Beer Review – Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

This is my second time drinking the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye. My first experience was during a Sunday night drinking session at The Pourhouse in Westmont, NJ (FYI, I still haven’t figured out if these Sunday night drinking sessions are a great way to end the weekend, or a bad way to start the work week). Since I had the Ruthless Rye along with two other beers, I didn’t take the time to fully evaluate it. I definitely liked it, but did I love it? Keep reading and you’ll find out soon enough.

Here are a few words about this beer from our friends at Sierra Nevada:

Rye has been a staple grain for millennia—sought after for its stubborn resilience in the field and revered for its unique flavor. Ruthless Rye IPA is brewed with rustic grains for refined flavors—combining the peppery spice of rye and the bright citrusy flavors of whole-cone hops to create a complex ale for the tumultuous transition to spring.

And here are my thoughts…

• Appearance: Rust orange color. Thick, fast rising head that settles down to a quarter inch of tan foam. Lots of sticky lacing remains on the glass as you drink it down.
• Aroma: Grapefruit zest. Some spicy rye notes. A bit of yeast. A plethora of hop goodness!
• Taste: Moderately carbonated. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Citrusy hop flavors in the beginning with just enough malt sweetness to keep things in balance. The bitterness intensifies a bit at mid palate, but the citrus hops and subtle sweetness never go away. Pleasant bitter finish that lingers for a minute or two. Lacks the astringency of other rye beers.
• ABV: 6.6%

Thanks to its healthy balance of rye spiciness, hop bitterness, and malt sweetness, I found the Ruthless Rye IPA to very enjoyable, and it might even be the best Sierra Nevada beer that I’ve ever had.  Ruthless Rye is a delicious beer from start to finish, and it’s also an excellent value at around $10 per six pack. Have you tried this beer yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.