Review of BITTERSWEET LENNY'S R.I.P.A.
by Todd Alström
Co-Founder
BeerAdvocate.com
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
"I don't know about you but I enjoy the way our tax money is being spent to arrest, indict, convict, imprison, parole, and re-imprison (marijuana smokers). I'd just piss it away on beer, anyway."
- Lenny Bruce
L'Chaim, beer lovers! This week we taste a new brew from the Schmaltz Brewing Company, more commonly know as HE'BREW (The Chosen Beer). Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A. is a tribute to the great Lenny Bruce (Leonard Alfred Schneider) who died at 40 years of age, 40 years ago. Almost as obscene as Lenny, this brew is described as "A Double India Pale Ale with Rye Malt," brewed with eight grains overall, seven hop varieties, and then dry-hopped with two more hops varieties.
The Taste
Out of the bottle and into the glass, the beer pours a very rich, vibrant, copper-colored brew with a seemingly thick consistency, shown by the sluggish carbonation bubbles rising to the top. Topped with a very healthy, thick, slightly off-white foam head, the beer's lacing is tight, creamy, sticking to the glass, and retaining very well. Complex piney and resiny hop nose with gentle floral notes and bit of a peppery and spicy rye edge tucked within. Aroma suggests something sweet, with malty caramel upfront, loads of enticing ripe fruits, then alcohol. Oh, sweet alcohol.
The first sip introduces something smooth and creamy to the palate, but beneath lies something very powerful. Mouthfeel is dense, chewy, syrupy, and slick with candied-fruits and a massive malty backbone with caramel, toffee, and toasted bread. The heat (perceived alcohol) on this one is quite high, with a big 10 percent alcohol spice that melds well with rye bread crust flavors, rounded with berry-like fruity esters that make your heart skip a beat. The palate is then subjected to a salty, sticky hop resin with a sharp citric edge that smacks of half a pink grapefruit with ten sugar packets on it-prepared like your grandma would have. Hops character is actually quite complex, continuing with some dry aspirin. Rye and bready flavors become more pronounced in the linger, as the beer dries and sheds a near carob character across the palate. Alcohol gets a bit fumy and warming. Finish is oily, resinous, herbal, raw, and wanting of more.
Final Thoughts
This is an "Extreme Beer" and a Double IPA that dances on American-style Barleywine borders, with its aggressive hops and strength. It might be a bit too much for many to handle, and the fact that it's packaged in a 22oz bomber bottle means that you'll want to share it with friends. Keep chilled, serve cool in snifters, sip, and enjoy as the beer unfolds in your warm hands. Available now for around $6 a bottle, which makes it affordable enough to try.
Respect Beer.
For more beer education: BeerAdvocate.com