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He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.
Shmaltz Brewing Company
- From:
- Shmaltz Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 12.07%
- Reviews:
- 909
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 03, 2022
- Added:
- Jun 08, 2006
- Wants:
- 88
- Gots:
- 232
A Double India Pale Ale with Rye Malt brewed in tribute to Lenny Bruce (Leonard Alfred Schneider 1925-1966).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by airheadmtrcycle:
Reviewed by airheadmtrcycle from Georgia
4.7/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.7/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I don't know why it took me so long to get around to this highly rated beer, and company for that matter. Anyway, being a big DIPA fan and one with true respect and admiration for Lenny Bruce I'm really excited about trying it. Plus, it's exciting to have so many great beers left to try. And as fate would have it, this is a great beer.
The appearance is really interesting. It's a darker, and deeper orange than some of the DIPAs I've been drinking lately. The head is almost tan, just shy of the tan a porter or stout might have. The head was not huge, but attractive and it leaves lacing all the way down. A sexy looking brew, for sure.
The aroma is harder to describe. The rye is there, but so is a bread dough-like aroma that gets the salivary glands excited immediately. I smell hops, slightly on the pine-y side, but perhaps some lighter citrus notes as well. Not a hop bomb, but more an exquisitely balanced and refined brew.
The taste delivers on all the sexy looks and complex aromas. About half way down I think to myself, this is why I should never get stuck drinking 2 or 3 beers and stop taking chances with my hard-to-come-by expendable income. Sure I've had some big disappointments, but then you try something like this all the waste falls away. This is a special beer! I think it qualifies as a big beer, one that I'm glad I have 3 more left to drink and explore more deeply.
Each sip delivers something new - rye, hops, bread-y malts, spicy alcohol - and it all comes together so perfectly. Perhaps a myopic hop-head might find fault in its lack of huge bitterness, but that's missing the point, I think.
Lenny's RIPA is big, yet subtle, with a medium mouth feel and is quite drinkable despite the high ABV.
Perhaps I'm over-reacting, but I can only think of 2 beers I liked this much on my first try.
Mar 20, 2011The appearance is really interesting. It's a darker, and deeper orange than some of the DIPAs I've been drinking lately. The head is almost tan, just shy of the tan a porter or stout might have. The head was not huge, but attractive and it leaves lacing all the way down. A sexy looking brew, for sure.
The aroma is harder to describe. The rye is there, but so is a bread dough-like aroma that gets the salivary glands excited immediately. I smell hops, slightly on the pine-y side, but perhaps some lighter citrus notes as well. Not a hop bomb, but more an exquisitely balanced and refined brew.
The taste delivers on all the sexy looks and complex aromas. About half way down I think to myself, this is why I should never get stuck drinking 2 or 3 beers and stop taking chances with my hard-to-come-by expendable income. Sure I've had some big disappointments, but then you try something like this all the waste falls away. This is a special beer! I think it qualifies as a big beer, one that I'm glad I have 3 more left to drink and explore more deeply.
Each sip delivers something new - rye, hops, bread-y malts, spicy alcohol - and it all comes together so perfectly. Perhaps a myopic hop-head might find fault in its lack of huge bitterness, but that's missing the point, I think.
Lenny's RIPA is big, yet subtle, with a medium mouth feel and is quite drinkable despite the high ABV.
Perhaps I'm over-reacting, but I can only think of 2 beers I liked this much on my first try.
More User Ratings:
Rated by jrpapajcik from Illinois
4.38/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From a tallboy can; Tallahassee, FL soccer tailgate.
Jun 03, 2022Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Murky rust-orange/red color.
Not much of a nose, but smells of an American barleywine (i.e. sweet, boozy maltiness). Not much hops in the nose.
Decent lacing throughout.
Smooth maltiness up front; hops give a faint bite on the back end. Alcohol creeps up after that, but isn't overpowering.
Tastes like a smooth version of an American barleywine to me, but is surprisingly drinkable. Slightly cloying but overall a good brew.
Apr 01, 2019Not much of a nose, but smells of an American barleywine (i.e. sweet, boozy maltiness). Not much hops in the nose.
Decent lacing throughout.
Smooth maltiness up front; hops give a faint bite on the back end. Alcohol creeps up after that, but isn't overpowering.
Tastes like a smooth version of an American barleywine to me, but is surprisingly drinkable. Slightly cloying but overall a good brew.
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From notes 1/7/13: Pours a hazy dark amber/light brown producing a huge 3+ finger, lasting, frothy, beige head that leaves good rings and sheets of lacing on the sides of the glass as it recedes. Aroma is sweet, dark bread and caramel malts, rye spice, a hint of dark fruit, yeast, resinous pine and a hint of citrus hops. Taste is big and bold malty. Starting sweet with dark fruit, molasses and toffee, there is rye spice throughout, finishing boozy with piney hops. The malt, spice and pine flavors linger long in the aftertaste with a nice hoppy bitterness. Very barley wine like. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy bodied with moderate carbonation, creamy but a little syrupy, dry and drawing.
Nov 12, 2018Reviewed by Nass from Florida
3/5 rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -26.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Rye bread is one of my favorite styles of bread, so I do get stoked when I see beers like in my hometown. In addition to, I am a fan of Lenny Bruce's comedy. He pushed the boundaries back in his time for comedians of today to speak more freely in public. The R.I.P.A is just an absolute brilliant name for this beer title.This is a tasty rye IPA but that rye pepperiness is just too much for me to handle it is clashing with the hops & instead of savoring this 12 oz bottle I just feel like rushing things & gulping it down. There is NO DATE anywhere to be read on the bottle. Furthermore, I would love to try the rye barrel aged version of this beer one day. Cheers! B-
Oct 09, 2018Reviewed by wexmary from New York
4.3/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
At first I got it for the gimmick, the name. Now I drink it for its reliable taste.
IPAs, good IPAs will have a multitude of tastes within it. This has a bitterness but not a piney bitterness. Excellent
May 20, 2018IPAs, good IPAs will have a multitude of tastes within it. This has a bitterness but not a piney bitterness. Excellent
Rated by OhioLimoncello from Ohio
4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Amazing that this has both dominant bitter and sweet characteristics. A wonderful blend of hips and rye malt that's perfectly named!
Dec 29, 2017Reviewed by aarono from Indiana
3.83/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I got this as part of a beer of the month, and I was really delighted. It has a medium color reminiscent of apple cider. The smell is light and fragrant. The head was not too thick and transformed quickly into a think layer on top. The mouthfeel was slightly creamy, and it had a nice rye flavor. Would drink again.
Oct 31, 2017
He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. from Shmaltz Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
2026 ratings
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