Ruination IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

NolateM

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a stemmed pilsner glass. It's orangish-gold and completely free of haziness, and it has a thick, wonderful white head, with very nice lacing quality.

Aroma is powerfully delicious. Citrusy, piney, hoppy... just what I expected, but amped up.

Upon first sip, I think "wow, this has the incredibly smooth qualities of the regular Stone IPA." Then I wait a few seconds. Suddenly, I taste a waterfall of hops and citrus and pine and bitterness cascading through my mouth. It gets stronger and stronger as the seconds go by. Yet, the bitterness is pleasant and not overbearing. I had a HopDevil before I drank this, which was actually more bitter than this beer. Still, some might find this Ruination IPA experience difficult to handle... I find it to be one of the greatest IPA experiences of my entire life. No, make that THE greatest.

The mouthfeel is weird, but AWESOME. I give it a five because I can actually feel the hop presence getting stronger and stronger AFTER I sip it. There's not really much malt presence that I detected, but who cares... it's a freakin IPA.

Shockingly drinkable for its alcoholic strength and hop potency.
I never thought I'd give a beer straight 5s, but this is a perfect IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2006 19:45:21 | More by NolateM

MSandahl23

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-18-2013 08:08:58 | More by MSandahl23

csparace

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-18-2013 05:48:14 | More by csparace

Emkehr

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -30.9%

05-18-2013 04:19:58 | More by Emkehr

Netdogca

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-18-2013 03:24:51 | More by Netdogca

mkirkland80

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-18-2013 02:12:24 | More by mkirkland80

juicebox

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-18-2013 01:54:15 | More by juicebox

GinsuDave

Michigan

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-18-2013 01:12:07 | More by GinsuDave

MeneerBeerSnob

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a bottle into a tulip

A-Dark molten gold with finger of white head that quickly fades to a rim with visible lacing.

S-Overwhelms the nose with the hops that will ruin your palate. very faint sweet resin and e tropical citrus.

T-Bitter hops assault the palate with very little citrus zest holding back the ruination.

M-Smooth body with light carbonation.

O-If you don't like hops, beware. I really enjoyed and will have again, but not my favorite DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 23:14:43 | More by MeneerBeerSnob

Newenglandcraftbrew

Maine

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 22:31:27 | More by Newenglandcraftbrew

Roman5150

Michigan

4.69/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

bottle into tulip

appearance: amazing golden yellow, semi cloudy, a great looking DIPA. 1 finger white head

smell: heavy grapefruit, citrus, and floral notes. You can smell the bitterness. One of the best smelling beers out there.

taste: Follows the nose, but more bitter than it would imply. Huge grapefruit notes with some lemon, citrus, and even coriander on the back end. Not much malt presence, masked by the bitterness. Very flavorful beer, this would appeal to even people who may not like 'beer'.

Mouthfeel: perfect amount of carbonation

Overall: One of my favorite hop bombs, if you like bitter simcoe hoppiness (floral and tropical notes), you will love this. I prefer the Stone IPA over this because it's a little less bitter and allows the fruitiness to come through more. Still, this is a benchmark by which other DIPAs should be judged.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:15:03 | More by Roman5150

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-17-2013 19:19:07 | More by EricClayton

FrancisT

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-17-2013 18:02:24 | More by FrancisT

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 15:11:32 | More by twenty5

eliz108

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-17-2013 14:39:20 | More by eliz108

chossboss

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -13.6%

05-17-2013 04:41:46 | More by chossboss

VaporDome

New York

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-17-2013 03:10:01 | More by VaporDome

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-17-2013 03:03:22 | More by ElizabethEleanor

Blashawright

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -13.6%

05-16-2013 22:28:36 | More by Blashawright

Dcunicelli

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-16-2013 21:47:21 | More by Dcunicelli

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-16-2013 20:49:41 | More by iHeartMNBeer

carlosega

Ohio

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-16-2013 20:19:56 | More by carlosega

JamesShoemaker

New York

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-16-2013 16:22:15 | More by JamesShoemaker

Bromine

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-16-2013 10:31:42 | More by Bromine

BSore

Oregon

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-16-2013 06:22:52 | More by BSore