HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A

A very unique and incredible brew. A perfect balance of malt and hops--almost like a Scottish ale. Pours a red-copper color with a nice frothy head. Flavors are very good with hints of fruit, caramel, and spice.

This is one big beer. Reddish/copper color, an off-white head with some retention and spotty lacing. The aroma is a very good intro to what you’re going to get: fruity, lots of hops and a touch of the rye malt. The first few sips it seemed to start with rye malts as well as some caramel, a bit sugary and sweet, followed by a blast of very bitter hops with a sour grapefruit presence. Malts showed late in the finish as well although the grapefruit hops constantly linger a long time, well into the aftertaste. Rich, full and a little sticky. Halfway through the bomber, as the alcohol started going to my head and my palate shredded it was just one huge bitter/rye/hoppy/sour complex taste. I don’t necessarily think it’s high on the drinkability scale due to it’s sharp bitter flavor but I thought it was wonderful.

22 ounce bottle. It makes back pain diminish, if only temporarily. Mazel tov to Shmaltz Brewing for a wonderful rye-based double IPA. The snifter was filled with a thick, hazy, deep orange body that really tended toward brown. It was translucent at the edges, but just barely. The head that capped it was an inch or so of ivory foam. The lacing was excellent, with sheets left on the back of the glass and intricate patterns on the front. The nose was heavy of orange and citrus, of caramel and brown sugar. There was even, perhaps, a hint of cognac or whisky, probably fueled in part by the high alcohol content (10%). The flavor was complex and definitely packed a punch. It lead with caramel and malts, mellowed slightly with a flourish of grain, and finished with the bitterness of orange and a lighter caramel than that of the beginning. The orange stayed around as the finish lingered. This ale sat heavy on the tongue. It lit up the entire mouth and the upper throat. This is some spectacular stuff

Nice IPA, it had all the parts, but for some reason, seemed to lack a core that brought it all together. I did enjoy

The color is a beautiful clear red-brown. The head is about medium and cream colored. Aroma is lemon and eucalyptus, and a hint of spice: cardamom and mace. The flavor is on the lemon end of the citrus spectrum. More eucalyptus, and a good amount of vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel. Overall, quite satisfying. I loved it.

Bottle from Vintage Cellar. Maybe it’s just me but I usually love IPA and DIPA’s and I was excited to try this beer, but it just didn’t awe me like most IPA’s do. This did have a grassy citrus smell and flavor but I didn’t find it very complex. Like I said I really feel my palate is changing. I will try again at a later date

Probably the most interesting theme for a beer I’ve seen... the death (or should I say life) of Lenny Bruce. Good stuff. Pours a beautiful garnet amber color, with a thin white head. Aroma is of sticky hops. The high alpha hops dominate the aroma. Flavor is hoppy as hell, with a good malt base. I love rye in beers (when it is done right). It adds a strong malt harshness (I mean that in a good way) to the beer, and balances the big dose of hops this one has. Interesting theme for the beer, and an interesting mix in the flavors.

on tap at taco mac. creamy as hell with decent head retention. sticky with notes of caramel and some seriously piney hops. much better than the other times i’ve had it from the bottle