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

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.

Had this at GABF2006 but we recently got bottles in the area, so my rating will come from the bottled version. Rich coppery shimmer to the body. Pretty tan silhouette lacing on the glass. Nose is very hoppy and citrus laden. Lots of orange, lemon peel, grapefruit and pineapple. Sort of a sweet caramel to the aroma as well but it’s decidedly hidden. Taste is just as hoppy but a bit more even handed. Lots more of the chewy malts and caramel come forth along with a bit of toffee. There’s more citrus but a spicier hop flavors seems to penetrate the bitterness. Body is creamy to start but gets a bit more astringent and ultimately dry towards the end. The carbonation tickles but is very restrained. Overall this is medium-full. Finishes with more citrus fruits flavors, creamy malts, caramel, light toffee and spicy hops. Delicious!

Poured a rusty red with a light cloudy head. Warmy hoppy nose; big and citric with a hardy malty undertow. Rich nutty sweetness tops it off. Excellent.

Hard hop and rye aroma, taste is flavor and bitter hops with a solid malt background,and that wonderful rye zing in the background. Alcohol is barely noticeable.It just seems to me that hops and rye are such a natural combination,and this is another wonderful example,a double IPA and Rye. I recommend all lovers of Red Rye to check this out

I love this brew. Not what I expected from a Double IPA - very malty and thick - Rye heavan