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

Very smooth when considering the 10% ABV. Pours very clean and crisp from the bottle with no foam. Has a darker golden tint to it. Almost like a nut brown ale. Not too overpowering.

Pours a lovely reddish amber hue with a medium light brown head. Wonderful spicy smell with a hint of citrus as well. The flavor is heavily spiced with a whiskey essence and a nice bit of hoppy goodness. Little bit of alcohol presence as well but not overpowering. I think I just converted.

Bottle; white head; awesome balance between the malt, rye and hop that leaned a little to the malt; recommended by SR from Central Market .. glad I listened; rye bitterness mouthfeel is unique; a definite repeat purchase. EGF 2. (#62)

Shmaltz Brewing Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA 22oz Pours a hazy orange brown with a small creamy head that dissipates quickly. Aroma of hops, honey, citrus, fresh baked bread, and hard butterscotch candy (Werther’s specifically). Tastes of prunes, hops, butterscotch and bread. Very well balanced with nothing overpowering in the flavor. Alcohol flavor is rather mild for a beer of this ABV. Love this stuff and added it to the rotation. Delicious and approachable.

The beer releases from the 22 ounce bottle reddish amber with a large creamy of white head that slowly fades leaving the lace a firm sheet upon the glass. Nose is rich in sweet malt, the big hop flowery aroma under pins the malt, citrus like in its crispness, fusel alcohol quite noticeable, grassy, start has a pleasant malt presence, alcohol and hops pound the palate, top is medium to full. Finish has a stern acidity; the hops potent, alcohol blast the taste buds. Aftertaste dry, most certainly a belly warmer, I think a little aging would help this beer, but for those who like “Big Hops” and “Big ABV”, this is your beer.

1 pt. 6 oz. bottle from Holiday Wine Cellar: Rich dark fruit, hoppy barlywine like aroma. Dark amber/mohogany color with a medium light beige head. Flavor is rich dark fruit and molassas followed by a sturdy citrus back and a lightly dry orangy finish. Full bodied, rich and smooth with medium carbonation. This one is the fine line between barleywine and double IPA. R.I.P. Lenny.

(22oz bottle) Crystal clear copper body with medium beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet, sharp grapefruit, lemon. Taste is moderately sweet, grapefruit/pine, caramel/toffee, lemon, light butterscotch. Quite bitter, just like Lenny. Resiny full body, chewy. At times I find the IIPA style getting tired, and I was quite surprised that He’Brew is the brewery that broke through my malaise.

Whole Foods, Alexandria, Va. - 22 oz bomber. Pours a dark copper with a creamy, frothy moca colored head that leaves very thick lacing. Fresh, spruce forest aroma with hints of mint. Flavor is decadent with some grapefruity citrus notes, mint, peaches and nectarines. Chewy, stick to your ribs flavor. Very thick, creamy mouthfeel. Pleasantly surprised - especially for a line of beers that I view mainly as a novelty.