Today I will again continue with what I am referring to as the “I lost the photos” beer review series. I suppose the next step is for me to figure out how many beers I will have in this run of evaluations before getting back to those for which I have pictures.
Some of the missing pictures don’t bother me that much, but not having those from the beers that I really enjoyed does bum me out a bit. On days like today I would like to be able to display the image prominently as additional endorsement for a really good beer. Maybe even more so in this case since Shmaltz labels are always visually interesting.
Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Co. (Saratoga Springs, NY – based in San Francisco, CA)
Name: Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 10.0%
Tasting Notes: Stored in the wine fridge and served in an oversized wine glass/snifter. Bottle indicates that it is (more specifically) “A Rye Based Double I.P.A.”
Aroma: A prominent, but not overwhelming hop nose with some dark fruit-like malty sweetness underneath. Also some alcohol warmth present.
Appearance: Deep amber to copper color. Very slight, light brown color head that quickly dissipates to none. Excellent clarity with visible bubbles.
Flavor: Solid hop bitterness (though not sharp) on a good malty background that has a slight roasty flavor. The hop flavors are prominent at the finish and slightly lingering. Good balance overall with the malt profile supporting the hoppiness and some warmth.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium to low carbonation. Very smooth (even with the alcohol warmth) and somewhat dry on the palate at the finish.
Overall Impressions: The oversized wine glass/snifter is key to the drinking experience as it opens up the aroma and adds to the flavor (though it may kill the head a bit). Very nice complexity of flavors and aromas making for a good slow-drinking beer. Shmaltz strikes again!
Grade: A (or better)
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