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

Fillpott

North Carolina

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

Poured this beer from a 22oz bottle into a regular pint glass, unfortunately it was frosted.

The appearance was coppery with a beige head and copious amounts of lacing with large bubbles. It has a crisp, bitter rye smell with malt overtones. The hops are assertive, but the smell of rye is unmistakable. The taste is sweet, bitter, citrusy, and crisp. (hmmm...bittersweet RIPA? go figure.). Its mouthfeel is thick, almost syrupy but smooth and extremely drinkable. Well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 02:22:43 | More by Fillpott

mattwjones

California

2.98/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I poured this beer into a 22 oz. wine glass. The color was amber and there was a 1 finger head. I could tell that this was a syrupy beer from the way it hit the glass. The aroma was very malty and caramel like. To me the taste of this beer was a big disappointment. The malt wore the pants in the hops-malt relationship. I was turned off by the imbalance of flavor. The mouthfeel was of little surprise and it was syrupy as I expected. The drinkability of this beer was decent considering the rather high ABV.

I am glad to have tried this beer, but I would not buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 18:32:08 | More by mattwjones

BillHaverchuck

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep hazel amber color.
Nice medium sized slightly off white head.
Smells rich and heavy. Bread and malt.
Backbone of heavy rye malt. Earthy hops and bitterness come through very nicely.
The blending and balance here is very nice, the malt gives a kick I'm not used to in a double ipa. A real tasty beer here.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 05:11:54 | More by BillHaverchuck

Brubaker

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Clear amber with a 1 finger cream colored head.

S- Citrusy & malty

T- Very sweet malts, Citrus tang, Hoppy bitter.

M- Smooth & thick

O- A very malty IPA. Thicker than traditional IPA's. I enjoyed it but it's not what i imagine when i think IPA. Well made though.

Might Drink
Wouldn't Buy
Wouldn't Make

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 18:35:22 | More by Brubaker

burtonbe

Nebraska

4.65/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful deep brown color. Clear. Strong head.

S - Good malty smell, with a balanced hop aroma. Very balanced, very enjoyable.

T - Wow! That's a kick in the mouth! Huge flavor. You can really taste the rye. Complex biscuity/malty/bitter/sweet/woody flavor. Hoppy, but it needs it to balance the huge flavor. Chewy. Just awesome.

M - When you drink this beer you really know you're drinking beer. Mouthfeel is exceptional.

D - This beer is 10% ABV and comes in a 22oz bottle. Keeping that in mind, it's pretty darn drinkable.

Overall, this is an awesome beer. My girlfriend took a sip and remarked "that sure is a man's beer!"

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2007 02:35:34 | More by burtonbe

Rsobotka

New York

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is an amzazing beer...unfortunately as your enjoying it, you fear that its taking you down a creepy road towards an unreturnable drunken misfortune.
Appearance: Reddish, with a slight head....chococately on top with a reddish tint shadowing through.
Smell: like a sweet cherry field.. with a nice bitter jump in a pond.
Taste: Incredible: exactly how the name implies: sweet and silky with a brandy bitter finish.
M- A little like a hard brandy....cool yet harsh
Drinka bil...i kept sipping this beer fearing something that never came...i thought the aftertaste was going to remind me of a Remy Martin x-mas gift...but it didnt...i probably could have drank 10 of these trying to figure out its concoction, but my wife kept reminding of its 10% alcohol content.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2008 00:39:45 | More by Rsobotka

thejewthatbrews

California

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a taster glass.

Amber colored, with a slightly off-white, surprisingly long-lasting head. Good, sticky lacing.

Great bitterness. Malt hits for the first half-second, then the hop bitterness takes over. Slightly spice-like flavor throws itself in every once in a while. While not distinctly tasting like rye, it's different from other DIPA's. The rye seems to change to profile, melding with the other ingredients. Less of an adjunct, more of a true ingredient.

