He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. - Shmaltz Brewing Company

HoboAGoGo

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep red with a sizable head into the pint glass. The head stuck around on the beer for quite sometime. Smelled of strong citrus hops, with a fruity hop underneath. Strong bread and alcohol smells come off of it too, a sweet bread with a sour finish, no doubt the working of the rye. Spicy, citrusy, mango hops play well with the subdued alcohol for a 10 percent beer. The grain is sweet, and sharp, if I would have had the forethought to pick up some goat cheese, it would have been perfect for it. It drank well, which is the sign of a good double ipa, if not good for my head. A damn fine beer, which I was mainly excited to pick up due to the tribute to Lenny Bruce, one of my favorite American humorists.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2006 04:11:44 | More by HoboAGoGo

Dansting

Kansas

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle. Poured a slightly hazy copper color with a thick almond head. Strong lacing. Aroma is malty, caramel, and hoppy. Amazing full mouthfeel. Flavor is a nice hoppy taste, with grapefruit, rye, and pine hints to it. Ranks right up there with Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye as the best rye beers that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2007 02:24:26 | More by Dansting

Pencible

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This double IPA with rye malt poured a very hazy mahogany with a bit of off-white head. It smelled like rye and sweet caramel malt, with orange and sweet floral hops. It tasted like powerful bitter floral and citrus hops, balanced with lots of sweet rye and caramel malts. It was oily with no carbonation, and had a lasting sharp bittersweet aftertaste. Overall this beer wasn't too complex, but the rye gave it a fairly unique and delicious character. It was very clean and well balanced, despite its bold taste, so it was still fairly easy to drink. Good to sip or gulp, and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2008 14:02:40 | More by Pencible

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Can't think of a better style to brew in tribute to Lenny Bruce, nor can I think of a more appropriate brewer to do it. So, after reading the label text and throwing some of the chill off, this big IPA is ready to pour...

Pours a damn good-looking two-finger head, kind of a washed-out butterscotch in color, and the liquid is a mean rusty blood orange color. Cloudy too, with the ultra slow-moving bubbles making it appear one big viscous mutha. The head leaves bulbous honeycombs of styrofoam on the glass. This thing is absolutely gorgeous.

Big orange aroma, zesty, rind-like too. A little bit buttery, big caramel...candy-like overall. Pretty clear what the story is on this beer is on: big malts, big hops, the end! Very believable boast on the label: "brewed with an obscene amount of malt & hops."

The flavor brings on a gooey tidal wave of orange-y hops, backed up by caramel-candy maltiness; the rye this is brewed with definitely shows up in the wonderfully rocky, super-earthy way rye will. Nice zip of gingery spiciness too. Grapefruit rind lingers in the finish, but the balance struck between these "obscene amounts" of malts and hops is absolutely superb. An underscoring alcohol glow lifts this up a notch into stratospherically-awesome territory. Wow.

The mouthfeel delivers just what's needed in a beer like this: bigness to match the big flavors. Chewy, gooey, supremely rounded and creamy, with enough carbonation to inject activity and life into its weighty frame...pretty much spot-on here too.

Holy shit this is amazing! I think Lenny would be proud...not of my swearing, but to have something this bold brewed in his honor (but I don't think my profanity would bother him either).

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 00:46:14 | More by Metalmonk

Jason

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

A whole lot of head, it nearly jumps over the side on the glass. Crystal clear tawny color. Smells of ripe tropical fruit, pine sap, blood oranges, a little hint of hemp seed oil and cake batter. Smooth and ultra creamy with a hop oil slickness deep inside the full-ish body. Lush malt foundation ranges from heavy caramel to spicy rye, donuts to toasted bread ... pretty damn complex IMO. Hops jump on all of this with a cutting bitterness and a long linger of spicy, citric, thick herbal and tobacco flavor. The bitterness pairs up with the rye to compliment the coming of the alcohol. Oh yes, there is alcohol here and a drops a good amount of warmth and tropical fruit. Finish bittersweet and spicy with more bitterness in the end of it all.

Big and bold, a serious beer ... it would be simple to say that it kicks ass, which it does. By far one of the most enjoyable beers I have had this year.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2010 02:06:27 | More by Jason

beersensei305

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This Rye Double IPA pours a deep copper with a nice thick head and great lacing. The smell is hoppy with some citrus sweetness and maltiness. The taste is complex- it starts off with carmel sweetness, grapefruit tartness, toasted notes, and rye. This is a medium bodied brew with average carbonation. This is a great beer and I could have this at any time.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 22:41:14 | More by beersensei305

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful deep and burnt orange color and hazy, almost opaque. Perfect 2 finger off-white head on a medium pour. The head sticks around forever and leaves nice lacing. Gorgeous beer. Lots of piney and citrus hops in the aroma backed by a big malt presence. Rye is faintly detectable in that malt presence. Definitely pleasant on the nose.

