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

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

TheSeeker61

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on cask at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta and wow was it a great treat.

The appearance was an amber brown with a half inch head which hung around.

The smell was dark fruit with roasted malt.

The taste was a balanced malt/hop.

The mouthfeel was medium.

Overall really enjoyed this brew. I've had it in the bottle and really enjoyed it and having it on cask was exceptionally enjoyable. Got to try it again on cask.

Serving type: cask

10-09-2011 13:54:09 | More by TheSeeker61

atsprings

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Final cask of the first ever Raleigh Beer Week and the guys at Flying Saucer were cool enough to let me tap it! Served in a tulip glass a very murky puddle water-like brown with no head. Sitting near the cask I noticed that all of the early pours were murky, but it eventually started pouring clear, no complaints from me, either way! The aroma was weaker than expected, mild caramel and pine hops. Luckily, the taste made up for the weak aroma and then some, loads of rye and caramel slightly overshadowed by pine hops. The beer was slightly heavy, but a smooth, very enjoyable sipper. This was an excellent cask beer, one I hope to see again soon.

Serving type: cask

09-04-2010 11:24:21 | More by atsprings

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cask at Young Augustine's in Atlanta.

Pours an opaque copper color with a one-finger cream-colored head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet caramel malts with solid amounts of breadiness and mild amounts of earthy and pine hops.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth and thick caramel malt flavors up front are joined by mild amounts of breadiness and even lighter amounts of rye flavors. Midway through the sip the malt flavors fade a bit with hints of soapiness, allowing pine hop flavors to work their way into things. The hops carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very smooth thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was close to being a very good beer but the malt flavors weren't quite crisp enough. Still, it's a good beer that's worth a shot.

Serving type: cask

07-29-2010 00:41:02 | More by glid02

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on cask at the Bronx Ale House. Been wanting to try this one for a while.

A: Pours a dark amber brown, with a reddish tinge. Almost verging on purple. A wispy, almost oily tan head, with solid lacing. Very nice.

S: The smell is sweet malt with a big dose of fruity, juicy citrus hops. A subtle but firm bit of alcohol. Nothing too complicated, but quite pleasant.

T: This is a unique beer if I've ever had one. On the one hand, there's the normal double IPA retinue. Big grapefruit citrus hops, battling it out with a beefed up malt sweetness. Then there's the rye, which just might be the best IPA compliment in the world. Love it. In addition to all of this, there's a dark, fruity sweetness. Dark grape. It's almost port-like. The sweetness gets a bit strong as it warms, but it's delicious nonetheless.

M: Syrupy and very sticky. Full and viscous, almost RIS-like in mouthfeel.

D: I'm not sure I could have more than one glass in a sitting, but it's delicious, strong and and extremely original. I look forward to revisiting it.

Serving type: cask

02-20-2010 17:20:18 | More by CharlatanSin

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at Max's tonight. The beer pours an attractive copper color with impressive head retention and OK lacing. On the nose, this is simply a beautiful beer. There is a lovely, perfumy aroma of rye and grapefruit that blended together is just wonderful. On the palate this beer is nearly as good, but with a bit more sweet malt then I think is necessary or desired. Still, this is just a beautiful beer, with an incredible soft, creamy, hop perfume finish. The beer is so soft and long on the palate, with just enough hops to give it wonderful bitter bite on the finish. However, there's almost a perfume flavor to this beer, that works perfectly with the rye and malt. The alcohol is somewhat noticeable, which detracts a bit from the beer's drinkability, but this is one delicious, easy to drink DIPA.

Very, very impressive....

Serving type: cask

12-22-2009 23:57:42 | More by johnmichaelsen

drabmuh

Maryland

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On cask at a local beer bar. Beer is clear and reddish in color. Carbonation is moderate to low and head is soapy and nearly non-existent (it is on cask though). No lacing on the glass. I'm still interested.

Aroma is dominated by hops hops hops. Mostly citrus hop aroma and nothing much else.

Hops are present in the back of the mouth on this one. Correct me if I'm wrong but a RIPA is a RYE IPA correct? I don't taste the rye at all. The finish is a little piny. There isn't much of an aftertaste, is that woodsey flavor the rye trying to squeeze to the front? Eh, not my favorite, definitely not my favorite IPA or rye.