Hops, malt, hops. Floral aroma? You betcha. Not crazy floral, though. Floral in the kind of way that says "damn these hops are fresh"...and delicious.

Easy drinkin. Thicker feeling than any average beer, but not overwhelming by any means. Just enough to slow you down a little bit, and savor it even more.

If you like bitter things...highly drinkable. Complex, interesting, hoppy, bitter, but not disappointing in the malt category either.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 05:11:57 | More by thejewthatbrews

gleemonger

California

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy, deep amber, with a small tan head. Plenty of lacing down the glass.

More of a sweet malty aroma than anything else, with just a touch of piney hop aroma. Would like more hop aroma - wondering if maybe this is an old bottle.

Immediately hit with pretty strong bitterness, followed by some sweet yet toasty and spicy malt. Very nice complex malt profile here. Like the nose, the hops are more in the background than I would like for the style, and don't seem all that complex. From what I could taste, though, pretty nice citrusy hop flavor. Not much of an aftertaste other than a little lingering bitterness.

Moderate body with moderate carbonation. Creamy.

Very nice, but not amazing. Would like to try it again, knowing I had a fresh batch (on tap I guess). This does taste a little like a barleywine, or a cross between a barleywine and IPA, so a little toned down, which is a plus in my book.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:40:16 | More by gleemonger

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

revolution

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into the glass reveals the copper color. A small head develops, then quickly fades leaving some decent lace.

The smell of malt is strong. A scent of fruitiness is also present, a slight touch of citrus.

The rich malty flavor and the alcohol dominate this one, but the bitterness makes its way through.

It's definitely a mouthfull. One you can chew on and enjoy. The large bottle goes a long way.

The RIPA is a pretty serious brew that makes for a great night.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 12:46:30 | More by revolution

xgabe

California

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving: 22 oz. bomber

A: Pours nice and thick... "kerplunk" into my Duvel glass. Carbonation is evident, though subtle. One inch thick head; slowly dissipates. Color is clear, with hues of dark amber, reminiscent of honey or maple syrup.

S: Mild hops balanced by caramel malt aroma. Some fruit (banana); alcohol is present (duh at 10%!). No dominant citrusy hops.

T: The mild hops come through mildly in taste as well, a surprise considering the DIPA status. Don't get me wrong. It's pleasant for sure, especially how it finishes nicely with the malt backbone. After it warms, the alcohol and hops come through a bit more. Very nice.

M: Just as thick as it was poured. Carbonation is fine, as fine as it comes to being confused for lack of carbonation. It's pleasant.

D: For sure. Very pleased with this venture into a R.I.P.A.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 05:21:05 | More by xgabe

Sanford

Missouri

4.45/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Lenny's Bittersweet RIPA has been one of my favorite beers for quite a while. It feels like a privelage to be able to have it on tap. When it is poured it cascades upside down like an impatient Guiness, creating a thick, creamy, tan head. Below the foam, the body is a very appealing dark amber; and when held up to the light there are beautiful reddish/orange highlights. The lacing isn't great, but a nice ring of suds remains, and when I swirl the glass, the head reappears in strength. I really enjoy this beers nose. The aroma is spicy herbal earthy sweet with a touch of funk. I don't know which hops are used, but that funk reminds me of Simcoe. I taste sweet malt, spicy rye, and bitter earthy hops. The flavors work together in a twisting turning way, one leading to the next, and back around to the first. The finish is long and bitter. This is a big beer, with big flavors, but to me, they all work together very well. The mouthfeel is rich and smooth...unctuous (spe?), I love it. For me, the complexity and abv of the beer limit its drinkability, though I think the draft version is more drinkable than the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2009 23:57:38 | More by Sanford

