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Ruthless Rye IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Rye Beer
Ranked #34 - ABV:
- 6.6%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #16,591 - Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 11.31%
- Reviews:
- 1,178
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Thursday at 03:25 PM
- Added:
- Dec 29, 2011
- Wants:
- 118
- Gots:
- 839
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good


Notes:
Rugged and resilient, rye has been a staple grain for ages and its spicy black pepper-like flavor has been prized by distillers and brewers for centuries. Rye thrives in the harshest conditions and comes to life in Ruthless, a rugged IPA with fruity, citrus and herbal hop notes countered by the dry spiciness of the rye. Holding a steadfast balance between contrasting malt and hop character, Ruthless is bold enough to inspire even the most brazen hop head to bear down and embrace the flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by BergBeer from Hawaii
3.72/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz can into a short mikkeller glass
Look: Deep ruby amber with a thick khaki head.
Smell: Bready and fruity upfront with a slight grassy hope.
Taste: Deep and complex rye notes. Dates, light honey, whole wheat. This give way to a bright hop that is bitter and floral.
Feel: Quick heavy in the palate for 6.6%. Coats the mouth. Quite bitter. No alcohol. Soft carbonation.
Overall: A beer IW ish I enjoyed a little more. The quality is there just maybe a bit to heavy for me.
Mar 20, 2023Look: Deep ruby amber with a thick khaki head.
Smell: Bready and fruity upfront with a slight grassy hope.
Taste: Deep and complex rye notes. Dates, light honey, whole wheat. This give way to a bright hop that is bitter and floral.
Feel: Quick heavy in the palate for 6.6%. Coats the mouth. Quite bitter. No alcohol. Soft carbonation.
Overall: A beer IW ish I enjoyed a little more. The quality is there just maybe a bit to heavy for me.
Reviewed by BloodSoakedAleMug from New York
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: Pours a deep amber color with a thick one finger head of coarse rocky foam that laces the glass moderately well. Lots of visible carbonation and bubbles in the glass.
Aroma: Rich caramel malt with a peppery touch of lemon zest. Slight model airplane glue note in the background.
Taste: Bitter anise, poppy seed and black licorice. Malt aroma barely comes through on the palate with some suggestions of caramel and pumpernickel bread here and there. Touch of grapefruit briefly. Very dry, with next to no sweetness. Long, protracted finish of more flavors of rye, anise and black licorice.
Feel: Thirst quenching. Medium bodied with average effervescence.
Overall: IPA notes are in the background, more of a rye beer if you ask me; nothing wrong with that though. In short there's some pretty interesting rye flavors going on here, I'd say if you like scotch ales or wee heavys you'd probably like this.
Jan 31, 2023Aroma: Rich caramel malt with a peppery touch of lemon zest. Slight model airplane glue note in the background.
Taste: Bitter anise, poppy seed and black licorice. Malt aroma barely comes through on the palate with some suggestions of caramel and pumpernickel bread here and there. Touch of grapefruit briefly. Very dry, with next to no sweetness. Long, protracted finish of more flavors of rye, anise and black licorice.
Feel: Thirst quenching. Medium bodied with average effervescence.
Overall: IPA notes are in the background, more of a rye beer if you ask me; nothing wrong with that though. In short there's some pretty interesting rye flavors going on here, I'd say if you like scotch ales or wee heavys you'd probably like this.
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a bright, clear copper color, nice white head that fades to small cap and a bit of lacing. Nice spicy start with some citrus and pine. Taste is peppery upfront, nice bitter finish. Medium bodied, nicely carbonated. Its been several years since I've seen it.
Jan 08, 2022Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.66/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
355 ml bottle, vintage 2013, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. BB date 31.05.2014. Amber colour, moderate off-white head. Aroma of fruity and piney hops, rye bread and pepper. Hoppy and peppery flavour, grapefruity notes, but also sufficient malts, again with hints of rye bread. Good now, but probably even better when fresh.
May 10, 2021Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.66/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this on draft.