Full-bodied and big on every level. Hops hit hard in a bitter onslaught, but the rye malt balances it out expertly. The rye gives it a bready and biscuity quality that goes a long way in keeping all the other flavors in check. The hops are mostly piney in character, but the malts take some of the focus away from that, and not at all in a bad way. Balance between extremes is the name of the game here and this beer delivers that and then some. Boozy notes of that 10% ABV are hidden well, felt as an afterthought in the back of the palate. It actually adds to the balance as it warms. Dry finish, but long and lingering. This is a seriously good beer in my opinion. If you like rye beers, this is a must try. If you like double IPAs, this is a must try. If you like beers that demonstrate a nearly perfect balance of flavors, feel and character, this is certainly a must try.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 05:27:34 | More by chodinheaven

obywan59

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is brilliantly clear. Copper in color in my pint glass. It didn't seem to be forming a head at first, so I poured harder and overdid it. Call it a 2 1/2 finger head, maybe 3 with what I lost. Attractive lacing.

Sweet malt dominates the aroma at first. Syrupy fruit aromas and spicy rye appear as the beer warms,. 2nd beer poured into my Duvel tulip: OMG this is totally different. Sweet flowery perfume and glorious spice. Kinda like a high class fragrant bath powder--weird. Neversaw tgat ub a beer befire. Knock it up from a 4 to a 5.

Taste is sweet and caramelly with a bit of bitter chocolate. Spicy hops and rye round it out with some tart citrus showing up in the tulip.

Fairly thick bodied. Creamy and smooth. Warming alcohol via the 10% ABV.

This beer definitely improves and becomes more well rounded as it warms, becoming more complex. This would be a great beer to retry in the dead of winter.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 02:48:05 | More by obywan59

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

obscene this, jewish that. gimme the f'n beer, bitches!

22oz

blood-red in a triple petrus gold-rimmed snifter. solid head that moseys on out at a moseying speed. i'm left with the creamy remnants of a head that once was- a head that never will be again. still, the morse code in co2 spheres spells out 'drink me' on lenny's surface. beer sticks to the walls like ready spaghetti.

juicy sweet hop transcends normal beer aromas.. this almost reaches the level of orange soda in its citric sweetness. more tangerine than orange, and more barleywine than soda. still, you get the picture. american alpha sting, just not tart. brown sugar comes through as lenny warms up to me. gimme some sugar, baby.

thick and smooth, creamy and dreamy, this beer slides down the throat like a champ. isn't rye usually peppery and sharply dry? not here. the hops overwhelm and it adds more of a yin to the bitterness of yang. it melts with the hop aftereffect and is comparable to putting a window fan behind a bullet to help it pick up speed. and what about the 10%? don't feel it in the least until this beer hits my belly like a lead weight. that's ok though, i'm sipping it the way i should.

that orange peel is there, along with intense malt sweetness. the bitterness in the finish is really botanical, not waxy. it's alive. my mouth is sticky on the inside after each sip and my cheeks feel dry. am i dying? nope.. it's just beer. it's like a brandy-soaked pumpkin pie.. no, wait.. it's more like a 3 floyds behemoth glazed pecan pie. describing this takes big words that i'm not capable of. after all, this is a huge beer with some bold character.

if someone made this beer to commemorate me, i'd be a damn proud dead man.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2006 23:41:24 | More by goodbyeohio

nlmartin

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

"Christ thats good beer!" - God

The beer was served in a pub glass.

Appearance: The beer pours a clear effervescent amber coloration. The head is a thick two finger biege coloration. The head has the staying power of Ron Jeremy on a Viagra bender. Thick sheets of lacing remain behind on my glass.

Smell: This beer is loaded with rye bread maltyness. This combines well with citrus and pine resin maltyness.

Taste: The beer delivers a major pine resin assault. This beer is nearing on a veritable coniferous forrest of hops. Citrus zest and spicy alcohol ride a bready maltyness.

Mouthfeel/ Drinkability: This beer is full bodied and well carbonated. The alcohol is well incorporated in all aspects of the beer. This is a dam fine DIPA. I was a bit sceptical about Shmaltz after Genesis 10:10. You have redeemed yourselves with Lenny's RIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2006 10:01:46 | More by nlmartin

rkuhnel

California

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Mine was a 22 oz Bomber that had a theme that looks kind of like an old theatre exteriors The name He’Brew Presents BITTERSWEET LENNY’S R.I.P.A. is made to look like a theater sign. The label says this is a “A Double India Pale Ale with Rye Malt” and “Brewed with an obscene amount of malts and hops”. Listed at 10% ABV. There is a silhouette of the late great Lenny Bruce on the neck label. Finally it is Kosher Certified. Really cool label we have here.