bfr1992t

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured 13oz in to a 16oz glass. Soft pour yet managed a thin off white head that clings to the glass. Nice medium amber color that nearly glows. Pours giving an impression that it's viscous. Smells bigger than it tastes, hints of quite a few different hops. Sip - nice mouthfeel, wakes up the top of the tongue. Taste, not as big as it smells. Many solid flavors, not just one overbearing hop note. The end is a bit touchy, bitter for an instant then smooths out. Smooth for a big IPA. The 10% ABV does not make itself known at all except possibly the first instant of hitting the mouth. I'd have to be careful with this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2006 03:52:33 | More by bfr1992t

rhenning

New York

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into Ommegang glass

Copper with orange hues, a gentle pour produced two fat fingers of frothy ivory head with nice retention and lots of sudsy lacing left stuck to the glass.

Smells of toasty rye, big pink grapefruit, piney hops and fresh herbs.

Taste of rye malt, sweet and sour grapefruit with sugar on top, citrus peel and long lasting piney bitterness with notes of bitter herbs. The high alcohol content is well masked by the massive hop character, present only briefly mid-palate.

Mouthfeel is wonderfully smooth and creamy, finishing clean without any stickiness present. This is the perfect viscosity for my taste.

I really like this beer. It's got big flavors while remaining well-balanced, without trying to be too many things at once... and strangely thirst-quenching to boot.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 02:05:59 | More by rhenning

honkey

Alabama

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Usually I am not too big into the DIPA's but this was a gift to me. Trying my best to review to the style and not be subjective...
Poured from a bottle. Not seeing a frreshness date, although, thie seems to be fairly fresh.

Appearance- Beautiful thick lasting head. Leaves a nice lace as it disappears. Dark copper color. Very appealing.

Smell- floral, citrus, almost a spicy aroma as well... Probably from the rye

Taste- clean bitterness up front with a complex malty sweetness that follows. This is where my dislike for DIPA's comes from. I wish there was more hops flavor and less maltiness. It is followed by a slight bit of alcohol, but not too much and not hot.

Mouthfeel- quite thick. I prefer a bit drier, but for a DIPA it is much better than others, but I could still use a drier drink.
Drinkability- at 10% it is a sipper for sure. If it was more dry, I think the drinkability would be a bit better. Again, better than most other DIPA's.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 04:24:58 | More by honkey

Ladybugger

Maine

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a chilly cellar-temperature bottle into a goblet. Pours a lovely ruby brown, clear with sparse bubbles. No head, just a tan ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. Aroma is of caramel malt, earthiness, and citrusy hops. This beer is hoppy enough to tingle, but not unpleasantly. Initial slight sweetness yields to huge hop flavor, piney, critrusy, floral, wow. An interesting maltiness underlies the flavor, and I can only assume that what I am tasting is the rye. This medium bodied beer doesn't coat the mouth much, but the flavor of the hops certainly lingers for some time. This beer is loud and interesting, one to savor rather than enjoyed bottle after bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 00:03:32 | More by Ladybugger

PanicUnited

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Im not writing a review to tell everyone how this beer has hints or lemongrass or anything like that. I would just like to add a few notes about what to expect if you get the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful brew.

The taste was good, but there was, at times, an overbearing sense of granulation that threw me off. Its particularly carbonated and can not be enjoyed at a rapid pace. To be honest, after one of these you will want something more malty, like a Coney Island Lager.

Definitely different, full bodied and spectacular; however, it leaves something on the table so don't overpay.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 23:37:05 | More by PanicUnited

rcusick

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

appearance - poured a beautiful dark amber color with no haze or cloudiness into a dogfish head signature glass

smell - it could be because my bottle was a little old, i think its been in the fridge for six months, but my pour had almost no smell to it at all....a slight toastyness and hints of chocolate, but other then that, nothing. Surprisingly not even any alcohol/booze smell for such a high ABV beer.

taste - a nice maltyness with a good bit of rye spiciness. slightly boozy on the tongue, but not over powering.

mouthfeel - thick but not overly syrupy, just what i would want out of this beer.

overall - a stellar beer, i am only sad that i didnt crack this bottle sooner!

