Metasip

A Wine, Beer, and Spirits Review Site

Rye

Hebrew The Chosen Beer Rye IPA

Hebrew The Chosen Beer Rye IPAWe don’t hand out A gradess very often. You’ve got to be rock-solid, stand the test of time, and really REALLY knock our socks off.

Hebrew The Chosen Beer Rye IPA did just that – knocked our socks off.

Part of the reason? The alcohol level: a whopping TEN PERCENT.

But, still, if you’re into that sort of thing, here you go. Time for the review of this stellar Rye IPA.

Taste

Like…drinking pure (alcohol-laden) gold. With rye and malt and hoppy goodness. And did we mention the alcohol? That, too. We sipped this like a whiskey, and that was plenty.

Technically, the name of this beer is “Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.” The folks at Shmaltz have gotten quite a few accolades, too.

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TEN PERCENT ALCOHOL BY VOLUME. Also, take a look at all the Malt and Hops info on the website, as that will spell out more than you need to know.

Value

Here’s where this stands out – since we got it in a “Mixed-Six” at the local store, it only cost us $1.66 per bottle. We just got one, but this is more on par with the Matilda type of brew. So you’re making out in the long run.

Metasip Grade: A

A solid A. Were it not for the alcohol content, we’d drink this every day, but it would put us on the floor. So we can’t do that – but, for a every once in awhile treat, you’ll be hard pressed to do better.

 

 

Sky High Rye Pale Ale

Sky High Rye Pale Ale
Sky High Rye Pale Ale

What happened to the Sky High Rye Pale Ale?

Honestly, there are very few times in the history of Metasip when we’ve actually had to pour something out. This, sadly, was one of those times.

Rye, when done in an ale, can be quite effective. We’ve had Terrapin, which we found quite good. We’ve even tried the local rye ale, one from Temperance called Restless Years, and we found that one to be a solid choice.

But this one…this one failed. Time for the review of Sky High Rye Ale, from Arcadia Ales in Michigan.

Taste

Too bitter, really bitter aftertastes, and, again, we poured it out. Sorry, Sky High folks, maybe it was over-ryed or over-hopped or over-somethinged.

Actually, Dave, the website will tell you: it’s 80% English Barley Malt, and 20% Rye Malt.

Whatever it was, the citrusy taste wasn’t there for us, having been overpowered by the bitterness.

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6.0% ABV, 55 IBUs.

Value

We’re the wrong people to ask – since we paid $9.99 for a mixed-six pack, this came out to $1.66 for a bottle of a beer that we poured down the drain. However, we’ll give the benefit of the doubt – maybe it was a bad bottle (there was another bottle in the mixed-six that was, we’re CERTAIN, “skunky”) or maybe we had a bad day.

In retrospect, we learned something: the continued value of the mixed-six. Had one and it wasn’t a fit? Pour it out, try another. You’re out less than two bucks.

Metasip Grade: C+

We’ll try this again down the road, we’re sure. And, if we find out we were mistaken, we’ll update our rating accordingly. OR, even better…you can tell us we’re wrong and rate it yourself – do so in the comments.