Rye IPA
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

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From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 7.37%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
24
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 05, 2016
Added:
Nov 23, 2008
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Copper-colored American IPA brewed with a ridiculous amount of hops for flavor, aroma, and characteristic bitterness. A substantial amount of rye malt is used to give this beer its signature dry spiciness.

70 IBU
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Ratings by DIM:
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
a: This was a mostly clear golden color with a hint of copper. It was served to me with a neat, fluffly white head that lasted until I reached the bottom of the glass. This was the best looking casked beer I've tried.

s: I had samples of both the on-tap and casked versions before settling on a pint from the cask. The hop aromas from the tap were livlier and quite a bit stronger. The casked version was still plenty hoppy though, grassy grapefruit hops with a hint of rye that smelled of wet hay.

t: The balance here was amazing. The hop and rye notes play almost perfectly off of one another. The hop flavors of grapefruit with a little garlic(?) and the sharp, earthy rye are an ideal combination. When fresh, there isn't anything better.

m: Gentle carbonation and a nice creamy casked body.

d: Brewmaster Paul is making it more and more difficult for me to stay away. Another great offering from my local Iron Hill.
Dec 04, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.77 by Shnanign from Pennsylvania

Mar 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.84 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Oakenator from Pennsylvania

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by blameo from Pennsylvania

Nov 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by augie from Pennsylvania

Mar 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by SpillyBeers from Pennsylvania

Jan 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by BigMike from Pennsylvania

Dec 28, 2011
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Iron Hill Rye IPA ontap @ West Chester location

Appearance: A bright orange colored brew, sticky lacework from a decent head of tiny beaded bubbles.

Smell: Floral and citrus hops in the nose, with a little bready malt also in the picture.

Taste: Really tasty. Sharp hop flavor, mainly citrus, grapefruit and alittle pine, some rye spiciness almost peppery and citrusy but still quite nice. Solid almost west coast style IPA with a soft rye presence.

Mouthfeel: On the light side of medium bodied, crisp carbonation and a drying, moreish finish.

Overall: A very solid, "go to" type beer from Iron Hill. I wish I had this ontap where I live.
Mar 22, 2011
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Transcribed from notes dated Sa, 21 Aug 2010.

I am a big fan of their bringing a cask-conditioned beer to their customers directly off of the hand pump while it is still cascading. It ended up with a nice creamy finger of bone-white head with good retention. Color was a beautiful golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Sunshine in a glass! Nose was pleasantly hoppy with a minty, grassy nose, like summertime in the meadow. Mouthfeel was silky smooth with a minty, pine-y hops bite on the tongue. Finish was refreshingly: dry, but not bitingly so; peppermint-y. I loooove rye in an ale (thanks again, Sopor!) and especially in an American IPA. If this were a single female, I's consider proposing to her, just so I could have her around all the time. And this on our first date ...
Jan 17, 2011
Photo of JunkYardJake
Reviewed by JunkYardJake from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had on cask at the brewery. This batch comes in at 6.5%.
Served to me with a full, luscious head that laced well and stuck around for awhile. Color was gold with copper tones and clarity was high. Smell is loaded with citrus hops. Palate is balanced and delicious. Spicy rye compliments the citrus hops and creates a great flavor experience. Somewhat dry mouthfeel and it has plenty of natural carbonation to keep things lively. This cask IPA has it all. Tip of the cap to Iron Hill.
Aug 21, 2010
Photo of Hoescheg
Reviewed by Hoescheg from Maryland

4.12/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: very pale, light looking, an 1.5 inch head with lacing. Head stays around for a while.

S:very hoppy, a little sweet. a little pineapple.

T: Very hoppy, a bit of some spice. There is a bit of an aftertaste, but it doesnt linger long.

M: Very smooth, a little oilly,

D: Pretty easy to drink, but couldn't drink more than 3.
Aug 15, 2010
Photo of ffejherb
Reviewed by ffejherb from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to streetglider for sharing this growler on 3/8/10.

A - Poured a slightly hazy golden body with a one-finger cap of bright white foam that reduced to a quarter inch of retention and some spotty lace.

S - Pungent leafy and citrus hop notes with a wet hopped character impart a zesty lemon aroma with light pepper spiciness and a hint of perfumy notes. Sweet caramel and dry rye malt balances out the prominent hop presence.

T - Again, this reminds me of a wet hopped ale with an abundance of citrus hops and dry, spicy rye malt with a pinch of caramel sweetness. A hint of lemon zest and caraway seed emerged in the backend, giving way to a moderate bitter finish.

