Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

codfeast

California

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

bottle to pint

A: crystal clear light amber, with a thin head.

S: hops (pine) and an earty, bready, smell of the rye.

T: striaght to the hops certainly an SN beer. I do pick up some of the rye, with bitterness on the back end.

M: nice carbination, fairly crsip with an oily mouthfeel and a dry finish.

O: quite tasty, hoppy but not over the top. rye imparts a nice flavor to the beer. Something I will keep an eye out for on draft.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 00:05:52 | More by codfeast

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a pilsner glass

A: Pours a caramel amber hue with an off-white, creamy head.

S: Earthy hops conquer the nose along with a touch of pine, citrus, and some floral notes mingled throughout.

T/M: Hops are blatant up front, thick on the tongue and coating the mouth. It’s really one of the thicker IPA’s I’ve had. More strong earthiness and a bitter punch about halfway through that lingers long afterwards.

This is a good, thick IPA if you prefer the earthier hop varietal. Which I don’t.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 22:47:38 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

StoneBrewFanatic

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours dark amber/mahogany in color into my snifter with two fingers of dense head that has excellent retention and lots of sticky lacing.

S - Full of citrus and earthy pine hop aromas, rye spice and malty sweetness is also present.

T - Hops are at the forefront, lemony citrus that fades into a more earthy and piny character. Spicy rye and bready malts round it out with a subtle caramel sweetness.

M - Relatively light body and bright carbonation make it seem a bit thin to me.

O - Overall, this is a tasty offering from SN, which is no big surprise. Worth trying if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 18:27:01 | More by StoneBrewFanatic

tsauce2

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

P: 12 fl oz bottle in to a New Belgium snifter.

A: SRM is amber. Translucent. Head is light tan, 1 in, semi-puffy, dissipates to line the top of the beer. Medium carbonation. Light lacing.

S: Nice balanced hoppiness, lightly piney and citrusy, a touch of spicyness from the rye, light malt, light caramel sweetness.

T: Medium hoppiness up front, followed by the bite of rye, medium maltiness, and mild bitterness. Aftertaste is of rye and malt, with hop bitterness on the outsides of the palate and a touch of sweetness down the middle of the palate.

M: Medium body. Initially, hops hit creating a bright feel, but then the rye and malts hit, which adds body to the feel. Finially, a touch of sweetness balances out the overall feel. Semi wet finish.

O: Good rye beer. I did not think I would like this beer very much, because imo most rye beers are very unbalanced, with one component overshadowing all the others. This is not the case with this beer. It is very well balanced, hops transition in to rye and malt, sweetness rounds everything out. Easy to drink. Good price. I will buy more of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 13:11:18 | More by tsauce2

Chadpaq

North Carolina

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

Fresh-from-the-honeycomb hue that deceives the eye into thinking what sits before it is a Double IPA with a malty backbone. Not the case, I'm sure. Steady unifinger head that leaves ample lacing, if you're into that.

Distinct floral notes of a traditional fresh IPA, and something elese, a "peppery" aroma that I wouldn't have known as such had it not been mentioned in previous reviews. Upon reflection, it describes the smell accurately. Minimal citrus notes to speak of, at least ones that can be discerned to the exact fruit from which they are derived.

No malt. I like that a lot. Do they even add malts to this beer, or does the rye act as a pseudomalt? A question for some research, or maybe just for the birds. Nice hop bite. No alcohol taste to speak of, but a cold, metallic aftetaste (that I strangely don't mind--even enjoy). Refreshing. A bit harsh. The taste of this beer is much better than I'd expected. I just miss an element of fruitiness. Lulz.

I will finish this sixer tonight. I guess that isn't the most huge of feats, but it's something. Reasons being: A-I'm in college; B-This beer goes down as smoothly as any I've ever had. Blessing and curse.

Like I (may have) said, a nice surprise. Not that I didn't expect a great showing from SN--they're, for my money, tops. It's just that I rarely (read: never) f*x with rye beers, so I guess I just didn't known what to expect. But as long as this baby's fresh, I'll keep buying her.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 03:33:05 | More by Chadpaq

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was quite surprised to see a new SN seasonal at Food Lion of all places while perusing the beer aisle purely out of habit. I've never been a huge rye fan but I'm not sure if Sierra Nevada could make a bad IPA even if they tried. Guess we'll find out.

The pour leaves a dark copper body and a pretty tan head that doesn't last. Nice bubbling, though, and the beginnings of some exquisite lacing. Nose is slightly reserved west coast hops and a hint of spicy rye.

The bitterness factor is high on this one, both from the hops and the rye. This could probably stand a touch more malt for balance, although the heavy carbonation helps mute the astringency somewhat. I expected a little more complexity but for the most part, what you see is what you get. This isn't a bad beer at all but because of the brewer, I am slightly disappointed and would pick Torpedo or Celebration over this any day of the week

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 02:57:27 | More by daliandragon

CHADMC3

Connecticut

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

Pours a deep copper body with orange hues beneath the generous, foamy, off-white head that is very slow to dissipate leaving a scattered, yet sticky lacing behind.

Aromas of earthy and pine hops mixed with rye float from the glass. The hops are resiny and spicy at the same time. The spice is earthy or wood-like and may also be from the rye as well.

The flavor offers similar hop character with pine resin and a more subdued spice, but again with a very nice rye finish. A bread-like malt is also more relevant on the palate. The hop and rye are fairly generous in this tasty brew.

Medium in body with generous carbonation and a nice drying, resiny finish.

A very consistent beer and a fine example of a rye IPA. Just what one may expect from SN.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 01:40:45 | More by CHADMC3

salvo

Indiana

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

Pours filtered crystal clear into a pint glass with a full inch of foamy off-white head; beautiful red-brown beer with enough carbonation to replenish the head. Strong lacing on the glass. Rich spicy aroma from the rye; piny hops with hints of floral and tropical fruit notes. Guava smells more prevalent as it warms.

Rich spicy malt flavor is first as piny hops fill the nose. Then the hops are on the tstebuds: pine and citrus (grapefruit and lemon) with hints of musty guava skin and flesh. Ends dry and sightly astringent. Long drying hop finish.

This is a wonderfully tasty, spicy, hoppy new beer from Sierra Nevada, and one of few that has really lived up to the hype from the first-gen independents for me in a while. Can't wait to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 22:33:44 | More by salvo

phichifiji00

California

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

Poured into pint glass.

Appearance: Rich caramel color. Pours 3 fingers of thick white head that fades slowly. Moderate lacing.

Smell: Hops, Pine resin, some spicy rye notes, caramel, toffee.

Taste: Pine resin, hoppy, a bit spicy, rye, caramel. Sweet and spicy up front with a bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.

Overall: A very tasty RyePA. Well balanced. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 21:13:08 | More by phichifiji00

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