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

Noticeably astringent, with high its high alcohol content. The rye makes it highly dry and crisp - of course, as well as the hefty dose of strong hops. This beer has a dark, copper-hued body, with a light tan, almost frothy head. Full mouthfeel, especially with sweet malts and high carbonation. Bitingly bitter aorma and really pretty darn good overall.

Bottle drank at Max’s in Baltimore Amber gold color, nice head and lacing. Nose of earthy, citrusy, melonny and piney hops. Columbus and amarilloish. The flavor is sweet, very caramelly and balanced, nice snappy rye flavor and a spicy finish that compliments the hops, very rich and tasty mouthfeel.

22 oz bottle, included in a nice box o’ stuff from slob! This beer definitely lives up to the name of Bittersweet, as a nicely balanced Imperial RyePA. The pour was gorgeous, a deep clear copper with a large and creamy beige head that diminished at an eminently relaxed pace and left broad shouldered lace. This has a complex aroma of caramel, overripe peach, toasty notes, spice along with citrus and spruce. The flavor is indeed bittersweet, with huge amounts of sweet malted rye and barley, with the rye perhaps contributing to the interesting mellow earthiness and astringency. Lots of tart and bitter hoppiness with flavors of grapefruit, pine and orange peel, spice and pepper show up as well as juicy tangrine and noticible, but not overpowering alcohol in the finish. Full body and creamy smooth carbonation. I’m duly impressed by this offering from Mendocino, I have to say it was better than I expected. Thanks Bert!

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.

22 oz bottle. I never should have opened this. I was too full and I did not fully enjoy or finish it. Too bad my friend Scott missed it, he would have liked it. Pours caramel-amber color in my plastic hotel water glass. Nice carbonation and a decent head. The aroma has big sticky malt that you can smell from across the room. Floral hoppy hints as well. The flavor is nicely sweet with malts and caramel all the way through. Well balanced, if not a bit light, hops that are fruity (orange) and spicy. Bitter spicy finish with hints of pine wood. The body is heavy, creamy with a dry (the rye?) finish. A good brew with only notes of the Rye cleanness I usually get.

In addition to the rye, this beer has a great, complex malty base. The hops are wonderfully abrasive, piney, earthy, and lingering. I can’t decide whether I like the simple malt billed DIPA’s that showcase the hops only, or a complex beer with a large hop aroma, flavor and bitterness (More of an american barleywine, this is 10% ABV). This is one of the of the latter camp. This is one I am glad I tried again after being unimpressed with it at GABF. Maybe it is tough to judge a beers merits in 1-2oz pours and after several beers as opposed to drink a 22 all by one’s self.

this was amber/dark copper with some thick rocky light beige head. lots of rye with some lemon and some citrus flavors.

22oz bomber, pours reddish brown with pretty tan-off white head. looks tasty. nose isn’t overly hoppy but has some nice PNW hop notes mixed with caramel, brown sugar, fruits, nuts, and a hint of alcohol. taste has lots of upfront rye and caramel notes with great juicy hops, hop bitterness isn’t over the top but very enjoyable. alcohol is very well hidden. mouthfeel is rich and full. i like the rye in this but i can hear a complaint that it’s a touch over done. the hop flavor is very nice but perhaps the nose and bitterness isn’t quite enough. overall, a very tasty and well made big beer, a nice tribute to a legend.