M - Medium bodied with an oily texture and moderate carbonation. Crisp, dry finish with a quick diminishing bitterness on the palate.

D - Excellent Rye IPA and another winner from Paul and Iron Hill Lancaster. I enjoyed this one a bit more than The Costanza (even though that name rules)!

Brewslut's Quote of the Day:
"It's kind of soapy."
Mar 14, 2010
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on tap last night, served cold in a mug, previously I had a 10oz pour.
A - A brilliant deep golden w/ a fierce 1 1/2 inches of fluffy white lace -the retention is excellent as well as the lace. The surface is smooth w/ tight beading in the foam. The head actually swelled after I sipped it to its original starting place.

S - A wood and spiced aroma w/ rye hints, the hops have citrusy american emphasis w/ a subtle floral hint and sour citrus rind

M - The feel is moderately light w/ a goodly amount of astringency and a moderate bitter edge. The carbonation level is high as noted in the swelling head

T - A mild rye note is quickly followed by a sweet and tart hop flavor w/ a noticeable amarillo flavor a slight powdery hint. The hops have slight aspirin notes w/ mellow grapefruit and citrus. The sweetness is mild from the malt and the balance is there while the flavor is sufficiently assertive w/ bitterness in the taste.

D - A nicely made IPA - I only wish it had more than 20% rye. The hops are tasty and generously implemented w/ a slightly dry astringency. This is a tasty IPA and I consider it very worthy
Dec 23, 2008
Photo of HopDerek
Reviewed by HopDerek from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a clear golden amber with 1 finger of foamy white head. OK retention left some nice lacing lines down the glass. Smells of floral hops, spicy hops mixed with rye bread spice, and a touch of caramel sweetness. Tastes of grapefruit and citrus rind up front, then caramel and rye bread in the backbone, and a finish of spicy hops and dry grassy hops. Medium in body with good carbonation. Pretty balanced with a nice creaminess and sweetness along with a good amount of spiciness and firm dry finish.
Dec 23, 2008
Photo of mikereaser
Reviewed by mikereaser from Pennsylvania

4.32/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Iron Hill Lancaster 12-8.

A - pours a light golden color with plenty of foam that left plenty of lacing throughout the glass

S - citrusy grapefruit and a bit of rye

T - Alot hoppier than I was expecting, very nice balance of citrus and rye.

M/D - Very drinkable and tasty. Not what I was expecting and could have me coming back for more.
Dec 09, 2008
Photo of Hophead101
Reviewed by Hophead101 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
had on tap at iron hill on 12.08.08.

wow - might be my first beer with 4's across the board. good looking beer, a tannish orange color, hazy and welcoming. decent head, but great lacing, superb almost. great hop and rye smell. rye is very present, but not overpowering, and the hop is great.

taste is fantastic. great balance of rye and hops. hoppier than I expected, but pleasantly surprised. good citrus hop taste, primarily grapefruit but wonderfully complemented by what I would call an earthy rye taste. Great initial crisp taste, but quickly blends to an overall soft and creamy mouthfeel.

I think this might be one of the best brews made so far from Iron Hill Lancaster. Nice job by Paul and the brewing team there.
Dec 09, 2008
Photo of Tucquan
Reviewed by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Had this on tap and hand-pumped from the cask. It's always enjoyable to try the same beer several ways. As expected, the cask conditioned ale was creamier with less carbonation. I slightly preferred it on tap.

The golden color and 1.5 finger head was quite attractive. There was a floral and grainy smell. The taste was of dry, rye malt, strong citrus and plenty of hops although not as strong as some IPAs. I thought the balance was excellent. It had a medium mouthfeel on tap and thicker from the cask.

While I had two pints, I don't consider this a session beer. I'd recommend seeking this one out.
Nov 26, 2008
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

4.42/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served on-tap at the Lancaster location.

A: The rye IPA is a bright golden color, nicely straddling the orange-yellow divide. A full finger of white foam coated the top of the ale and laced in strata throughout.

S: The ale is spicy, with both citrusy hops and piquant rye shining through. The breadiness of the rye is awesome.

T: Awesome. The IPA showcases both citrusy grapefruit hops and delicious rye bread. For a lighter colored ale, the dark rye malt is strong. Bready and chewy, a peppery flavor emerges that is wonderful. The hops are grapefruit and nectarine, fragrant and well-matched with the rye.

M: The rye and hops work nicely together, accentuating the spicy flavor without overdoing it.

D: The ale is a excellent use of rye, strong and flavorful without too many hops. I savored every sip of this ale.
Nov 24, 2008
Rye IPA from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 24 ratings