A: pours an amber body with small white head with solid retention and lacing
S: spicy, floral, notes with some bitter earthiness
T: a subtle, sweet maltiness with some spicy, rye notes; subtle earthy aftertaste
M: light bodied and pretty smooth; decent overall
D: pretty good mouthfeel and taste combination; mouthfeel could be a little thicker; decent overall
Nov 18, 2020A: pours an amber body with small white head with solid retention and lacing
S: spicy, floral, notes with some bitter earthiness
T: a subtle, sweet maltiness with some spicy, rye notes; subtle earthy aftertaste
M: light bodied and pretty smooth; decent overall
D: pretty good mouthfeel and taste combination; mouthfeel could be a little thicker; decent overall
Rated by davidward from Florida
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Absolutely one of my favorite off the cuff brews. Like drinking down a liquid strong rye bread.
Oct 18, 2020Rated by cratez from Canada (ON)
3.81/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Rating from notes. Consumed January 2013. "An above average example of the style, with the mild aroma being the only flawed element here."
Jan 25, 2020Reviewed by Maltyhead from Massachusetts
4.5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured to a 1/2” head and had a deep honey-brown color. Taste was much better than anticipated and enjoyed it very much. I will definitely purchase this beer again.
Dec 15, 2019Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours amber with a 1/4 inch cream colored head. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is spicy, peppery, citrusy, piney.
Tastes of spices, pepper, citrus, pine. Excellent bitterness.
Creamy, medium bodied mouthfeel. Lively carbonation. Dry, tangy finish.
An excellent RPA, very drinkable.
Nov 03, 2019Aroma is spicy, peppery, citrusy, piney.
Tastes of spices, pepper, citrus, pine. Excellent bitterness.
Creamy, medium bodied mouthfeel. Lively carbonation. Dry, tangy finish.
An excellent RPA, very drinkable.
Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
great color
very interesting aroma
intense flavor
crisp medium feel
overall, just a weirdo to fill out the mix pack, though a high quality brew no doubt
Sep 26, 2019very interesting aroma
intense flavor
crisp medium feel
overall, just a weirdo to fill out the mix pack, though a high quality brew no doubt
Reviewed by spectru from Florida
3.87/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear dark amber, frothy creamy head, fairly retentive, lacy; Rich inviting aroma; Smooth mouthfeel, moderate carbonation; Rich full-bodied flavor, not bitter, slight sour aftertaste, woody. Not bad.
Sep 05, 2019Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From old, undated notes. Poured from the bottle.
Clear rust color.
Huge white head; spotty lace.
Pine odor.
Thin mouthfeel.
Pine with slight soap accents.
Not great but drinkable.
Sep 03, 2019Clear rust color.
Huge white head; spotty lace.
Pine odor.
Thin mouthfeel.
Pine with slight soap accents.
Not great but drinkable.
Reviewed by BlamingBuddha from Arizona
3.64/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a Sierra Nevada sampler 12-pack glass bottle into a flared-lip tulip/IPA-style custom drinking glass. Very thick white head that stayed resilient for a short while. You can taste the rye backing up the hops with this one. Has a slightly different bitter background other than hops. Finishes less dry than other IPA's. Has a mild sweetness that blends well. The nose is more prominent than other in this sampler pack. Almost rustic; sweet, pleasant and malty. A darker color than usual IPA's, as to be expected with the rye. A brown color, almost like an amber beer was mixed with 1/4th west coast ipa. In the nucleated glass I poured it into, its maintained persistent carbonation bubbles rising to the top. More so than a lot of other IPA's to an extent. Not overly carbonated though. Maintains a thin, but thicker than usual lacing even minutes later. A good amount of carbonation, maybe the slightly higher end but still in a good way, as per usual with most Sierra Nevada beer's I've tried so far.
Overall a tasty beer and a nice experience, coming from someone new to rye beers.
Aug 07, 2019Overall a tasty beer and a nice experience, coming from someone new to rye beers.
Reviewed by sjrider from California
4.19/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle , almost clear amber/copper color with bubbly off white head leaving substantial thick bubbly lacing. Nose is spicy and malty with hints of piney hops. Taste follows with a touch more peppery spice, nice rye overtones. This is quite flavorful and a fine IPA.
Jul 22, 2019Reviewed by HardCider from Pennsylvania
3.77/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a clear burnt orange color. A moderate head with good retention. A sweet citrusy and maltyaroma. The taste is dry, spicy, and quite bitter. A bitter, but pleasant aftertaste. More carbonated than most. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Jul 11, 2019
Ruthless Rye IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
5266 ratings
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