Wednesday, February 27, 2008

#174 He'Brew - Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

This beer is named after the Jewish comedian Lenny Bruce renown for his being one of the first comics to be obscene. The name R.I.P.A means Rye Indian Pale Ale, an IPA made with some Rye malt.

There is a lot of hops in the aroma of this beer, with strong pineapple and orange smells. The color is a light red or crimson and clear. The head is very thick, threating to overflow when the beer is poured, and has good retention.

The taste starts sweet and hoppy. There is strong citrus notes to the hops. The sweet taste carries a caramel flavor that transitions into some alcohol warming. The mouthfeel is very smooth from the rye in the beer. The finish is malty with some slight bitterness, and a touch harshness from the alcohol.

This is a really good beer. I like the smooth mouthfeel from the rye along with the hops flavors. This harsh finish is surprising, but forgivable because the rest of the beer is so good.

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