This may be one of those beers that has no business being on cask. I'll try it again in the bottle and see if its better and rereview at a later date.

Serving type: cask

12-18-2009 20:05:02 | More by drabmuh

donniecuffs

New Jersey

2.78/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Poured a thick bronze, with a tan head that lasted, but not an obvious carbonation presence.

S: Smelled syrupy sweet, with hints of grapefruit and tropical citrus, but also an unrefined spicy note.

T: Definitely found the grapefruit, tropical fruit, and even some apricot, but the sweetness was a little overpowering, and furthermore it dissipated into a harsh sour-spice that left a lingering aftertaste.

M: Syrupy, high alcohol presence on the tongue. Not very pleasant.

D: I found myself taking gulps, not because I eagerly wanted to consume another pint, but because I wanted to wash away the somewhat annoying aftertaste. If they could balance out the sour-spice and syrupy feel, it would certainly knock this beer up a few notches. Doesn't come close to the top-notch Dbl IPAs.

Serving type: cask

08-27-2009 02:43:58 | More by donniecuffs

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.96/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a huge beer, not for the faint of heart. it pours reddish and darker for an ipa, with a bug sudsy tan head. the nose on it is grain heavy for the style, as the rye malt makes its presence felt early and often. theres sweeter grain too, toasted elements, and of course the hops, which fall somewhere north of citrusy but south of piney. flavor wise, the hop bitterness goes expertly with the spicy rye, and is very intense on the palate. the alcohol is curiously missing, which is a shock to me. there is something round and familiar in this beer bringing everything together too, and I want to say its oatmeal, but I cant be sure. its got that softness and sweetness, and the mouthfeel fits the bill, but who knows for sure? the hops outlast the rye in the finish, and my mouth is left panting. its a lot to process. a little light on the bubbles I thought, but the fuller body and creamy feel is really nice in an ipa. also the alcohol was masked very well. overall a beer id recommend sharing, but one I enjoyed very much.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 17:20:02 | More by StonedTrippin

harrymel

Washington

3.99/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled: unk

Copper with a solid quilt of light tan foam. Smells like grapefruit, malts, spiced, some pepper, some resin and a good dose of grassy hops. Taste is sweet, bitter, hoppy and with few aparent and special qualities, but I really dig it. I'm surprised to enjoy this one so much, but here I am, wishing I could regularly trust this to be fresh on the shelves. Medium bodied with moderate carb and an off dry finish. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 06:30:14 | More by harrymel

Altrurian

New York

3.81/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Lovely deep, complex amber, tending toward a surprising burgundy hue. Minimal head. The smell is disappointingly faint but pleasant, and, again, surprising: a cinnamon-roll yeastiness, more confectionary than hoppy. A stand-up, robust, uncommon flavor, not identifiable as an IPA (at least to my still-developing palate); comparable to the best red ales. Mouthfeel is a fine foamy prickliness. An attractive brew, its allure growing as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 16:28:41 | More by Altrurian

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.36/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

pour is a deep dark amber brown with hints of orange gold. Thin off white head which fades quickly. No lacing.

Nose is big, sweet and malty. Little hint of clove spice, but nose is almost more of a scotch ale or even a barley wine.

Taste is a big contrast to the nose. Little bite of citrus initially followed by a syrupy, scotch malty sweetness. Finish is crisp and bitter hops. Really interesting melange of flavors here.

Feel is medium thick and sticky. Lovely coating left behind, with the dry resiny hop feel as well.

Really pretty spectacular. Agree with some other reviewers, this is barely a DIPA, more of a barleywine at times. Certainly blends the categories significantly, but all to my delight.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 23:27:12 | More by dheacck11

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.26/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours red/amber in color, thick off white two finger head, medium lacing
S - Sweet caramel and toffee, some lemon candies, grapefruit rind, really resinouy and dank as far as the hop smell goes.
T - Disgustingly sweet malt, those dang oily hops come through and leave alcohol burn and taste, a mild rye bitterness in the mix with some pine and bitter citrus peel.
M - Sticky and chewy sweetness.
O - This is not an IPA, or a double IPA by any means, its a barely wine WITH some additional hops and SOME rye, and should be treated as such. Overly sweet, and boozey.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 22:53:25 | More by Omnium

barknee

New York

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a semi-appropriate "biertulpe" glass; showing a dual fat fingered mocha- meringue head. Dark copper and well filtered, the nose is one of cocoa powder, marshmallow, milk chocolate, vanilla and malted milk balls that wafts from the glass.
Wow. liquid candy; call it "whoppers" beer!

