Ruination IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

Todd

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 pint and 6 oz bomber bottle, brown with no bottled on info. 100+ IBU's ... insane.

Pours a magnificent looking beer, at first ... quite pale, touch of cloudiness (expected as this is unfiltered), and topped with a patchy, frothy, white foam head; retention could be better.

Aroma is even more magnificent, full of so much perfumey hop character that your mind drifts, dizzy, into another zone.

The taste ... this is one smooth bastard of a beer. Malt flavour is defining-ly bready / toasty up-front with a thick-ish, creamy mouthfeel. A hoppy beer indeed, but not "bitter," as one might think. It's all about the malt and alcohol with this beer, the hops try to punch through but get smoothed into the overall flavour. That said, the hop character is extremely flavourful with woody / herbal / flowery notes and a citric edge that melds quite nicely with the prickly alcohol. Speaking of alcohol, it's persistent and very warming. Todd like.

Loads of fruity flavours, but mostly pineapple and other tropical fruits. Finish gets a bit dry, touch of yeast feel and flavour and woody hop residuals. Plenty of bready leftovers, too.

Although a bit same-y in comparison to some of the other hopped up Stone beers, there's no denying that this is one helluva kick-ass beer! Flavours are off the scale, drinkability frightening and the effort/passion put into this beer is a beautiful thing, and very apparent.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2003 15:07:14 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 22 oz brown bomber with no freshness date … not to worry because between the amount of hops and the higher level of alcohol this brew should have quite a long shelf life.

Appearance: The head looks like a foamy off white head of a cappuccino and not only stays think and cake like but leaves an awesome trail of lace down the glass. The pale sunset orange colour is vibrant and clear.

Smell: Perfumy sweet hop oils with big yet rounded citrusy smells, a bit piney and tobacco like sharpness within. Some alcoholic esters, soft toasted malt and fruitiness makes for a very diversely aromatic brew.

Taste: Sturdy medium body with a deeply smooth mouth feel from the even carbonation. After a second of limbo and a quick shot of malt the taste buds start to comprehend the amount of hops and all of their intricate flavours. At first there is an initial rush of floral, soft but every evident. Next is the onslaught of bitterness which comes in quick with a level pungency pushing out piney, citrus rind and leafy / woody flavours. The malt swings in with a mild toasted grain character and light fumes of the alcoholic esters come forth. Then the malt is pushed aside as the coarse side of the bitter hops drops tobacco and earthy flavours far into the finish. Finishes semi dry with a sizeable puckering effect.

Notes: This is one hell of a hoppy brew, not overkill like other massive IPAs but more over aroma, flavour and bitterness as a whole. BTW this beer is devastating to the palate so don’t drink anything that you may want to taste after this beer as the taste buds will become numb in a way. A daring brew that gives you more than enough hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2002 12:55:44 | More by Jason

sudsy2drunk

Indiana

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-18-2013 18:32:51 | More by sudsy2drunk

Joey1566

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-18-2013 15:16:37 | More by Joey1566

b2611

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-18-2013 14:33:18 | More by b2611

RyV

California

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-18-2013 06:06:48 | More by RyV

KyleMA

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-17-2013 23:53:57 | More by KyleMA

Kamil

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-17-2013 23:31:51 | More by Kamil

atinman

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

06-17-2013 23:26:23 | More by atinman

anteater

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-17-2013 15:59:50 | More by anteater

themilkman87

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-17-2013 03:23:57 | More by themilkman87

Saurabhprabhu

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

06-17-2013 01:08:02 | More by Saurabhprabhu

lic217

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-17-2013 00:04:48 | More by lic217

jpizzle

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-16-2013 22:06:17 | More by jpizzle

craftbrew502

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-16-2013 20:39:00 | More by craftbrew502

bcheng

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

06-16-2013 20:20:19 | More by bcheng

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

06-16-2013 15:27:14 | More by TheBeeraholic

FIN

Georgia

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-16-2013 13:48:46 | More by FIN

McStagger

California

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the first DIPA's I ever tried. Re review to see how it stacks up to some of the big dogs.

A: Pours out a fairly hazy golden yellow orange. Two fingers khaki white head dissipates slowly. Retention is excellent, as is lacing.

S: Loads of spicy malt. Cinnamon, toffee, caramel. The hops contribute grapefruit, papaya and a bit of dank evergreen.

T: Sweet malts in the beginning. . Extremely bright mid palate of tropical fruit. Finish is potent, with a resinous bitterness that runs the length. What one might imagine pine sap tasting like. Aftertaste is a return to the same tropical fruit, in addition to grapefruit rind. Aftertaste of granny smith apple peel combined with soapiness.

M: Appropriately textured. Medium bodied for a DIPA.

O: Now that I have a bit more context, this beer makes more sense. Yes, it's incredibly hoppy, but it's also incredibly malty. As hopped out as it is, it still maintains a strict sense of balance with the malt profile. However, this huge malt bill doesn't tip the scales in the body of the beer. It's medium bodied and (somewhat) refreshing on the palate. Deliciously complex beyond the bitterness, this beer is amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 08:01:12 | More by McStagger

anson42

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-16-2013 01:25:04 | More by anson42

pkalix

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

06-16-2013 00:47:22 | More by pkalix

kb2250

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-15-2013 18:14:12 | More by kb2250

SarcasticAaron

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

06-15-2013 06:57:39 | More by SarcasticAaron

quakeroatmealstout

New York

4/5  rDev -7.6%

06-15-2013 02:38:44 | More by quakeroatmealstout

Hallertau

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -19.2%

06-15-2013 01:54:56 | More by Hallertau