Appearance: Poured a nice thick and oily stream from the bottle and settled into my Duvel glass with minimal splash and raised a nice fat off-white head that left lots of fat chunks of lacing on the sides of the glass. Overall this is a feast for the eyes and as the head slowly settles down you are so taken by its overall beauty you almost hate to disturb it.

Nose: This one comes at you with alcohol and piney hops. The aromas just leap out at you and you don’t need to take a deep sniff to get this one. Beside the hops, there are also some distinct but not overwhelming rich malts, toffee, nuts, caramel, and berries. Overall it is hard to imagine a beer smelling a whole lot better than this.

Taste: The taste is similar to the nose, and the alcohol, malts and the hops dominate, and there is a serious bitter finish worthy of a DIPA.

Mouthfeel: What can you say about this except is feels rich and creamy and simply hangs on the teeth and tongue. You hate to swallow, but then it tastes just as good going down the back of your throat.

Drinkability: Simply sublime is all I can say. At 10% you would want to be careful, but downing all 22 oz is easy. It is just great from first drop to last.

Overall: This is an unusual Double IPA because of the Rye Malt, but no matter how you measure it this is an impressive brew. I only got one bottle of this, but assuming it is still there will be picking up a case to share with my friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2007 04:40:39 | More by rkuhnel

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to lipschitz for sending me this during CanBIF3.

Big foamy head, dissipates and leaves sticky lacing. Big dark orange brew, big malty, spicy aroma a little cattyness from hops. Kinda smells like belgian rock candy as well. Big bitter bang up front when in mouth, rye malt seems to help tone down what must be like a ton of specialised cristal malts that would seem to be used. Kinda oily/chewy mouthfeel. Soft alchohol burn as it goes down.

My very first DIPA... I'm addicted.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2007 02:18:35 | More by bloberglawp

hwwty4

Missouri

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a 22oz bottle into a Smokestack goblet. Only a slight off white head (probably to cold) that left sticky lacing all the way down the glass. Poured a deep amber with a lot of reddish tones. Aroma was amazing. Really complex. The first thing that struck me was almost a sweet strawberry aroma, then it melded into the spiciness from the rye and then finally into the hops. Taste is all rye up front. Not overpowering, but it adds a spicy kick that balances the malt very well. Hops are the finish. I cannot pick up what exact flavors of the hops but it was big. Mouthfeel is on the heavier side with leaves a nice oily coating on your mouth. I will definitely pick up another bomber of this when I see it.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2008 19:41:49 | More by hwwty4

Greggy

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours an exceptional dark copper/red color with a nice tan head. The body has just a touch of fine sediment. There is some nice sticky lacing as well.

S- Impressive. Very nutty, sweet, maple nut, and a bunch of dark fruits. There is a nice balance of rye in the mix too.

T- Very sweet and nutty malt with butterscotch, after the nice smooth malt it turns to a very nice dry hop finish.

M- Very thick and creamy.

D- The alc is extremely well hidden in this one. The only thing letting me know this was over 7% was the thick mouthfeel. I would have NEVER guessed that this was 10%. Incredible Brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2008 17:25:54 | More by Greggy

Mosstrooper

California

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 22oz bottle into Budweiser branded American pint glass.

Appearance: Pours dark copper with a pretty small, but long standing tanned head that dissipates so slowly that it doesn't seem to dissipate at all.

Smell: Toasted malts with spicy, herbal hops and hints of fruit.

Taste: Toasty, buttery malts up front, with a bitter aftertaste that finishes sweet as well. Hints of rye. Rich with full, deep flavors. Bittersweet indeed!

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, thick, and creamy with balanced carbonation. Dry finish.

Drinkability: For a double IPA, this is very well balanced and full of flavor a variety of flavors, as opposed to just being full of hops. Pretty easy drinker for 10%ABV and something I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 02:10:09 | More by Mosstrooper

WetCoaster

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My first offering from this brewery -- the gimmicky labeling has kept me far, far away for a long time. But a rye-based DIPA? Can't... resist... must... drink...

Appearance: Wow. It's-- wow. Absolutely beautiful deep, clear tawny amber with gold undertones. Massive, frothy espresso crema head. Great retention and oily lace on glasswall. Cannot imagine how it could be improved upon.