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 23:40:20 | More by rcusick

ctfixer

Georgia

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

On tap " The Usual Place" Augusta GA

A: White head, on top of a clear ruddy copper color. Excellent head retention, maybe indicative to the rye, one of the best I have seen.

S: Opposite many of the other he'brew beers, where sweet malt is dominant - this one has a very strong spicy hops character, with the malt playing a supporting role. Somewhat bready but hops, hops, hops!

T: Hello hops, big bite up front, which gives way to sweet malt. Alcohol well-hidden, for this big beer, very tasty if you are a hop head and like pushing the style limits.
Mouthfeel: medium-heavy mouthfeel, dry acidic finish that aids drinkability a little, but the aftertaste lingers.

M: Excellent again for this big style, I like the medium mouthfeel all the way around, with medium carbonation for 10% ABV

O: I swear I could drink 3 of these, but not sure thats a good idea, as one pint was plenty to start my night! Great beer from contract brew (Saratoga) my favorite He' Brew for sure...

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2011 00:32:20 | More by ctfixer

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

braski

Pennsylvania

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

appearance- a dark amber color with a head that settles down quick and leaves nice lacing.

smell- a equall mixture of malts hops and alcohol.

taste- same as above, sweet, bitter, hot and a distinctive flavor like no other, must be the rye.

mouthfeel- medium body with a little burn that is sticky feeling.

overall- a great beer, i love when i taste a beer that is so different but yet so tasty that i can't put it down. i'm looking forward to trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 02:50:37 | More by braski

beckscrusader420

Florida

5/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

what can I say what more could you want from a beer? I just drank a 22 of it not fully cold and It's still great!!! 10% abv works for me. Its crazy that I'm not looking forward to the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat or the Grolsch bottles now that I drank this first. Hebrew beer...yeah dude.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2007 23:32:07 | More by beckscrusader420

theecaleb

Alaska

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

Poured from a 12oz Brown bottle.

A: Good pour, deep shades of amber. copper and reds. Head was of dark white almost a copper colour, short less than a fingers width. Thick lacing.

S: Smells like an IPA, with hints of barley or pine. The rye stands out.

T: Tastes like a very good IPA topped off with a shot of creme
liquor. Small hint it alcohol

M: Good balance, bubbly.

O: A good twist on an IPA, high quality beer.

I would recommend this beer to a friend

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 20:19:15 | More by theecaleb

GoodBeerTire

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a nice orange amber. Small head, but nice and creamy.

The smell was not overpowering at all, but quite pleasant. Could defitely pick up on some nice citrusy hops, malt, caramel, & rye.

I really enjoyed the flavor of this one. Hoppy, but seemed nicely balanced with the malt. The rye comes in later, and with the citrus hops leaves a nice aftertaste. It had a nice alchohol warmth, but I had a hard time tasting any booziness (and at 10%, that's a nice bonus).

Mouthfeel is nice & creamy. Carbonation is just about perfect for me.

Drinkability is very good for a 10% ale. I could have started another bomber, but didn't want to nap the entire day away.

When I see this one again, I will get another or 2. Nice offering from He'Brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2009 21:23:18 | More by GoodBeerTire

badesign

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Cherry red with motor oil brown shadows, small off-white head. Aroma of citrus and dark fruits, mellow candy sweetness, minimal grain.

Thick resiny bitterness and orange oil up front, spicy grain and alcohol, interesting- complex and sweet- malts from the rye. Nuttiness like a brown ale and roastiness like a porter, finishes with an earthy note which becomes mildly sour as it warms, overall flavor becomes spicier as well. Very complex. Rich, velvety mouthfeel, unctuous and puckering.

Maybe 4 oz. in, out of 22, my tongue feels dead, but happily so- like it's happy to cross this beer off its bucket list. Really incredible and a great example of a rye beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 02:37:54 | More by badesign