United Nations of Beer

Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA

by Kate Dalgleish
(Beer Delegate, NS, Canada)

Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA

"One last four-letter word about Lenny Bruce: Dead."
Dick Schaap

Lenny Bruce may be dead, but he is sure not forgotten. New York's Shmatlz Brewery has released He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Lenny Bruce's Death.

A rye malt double IPA with an "obscene" amount of malt and hops and 10% abv, this beer promises to be as memorial as Lenny Bruce himself.

Pours a deep, hazy orange-mahogany with a rich, tan, foamy head. There's a lovely sweet hoppy aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine.

First sip gives a big initial bitter wallop with a good long lingering taste. There's a bit of coffee and rye in there and some sweet caramel flavours that roll around in the back of your mouth.

Another good bitter kick at the end, but despite all this rich and complex flavour, it's very hard to taste the alcohol.

Personally I like that, the high alcohol content in many 'extreme beers' often overwhelms the flavours.

This is quite a lovely brew, although it's not easy to find. But if you do come across it, give it a try.

It's definitely a flavourful experience, and like all He'Brew beers, it's kosher.