Moderately sweet on the tongue, and just when you think; "where's the acid," the hop bitterness sneaks in through the back door providing an ever so necessary dose of alpha's that lasts long after the first swallow.

This is a beer that's been engineered, not haphazardly created. All of the components arrive at the finish line, but far from a tie, but rather nicely spaced, allowing for the evolution of taste development and flavor profiles to traipse through your consciousness.

Magnificently crafted and creatively balanced, this is a unique and applaudable brew; or should I say; HeBrew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 15:48:15 | More by barknee

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.28/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a crystal clear burnished copper color. The head is a two finger offwhite shade. The texture is creamier (if thinner) than most DIPAs I tend to encounter, and the lacing it leaves behind is nice looking, as well.

S: Dank. Really the perfect descriptor for this one. Weed, fresh cut grass, herbs, pine, lemon are all the hop qualities I notice, backed by the spicy rye malts. An underlying aroma of toffee, biscuit, and caramel also give the hops some breathing room.

T: At first, it's lightly sweet and spicy. The piny, herbal hops all hit on the midtaste, providing many of the same flavors the nose suggested (marijuana, pine, black pepper, etc.) On the finish, there's an upsurge of both rye malt qualities and earthy booziness. Not really deep, delicate, or balanced in any way, but a fun DIPA to sip on.

M: Shocking heft on the palate, and shockingly silky as well. A bit of roughness builds up after the first sip, in conjunction with the drying of the finish. Given the choice between syrupy and sweet or dry, clean, and boozy...aw fuck it, I'll take dry, clean, and boozy in this case. I'm really glad this one lacks overt sweetness.

O: I've never been too particular over rye IPAs, but this one is fine. Very good for those who like spicy, bitter, pine-forward DIPAs.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 22:22:56 | More by ThisWangsChung

Steamer

Missouri

4.21/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Three fingered, cream colored head with lots of retention. Deep copper hues.

S - Strong metallic hops aroma; faint citrus undertones.

T & M - Sharp and lemony; bitter and dry, but smooth going down.

Overall: A strong, well blended rye DIPA that hits the spot without slaughtering your taste buds. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 01:32:39 | More by Steamer

CaptMaelstrom

Tennessee

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle into a pint glass.

A: Dark orangey-brown color, good beige head, lacing down the glass.

S: Lots of fresh lemony, grapefruit, herbal aromas. Toasty. Doesn't fade much.

T: Can't tell if there's a malt or hop taste first, the two are pungent and balance each other well. Grapefruit, lemon, flowers. The alcohol is hidden very well. Strong bitter aftertaste.

M: Carbonation not too strong, not too weak. A good medium body, a little oily, but it it might be all the alpha acids jammed in this beer.

O: The most surprising part of this beer is that it's 10% ABV! I'd never have guessed. The double hop

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 23:09:05 | More by CaptMaelstrom

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.21/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours amber with off-white head in new DFH IPA glass. Lots of lacing along sides of glass and head lingers for a long time.

Smell is malty, caramel, and rye.

Taste is malty up front with rye, honey and a punch of lemon hops. Bitterness lingers long on the palate.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated.

Overall this was good. A definite must-try.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 02:55:40 | More by TrappistJohnMD

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The Bittersweet rye DIPA from Shmaltz is pretty good...for a sipping beer...aint noway your sessioning this bad boy. The beer poured a slightly hazy orangish copper with big think slightly offwhite head that is lacing like a vicky secret catalog. The smell has that deep rich malty musk with fresh hop hints...waiffs of alcohol also come to the surface. The taste is big....its a war between hops and malt. Its a big malt push at the beginning followed by bittering hops with essence of citrus and pine. The rye helps the beer to come off the pallet. The mouthfeel is full bodied with smooth carbonation. Overall this is a decent DIPA...once the mouth adjusts tot eh high ABV it really becomes nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:19:18 | More by WoodBrew

AmitC

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

Excellent deep copper color. Clear. Less than a finger thick head that stays well. Excellent lacing. Very few to no bubbles.

