Rippa

Green Jack Brewery

Suffolk, UK

Imported by Vanberg & DeWulf

Named Supreme Champion Winter Beer of the UK by CAMRA in 2007, Rippa is brewed with pale ale malt, caramalt, maize, wheat and sugar. UK Challenger hops lend a black pepper spice aroma, and Slovenian Celeia hops add bitterness.

ABV: 8.5

ABW: 6.8

COLOR: NA

BITTERNESS: NA

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: NA

AVAILABLE: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

We need more beers in swing-top bottles. There is something wholly satisfying about the wet thwap that happens when the rubber is released. The brewer urges drinkers to decant the whole bottle before serving. This murky walnut-colored ale with reddish highlights packs a sugary sweet alcohol punch that I had a tough time getting past. As it warmed, ripe fruits and some floral botanicals peeked through, and I found myself craving salty cured ham to cut through the sugars.
- John Holl

Belgian tripel, meet English hops, malts and ale yeast! An interesting cross-channel creation, this ruddy-brown ale is tripel-like in only the broadest possible sense, but that is in no way a bad thing. The nose is brown sugary fruit with hints of clove and carnations, while the body offers a deceivingly light mix of melon and raisin and caramel blended with spicy hoppiness, growing bitter in the finish. Roast venison might be a nice pairing, or milk chocolate, but either way this is one tasty cultural mash-up.  
- Stephen Beaumont

John Holl
John is the editor of All About Beer Magazine, the host of The Beer Briefing on iHeart Radio, and the author of three books, including The American Craft Beer Cookbook. Find him on Twitter @John_Holl.

Stephen Beaumont
Co-author of both The World Atlas of Beer and The Pocket Beer Guide (with Tim Webb), Stephen travels the world sampling beer, hosting dinners and tastings, and eating too much airport food.