Today we look at yet another Rye IPA. Last time we experienced Ruthless Rye from Sierra Nevada.

This time around it is Ticket to Rye from Magic Hat, the erstwhile Vermont brewery from South Burlington. It was included in their Spring Fever variety 12 pack.

You have to like the obvious Beatles reference in the title. Couldn't help but compare the beer to the Ruthless Rye. Not just because they both led to flashbacks with references to my youth, but because they are both IPA's based on rye.  

Like the Ruthless one, Ticket to Rye has that dark, amber color. I detected a slight, piney scent as I brought the glass to me. 

The first impression when tasting the beer is that it is more bitter than the other IPAs I've been sampling lately, especially the ones of the rye variety. Also detected some earthy flavors which I chalked up to the rye. 

The bitterness of the first taste does fade as you continue drinking the bottle, but there is also some bitterness in the aftertaste.

Did not note the noticeable grapefruit aroma or flavor that was present in the Ruthless Rye offering from Sierra Nevada.  

Overall I enjoyed the beer and had no trouble drinking it (like that's a high standard in my case!). Still I found it to be less balanced, and less interesting, than the other IPA's I've been drinking this spring. Definitely do not like it as much as Ruthless Rye, or even the Rebel IPA from Sam Adams.

I'm giving Ticket To Rye from Magic Hat 6 mugs out of 10.

Here is the second installment of our West Coast style IPA series.

As for the title, that is an homage to the old Firesign Theater comedy album and their routine of "Nick Danger - Third Eye".

As best as I can recall the routine went something like:

NARRATOR: ...he was ruthless...

BACKGROUND VOICE: ...i wonder where Ruth went?

But I digress. On to the beer!

Today we look at Ruthless Rye from Sierra Nevada. It advertises itself as a Rye IPA.

The brew does have many of the characteristics of an IPA. You'll notice the amber color - definitely darker than the Rebel IPA from Samuel Adams, reviewed in the previous post. But it shares many traits with the Rebel IPA. To begin with there is the immediate aroma of grapefruit as the glass is brought toward you. And a definite grapefruit taste greets you with the first swallow. There is some bitterness as you'd expect from an IPA, but it is subdued. 

The other difference noted was a spicy, almost peppery taste in the aftertaste as you swallowed the swig. This probably has something to do with the rye being the primary grain is my guess.

But whatever it is this is a very enjoyable beer. I liked the Rebel IPA but I like the Ruthless Rye even more. It is just as tasty, but if possible is better balanced and has more body to it than the Sam Adams offering. 

Definitely another session beer that you could drink for an extended period of time.

I'm giving Ruthless Rye from Sierra Nevada 8 mugs out of 10. And not just because it gives me an opportunity to make a Firesign Theater reference. Ultimately it is about the beer.