Smell: Boo and yah. Very potent stuff; I can literally smell this from three feet away. Sweet, super juicy citrus hops; almost smells like a fresh-hopped ale. Once that wave crashes, there's a rich base of pale malts and a slighly spicy hint of rye to boot. Very nice.

Taste/Mouthfeel: About as subtle as a hammer to the forehead. Massive amounts of hops and malt blend seamlessly into a boozy orange toffee -- if this isn't a candy, it should be. Boozy it is, though, with a fusel vapors aplenty, and rye bite squares everything away in the finish. The mouthfeel is nice, too, smooth, a bit slick and medium bodied.

Drinkability: Know going into this that this a huge beer. I think 10% abv might be underestimating this one; I almost fell off the couch after finishing the bomber. So while you can't drink too much of this, it's certainly one of the better IPAs I've had. Lenny would be proud, or fucking proud, I suppose.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2006 02:18:17 | More by WetCoaster

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

650ml bottle downed july 31 2009

A reddish bronze, with a head that just kept climbing up the glass pouring over the top and on too the table. thick head that stuck around, looked like little hills, thick patches of lace but could not see each sip

S caramel is very strong nice pine and citrus just great. as it warmed i picked up some bread and perhaps some faint smoke?

T sweet malt with some pine, citrus and a little bread. not as bitter as i thought it would be, i thought the 10% was a typo until i fell over reaching for seconds. not perfect but a wonderful dipa buy it if you can

M/D thick, creamy goodness. I wont lie i loved drinking this beer. smooth as silk, and i just cant get over the 10% where did they put it?

my highest marks to date with good reason. see it buy it drink it any questions???

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 03:50:34 | More by wordemupg

2378GCGTG

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass at 48 degrees

Appearance: 2 inch white head with great lacing and retention. A beautiful Mahogany/Red brown color

Smell: Honey, malt, caramel, figs, butter, rye, and spice

Taste: Sweet honey, and thick caramel flavors predominate, with malty brown sugar undertones fading into a well balanced hop flavor, the hops accentuate the dark fruits in the middle taste and give way to a clean bitter hop rye finish

Mouth: A velvetty smooth and clean beer. This is light on the tongue with the perfect amount of carbonation. IT's hard to believe that this beer is 10% ABV, I don't taste any hint of it.

Overall: This is a great RIPA, I will certainly be buying this again when I see it available, hopefully it gets distributed in Texas.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 13:09:06 | More by 2378GCGTG

rodney45

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on Cask at The Blind Tiger NYC.

A: Dark red. Big tan colored head.

S: Massive pine and citrus.

T: First notes are of pine needles, citrus and grapefruit. Backnote of crystal malt, vanilla and lemon. Wet aftertaste with alcohol esters.

M: Heavy body, with low carbonation. Very bitter.

O: Since this beer was on cask it was experienced at room temp. This really brought forth the flavor profile that would have been hidden by the taste dampening of normal tap temperatures. Really excellent beer.

Serving type: cask

01-16-2012 01:54:44 | More by rodney45

rfbenavi80

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 4 pack just to try it. Looked interesting.
Bottle poured into a Tulip.

A- Wow! Really dark amber for a DIPA. Tan colored head creates a nice "cap" on the top of the beer that hangs around a long time. Looks very tasty.

S- Lots of spicy rye. Solid caramel malts in the back, and some dark fruits. Smell is more like a quad or a dubbel than DIPA. Smells very sweet. Very interesting.

T- Boom! Malt sweetness hits the tongue. The hops are not overpowering, they don't come right out and smack you in the face. It is very sweet compared to other DIPA's. The spicy rye hits you in the back of the mouth.

M- Very thick and creamy. Very light carbonation. An easy drinker for the 10% ABV.

O- Really surprised with this one, it really is an interesting beer. Since this beer is "Imperial" I'm going to put one away for a while. The sweet aroma and the sweet taste like a quad or a dubbel have me tricked. This is one DIPA that might age well. I'm interested to find out.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 01:09:42 | More by rfbenavi80

scootny

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A lovely deep reddish amber with a big head a lots of lace. Clear and pretty in the glass . Smell is full of pine and sweet syrupy toffee, roasted grains and burnt caramel . Taste follows with a sweet sticky caramel and toasted malt body that sits beautifully on the tongue with an explosion of pine and punch of grapefruit in the middle to finish. Tropical fruit adds some complexity and lushness to the taste. Rye comes through with an edgy presence that balances the sweeter aspects in a fashion and melds with the hops. The alcohol is present but well integrated with a warmth in the swallow. Feel is thick and chewy with a smooth carbonation and a supple drinkability. A outstanding DIPA. One of the best and it brings a unique take and taste to the table.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 02:33:59 | More by scootny

kirok1999

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first review for a He'brew. A 22oz bomber with more writing on it than any Stone bottle I've seen. First quote that caught my eye: "Satire equals tragedy plus time - Lenny Bruce". Love it already.

