From the label:
Ruthless Rye IPA is brewed with this rustic grain 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.
From my notes:
Dark amber color, one inch thick tan head, good amount of lacing. Pine and spice on the nose, I think I detect the barest hint of citrus. Taste is hops with a kick of pepper as it goes down, very unique combination. Mild bitter finish. The rye helps to mellow out the hops in this.
Regular readers already know that hoppy beers aren’t my preferred beverage. I picked up this rye IPA in the hopes of finding something a little more mild to ease into these type of brew. Unlike most of the IPAs I’ve had though Ruthless didn’t complete overwhelm my taste buds and leave me coughing, or gagging, or looking desperately around for something else to drink. It was hoppy and there was some bitterness but the rye toned it down enough so that I could continue to enjoy the beer. One of the problems with these type of strong hopped beers though is that the hops are so overwhelming to my palate that it is hard for me to pick out any other flavors in the beer.
Rating (out of five):