Smells more like a Barley wine than an Imperial IPA. A lot of malt upfront that is mixed with hops. Hops are earthy and ground. A little bit of booze.

A decent amount of bitterness upfront and a very good bitter aftertaste. A very solid and malt dominated middle. A lot of rye in the flavor as well. Bitterness is a culmination of rye and hops. Finish of course is bitter.

Mouth feel is medium to slightly full. Again drinks a lot like a boozy and hop forward Barleywine than a double IPA. Low carbonation. A bit of alcohol warmth and hop bitterness makes it somewhat astringent.

Style Rate: This is rye DIPA. More of a Rye Barleywine. 4
Personal Rate: 4.25

I like the bitterness. If this were Barleywine. It would have gotten better grades from me.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 02:10:03 | More by AmitC

joeseppy

Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A syrupy thick brownish red with heavy lacing.

Aroma of resinous pine, rye, sweet malt and alcohol.

Initial taste is an onslaught of malt then bitterness followed by intense sweet malts and onto bitter hop finish. The balance is off in a syncopated manner. Very sweet like the Rock n Rye liqueur (you know that bottle that was in your dads bar for years no one would touch--anywhooo) with carbonation. Did I say sweet?!? Alcohol hidden.

Smooth, creamy/sticky and potent.

This will have to grow on me as it goes to my extremes. I do appreciate the style and the rye whiskey adds a nice touch. Nice to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 00:34:42 | More by joeseppy

Auraan

Arizona

4.99/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured a nice cloudy amber with a finger's worth of off-white head. Scent was diacetyl and rye malt. The taste began with a hit of sweet malt, blending into rye spiciness nicely as the sip progressed. The hop profile is of grapefruit and pine and was present throughout the sip. Bitterness increases towards the end of the sip and ends with a nice bitter aftertaste that is quite pleasant. Mouthfeel is good, with a low carbonation that makes for easy sipping and let's the flavors of the beer shine through. It's neither too thin nor too thick. An all around excellent rye IPA and a good double IPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 06:45:10 | More by Auraan

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Dark tan/ruby red with a killer 2 inch foamy head and tons of sticky lacing.

Smell - Light floral notes, tropical fruits like pineapple and peach, lemon, some grape. Malts are actually strong with some caramel and butter along with the rye at the finish.

Taste - Nice kick of bitter hops and big malts mixed with rye. Malts are huge at first, lots of carmael and rye. Bitter hops come in at the finish and are very bitter. Really sweet at the finish also, gives it a huge finish.

Mouthfeel - A real one two punch. Tounge gets malts and rye, then the hops come in and coat the palatte along with some sugars. The finish is bitter and hoppy, with some sweetness.

Overall - Really good, i must say the balance isnt its strong point, malts first, then hops, then sweetness. ALcohol is masked well. The rye works great with the malts, adds a real backbone to the hop bomb that comes after the malts. A great beer, worth a drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 23:32:42 | More by wvsabbath

depechemode1983

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Pours out a medium mahogany red hues when held to the light. The head is tan with phenomenal retention. There's extreme lacing on this one. A half inch of foam stuck around for the entire duration of the beer consumption. Excellent.

S - Very tropical nose. Pineapple, orange, bitter grapefruit all make an appearance. Not mention an awesome piney bitterness that balances out the sweet characteristics of the nose.

T - Balanced as hell. You awesome Malt sweetness upfront with a touch fruit. Then almost immediately hit with sharp pine resin bitterness. Even at 10% ABV the alcohol stays well hidden.

M - Good god this beer is smooth. Soft, velvety, and with almost perfect carbonation it goes down like milk.

O - Worth of multiple purchases. Many actually. One of the best DIPAS I have had in my area. Just arrived too. At 8 dollars a 4 pack its a steal. Excellent quality and great first impression from He'brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 17:28:25 | More by depechemode1983

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle, no bottling date.

appears a deep copper color, with amber highlights. 1/2" off-white colored head. nice complex aroma, mix of caramel malt flavors and resiny hops. taste is also balanced. sweetness of sugary crystal malt and a bitter finish of piney, earthy hops. medium body, but sticky mouthfeel. good carbonation level.

overall - very tasty spin on the DIPA style.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 01:56:20 | More by jmdrpi