Appearance- Dark ruddy bronze/red with an alarmingly rising head that leaves thick chunks of lace on the glass. Don't pour too aggresively or it'll end up on the floor!

Smell- Fruity sweetness hits first followed by caramel malts, cherries, some alcohol not quite hidden by the sweetness. There is quite a lot of alpha hop aroma around too. Floral and some citurs as well. I can tell I'm gonna like this one.

Taste- Creamy; thick and creamy as hell. The sweetness is predominant but perfectly balanced by the hops. The alcohol warms nicely and the hops come through with a nice taste to match the smell, floral and citrus. Caramel and cherries come through nicely too. This is one well hopped and malted brew, both very well balanced. I like it!!

Mouthfeel- I've always had trouble describing mouthfeel so have patience with me here. The carbonation is just right, not too bubbly nor too flat like some stouts. It plays nicely in your mouth. The creaminess is the main attraction to the mouthfeel, it just slides down like something much thicker.

Drinkability- Obviously I love this brew and even at 10%ABV I could drink it all night (at home). He'brew has made a bold statement in the Double IPA market and I can't think of too many I like better. If you can find this one, get it and get as many as you can. My local IGA got a 2 cases and I'm gonna buy one for the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2006 00:22:28 | More by kirok1999

dfried

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark amber-red color, but you can still see through it. Average size, sticky head forms with nice small bubbles, ending up as a decent ring and film over the top. The aroma is not especially pungent, it's of sweet dark fruit like plum and fig, and is a bit hoppy but not 'in your face' hoppy. The first sip was so thick and syrupy that it took a second for any flavor at all to hit, but it did, oh boy did it ever. The taste is even sweeter that the dark fruit aroma may have led on. Array of fruity flavors, plum, fig, even dark grapes. Noticeable but not robust grainy flavor from the rye, adds to the overall feel of the beer. And then the hops, how can you forget the hops, it is an IPA after all. This is a malt dominated beer, but there is a good floral, and a little pine-like bite from the hops. This beer definitely straddles the barley wine/DIPA fence. Mouthfeel is nice and sticky, finishes dry. I have used the term dangerously drinkable before, but there is no other term that would apply better to the drinkability of this beer. 10%, are you kidding me?

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2006 14:17:23 | More by dfried

RedHaze

Nebraska

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up while in Spokane, WA.

Pours a dark amber with a quarter inch off-white head, that fades slowly to a nice cap considering the head wasn't that large. The lacing was very thick, completely covering the interior of m glass.

Smell; very nice hoppy aroma, with citrus and a hint of pine. The rye lends a nice spiciness to the aroma, and there's some sweet malts present as well. I'm really digging the aroma of this beer.

Taste; the hops are definitely present with citrus and the hints of pine tree, but the rye really stands out to me. I'm glad to, because that's the main reason that I purchased the bottle. I've become a big fan of rye beers, and wish other breweries would give rye a chance. There's a very good mildly sweet presence that just seems to accentuate the rye flavors in this beer.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability; the mouthfeel is full bodied and very smooth, and despite the bitterness, this beer is disappearing rapidly.

I had never heard of this beer when I purchased it, so I only bought the one bottle. Now I wish I could go back just to buy a case of it. One of the better beers that I've had recently.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2006 01:53:58 | More by RedHaze

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Large bottle copped from Buy Rite on Oak Tree in South Plainfield for $4.99...
This company's 11th Anniversary Jewbelation Ale was really good, and I heard a lot of positive things about this particular beer, so I decided to give it a shot...
A very aggressive pour yielded a gigantic five-fingered frothy and foamy head that slowly receded and left a copious amount of lacing...
Incredible smell bursting with a powerful hop essence that clung to the nose, adding strong essences of bittersweet sugars, caramel, and vanilla...
Outstanding fresh, crisp taste completely dominated by hops... This is definitely not a gimmick-beer - this is a teriffic, all-around outstanding IPA worthy of true recognition...
The hop flavor really stood out on this one, and was above and beyond... "A Double India Pale Ale with Rye Malt" on the front logo sticker means what it says...
Excellent creamy and rich mouthfeel contribute to the all-around quality of this wonderful beer...
Excellent drinkability and no sign at all of the hefty 10% ABV floating around in this one...
Great stuff...
Another must-try for hop heads...
Definitely recommended...

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 00:14:46 | More by dsa7783