HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A

This was a nice surprise. Pours a dark, cloudy amber color with a healthy, creamy, off-white head that lasts forever. The nose is heavy caramel with subtler notes of grape and toasted rice in the background. There is very little hop aroma despite an obviously healthy hop bill. This hop bill comes exploding out in the bitterness which seems to envelop the tongue immediately. More difficult to discern is the syrupy sweetness that underlies the forefront bitterness. The finish reveals an ever-so-slight hint of the rye used in the malt profile. Despite its subtlety, or maybe because of it, this rye undertone is quite pleasant. Mouthfeel is heavy and creamy, almost as if the beautiful head is incorporated into every mouthful. A most enjoyable brew, this rye "IPA" could have just as easily been labeled a rye barleywine. Whatever the label, I’ll have another!

Hazy amber with a thin off-white head. Aroma of caramel, sweet malt, fruit citrus and floral hops. Taste of alcohol, citrus, pine, floral hops, sweet malt, daicetyl and mild sugar. Semi sticky with a mild bittersweet finish. Overall, a decent beer for my frist from the Hebrew line.

Pours dark amber with a mostly maintained wispy tan head. Aroma of citrus and caramel, mango and tangerine. Taste is citric hops, tropical fruit, mango, toffee, and grapefruit. Full bodied, more resinous than bitter, soft carbonation. Very mellow for a big IPA, although I can only guess how long this has been sitting at Liquor Barn.

20080915 Bomber, Spirits on Sunset. Deep copper-red color beneath lasting tan head of tight foam. Aroma is light caramel, prune juice, herby hops. Reminds a bit of a couple year old Bigfoot and I’m thinking this is not, in fact, a new batch. Was a little surprised to have seen it on the shelf, so maybe it’s just old. At any rate, the beer is big, malty, not too sweet, with a late, aged hop bite reminiscent overall of an aged barleywine. It’s mellow, pleasant, and very tasty and there’s no question I’m heading back for more.

On tap at the porter beer bar. Pourd a thick dark orange with a long lasting white head that left a huge lacing on my glass. Green apple and citrus flavor up front. Sweetness and metallic on the finish. Needs more hops and less sugar.

650 ml bottle from Bev4less. Pours a mostly translucent copper color with a small white head that diminished and left some lacing. The aroma is strong with barley malts and rye. The flavor is dominated by malted grain flavors--barley, rye and caramel. Also present are biter hops, sweets and candied persimmons. The mouthfeel is a bit syrupy. The finish is long and biter-sweet. Overall: A complex IPA that just does not quite come together for me.

Bottle from Total Wine. I really didnt care for this beer. It had a rather bizarre potpourri smell and flavor. Very odd. I would ahve expected some more hops as well. This is weak for a IIPA.

22 cL bottle. Clear and golden amber with a lacing white head. Hoppy and slight woody aroma. Vague citrusy note too. Smooth and dry malty base flavour with a distinct and solid hops spiced bitter flavour on top. Dry and bitter finish with a dark fruity note and a solid wooden base into the far finish.