixed with the rye. Finishes with a good amount of bitterness, but not over the top. Mouthfeel is good for an IPA, has some substance to it. Overall this is very nice new offering from one of the most solid all around breweries around. I'm very rarely disappointed from SN, a very solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 23:41:44 | More by khumbard

chinchill

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle served in a pint glass. 2012 vintage

Pours a dark amber with a creamy tan head and visible carbonation. Ample sticky lacing left on the glass.

Excellent carbonation level; medium body; semi-dry to dry finish.

There's plenty of spicy rye and hops in the nose, with a bit of toasted grain in the background. The aroma is also moderately fruity weedy, as well as very slightly earthy. Any lingering doubts about balance are laid to rest upon tasting: The flavor has an excellent balance of peppery rye, hops and toasted malt. The hops are a bit more spicy and less citrusy in tasting than smelling.

O: Almost everything about this beer seems beyond criticism. The only thing I found slightly objectionable was the high amount of grapefruit rind bitterness in relation to hoppy flavor in the aftertaste. It looks great and has exactly the mouthfeel, aroma and taste one should expect in a true rye IPA. A great choice for IPA lovers who want something a bit out of the main stream.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 22:35:14 | More by chinchill

raynmoon

California

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

I just picked this up from my local safeway in a 12 pack. The color is typical of an IPA, bronze/gold, kind of copper looking with a decent head.

The smell is very hoppy, lots of pine and citrus. I don't get much. And the taste follows very similarly. Very dry and bitter. A nice amount of malt backbone though, a nice amount of rye.

Overall it reminds me very much of Torpedo. Ruthless is a great tasting beer but does not differ much from Celebration and Torpedo.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 07:08:41 | More by raynmoon

tony223366

California

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Really pretty beer. Nice brownish amber color with ruby highlights. 2+ fingers of off white head. Extremely rocky with good retention and lacing. Top marks by all counts.

S: Bouquet leaves some to be desired. I get some citrus and grassiness up front but not as much as I want. The rye is definitely present in a nice peppery way. I want it to smell brighter.

T: I get great citrus, but it quickly turns grassy and moves to the rye. The rye comes off very peppery but not over powering. The malt is present as a nice breadiness. The alcohol shows up a bit before the bitter finish.

M: Medium body with decent carbonation.

O: Reminds me an awful lot like torpedo with lots of rye. A really interesting beer for sure. I don't know what I was expecting but it doesn't quite live up to it. Definitely not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 08:04:50 | More by tony223366

ElGordo

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

  Pours a pretty golden amber color that's a shade usually seen around sunset. Not much in the way of head, but the carbonation is lively. Aroma of spicy rye malt and sharp, floral hops, with notes of grass and a light caramel sweetness. Palate is hop forward with a nice sharp, spicy note from the rye. The flavors become more balanced and mellow on the swallow, with a hint of orange peel and caramel malt helping to offset the considerable bitterness, which lingers for a while on the finish. Body is lively and a touch creamy, a great vehicle for the flavors on display here.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 05:50:57 | More by ElGordo

TheFlern

Idaho

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber-brown. White head that dissipates to a thin layer. Minimal lacing.

Smell: Typical hop profile for a SN brew. Reminds me of torpedo. The malt backbone is different though. Its more robust thanks to the rye. The pepper aroma of the rye melds nicely with the hops.

Taste: follows the nose. Nothing groundbreaking, just consistent.

Mouthfeel: Pretty smooth. Bitterness isn't overwhelming. Good carbonation.

Overall: Not a bad beer. Not special enough to be a strong seasonal release imo. Excellent price as always from SN. If you like Torpedo or a SN devotee then you'll probably like this beer. If you are looking for something unique or groundbreaking then you'll be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 01:55:05 | More by TheFlern

teksmeks

California

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bottle in to a 16 oz pint glass. Very clear reddish copper. Thin off-white head with almost no lacing. Smells peppery with a hint of citrus. Grapefruit bitterness and earthy spices on the tongue, crisp with a dry finish. Should go great with the spicy ribs on the grill!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:50:50 | More by teksmeks

Zorro

California

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Clear amber colored ale with a small tan colored head.

Smell of sour and spicy rye with lemon and grapefruit hops. Spicy and bitter smelling there is a decent amount of pine present.

Starts out malty and spicy with a strong rye cracker flavor. Mildly bittersweet this has quite hearty thickness to it. Strong C type hops; the rye is an interesting mix with the IPA level hops. Starts out mildly sweet then it turn savory for a second and then the hops hit you. Rather a tasty IPA in a Rye coat.

Mouthfeel is simply excellent, thick yet slick, like a well-oiled snake.

Overall this is a tasty beer and much better than I expected. I skipped buying the 12 pack of this until I tried it. I will be buying a 12 pack tomorrow for New Years consumption.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 03:28:05 | More by Zorro

flexabull

California

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The artwork on this one is great.

Pours a bright and crystal clear amber color with a huge off white head. Looks wonderful in the glass.

Aromas are typical for Sierra IPAs. Grassy, resin like, with some hard candies, and is quite floral. Smells like a fresh hop beer.

Taste is malty sweet up front, notes of hard candies, tea, and some grainy spice. Finish is resiny, earthy, pine like, lightly bitter, with some citrus, and fresh floral hops. People that want hoppy citrus flavors in their IPA might not care for this, but I like the raw earthy hop and rye notes.

Mouthfeel is full, smooth, and very well carbonated.

Overall, an excellent new offering from Sierra. I know it's another "IPA", but this is different. Reminds me of some of the Harvest beers, but with more graininess, and nice spicy rye notes. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 01:45:13 | More by flexabull

jeffjeff1

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a 12 pack of this last night at Safeway. I just wanted a six pack but all they had was 12 packs. I'm glad now that I got a 12 pack.

Appearance- amber color, nice size head, very nice lacing

Smell- lots of rye, very nice

Taste- rye, hop bitterness

Mouthfeel- medium bodied, dry mouthfeel

Drinkability- I thought it was excellent. Sierra Nevada has done a wonderful job once again. Definitely will buy again!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 00:23:34 | More by jeffjeff1