HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Francisco, California USA

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

Bottle thanks to Alan at his own HSC initiation: Nice use of rye in this example. Pours a clear amber. A medium to full-bodied brew, nice flavor of caramel malts, sweetness, and spiced citrus. Dryness of rye and pretty bitter finish.

Aroma of caramel and hops. Color is a nice amber gold with light carbonation and just a ring for a head. Taste is rich and citrus. Starting with a full body it goes down with a rich, thick feel. Finish comes in sweet with a caramel malty taste then an almost orange like flavor and a little pine. After taste rolls out with a hoppy bitterness. This is a bold and tasty brew and a very good example of a double IPA.