Ruination IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

ineva

California

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Tulip/Flute glass.

A:This gives me the evil eye, a orange peel stare. One finger head leaves a savoring lace on the glass.

S:Sweet n piney greens, with a lot of citrus drizzle.

T:So bitter, the breath you take after every sip turns the air sweet. A bundle of grapefruit, oranges, lime, green apple pine cones.

M:The malts are skillfully set in this DIPA definitely a palate wrecker. But surprisingly tasted a little bit of toasted malts that sneaked in when it was at its coldest.

O:So much hops it got drafted straight out of High School.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 04:57:39 | More by ineva

jgurley

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is as close to perfect as I've had so far. I love good strong gin, so IPAs are my thing. This beer pours a pretty light amber with a creamy head and good lacing. The smell is like a late fall pine forest in a bottle, opened on a hot summer day. On the tongue I get strong juniper and mango. Warms well also. Alcohol is not offputting, but gives a nice warm feeling in the belly. I will definitely drink this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 01:02:46 | More by jgurley

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Stone's Ruination IPA begins with the kind of hoppy aroma that can be detected a good distance from the actual beverage, letting you know you're in for some powerful bitterness. Up close, the effect is even more pronounced, with huge grapefruit rind and pine sap swirls almost tinging the air green. Beneath these is an obviously equally-impressive layer of malts, since the sugars (brown, with strong hints of toast and biscuit) manage to still make themselves known despite the hops.

On the tongue, the beer begins with hops, which literally assault the tastebuds and soft palate with pine, grapefruit, rosewater, and small threads of eucalyptus, leaving a noticeable buzzing feeling on the tongue when held there for a few seconds. Despite the 100+ IBUs, the hops are still well-balanced, and haven't sacrificed flavor for bitterness, which happens with lesser-quality IPAs. As well, there are, again, an equally-strong layer of malts in here, which bring apricot and berry fruit esters to the mix, as well as strong brown sugars and Grape Nuts cereal overtones, providing a nice counter to the hops. The aftertaste is a long, lingering hop parade, which does become more and more bitter as the sugars die off, and ends up tasting like dandelion stems. Mouthfeel is a creamy medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, only a few sips of this reveals why the label claims this has an "immediate ruinous effect on your palate": after this many IBUs, it's doubtful that any other beer is going to have much flavor at all. But since the beer is this delicious, and a bomber clocks in at 7.7% ABV, you might not need another one anyway.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:17:10 | More by jondeelee

finkployd

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Golden hazy amber with a good head that laces well.

S - Pure hops. Piney, floral, citrus aroma. Lots of cascade. Absolutely beautiful.

T - Similar to smell, very bitter kick but well balanced. Grapefruity and earthy. 100+ IBUs.

M - Medium bodied, medium to high carbonation. Bitter hop tastes remains in the mouth for some time (not called Ruination for nothing)

If you are a hophead, this is the beer for you. The aroma and taste is strong and will leave you wanting for more. If you want even more power try drinking it at room temperature. My favorite IPA and definitely one of my top 5 beers. I don't know how else to describe it, something you have to just try. Another winner by Stone.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 01:52:26 | More by finkployd

rogueleonardi

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this both out of a bomber bottle, and on tap at South Park Pizza tavern here in Dayton. Out of the bottle was much more enjoyable then the tap. Golden blonde color (standard ipa look) The smell is a strong but balanced floral. The taste is exactly what I would expect from Stone. A strong overwhelmingly flavorful beer. This is not an IPA I would suggest starting out on, this is a very full flavored, bitter beer and would most likely be to much to handle for anyone that is just starting to drink craft beer. However if you've had an IPA or two and know what your getting into, you might want to drink with caution, you will never want another IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 21:15:43 | More by rogueleonardi

frankbtxt

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Duvel tulip from a 750mL bottle. Says enjoy by 4/30/12.

Look: Golden, slightly copper/amber look. Subtle off-white head with excellent lacing. But we're not drinking this beer for its look...

Smell: Wow. Just an amazing smell. I don't know how to put my finger on it. LOTS of pine with some citrus, lemon and raspberry. Refreshing. The smell is absolutely amazing and makes you crave the taste that awaits you. Not overpowering. Just right.

Taste: This is the best tasting beer I've ever had. Period. The zest hits you right away and the pine, citrus, raspberry flavor makes it a refreshing beer that you will want to savor. The hops are extremely refreshing. Some spice and bitterness at the end. The aftertaste isn't overwhelming. I really don't see this as a "homp bomb" at all. It's perfectly balanced. The tastiest beer I've had to date. Not nearly as bitter as advertised.

Feel: Sharp, sweet and refreshing. Goes down easy for a beer that you expect to bomb your palate.

Overall: What else can I say? This is top shelf. It's name is meant to imply that it will ruin your palate with its hoppyness, but I contend that it will ruin you for all other beers. The best IPA I've had yet and a personal favorite.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 03:50:27 | More by frankbtxt

Kisejohn

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Aroma:  Intense piney, spicy, floral hop aroma.

Appearance:  amber to orange in color.  Two fingers of head.  Nice lacing.

Flavor:  Starts sweet, proceeds to aggressive piney, floral hops balanced by malt sweetness.  Finishes with a sweet, with bitterness that lingers.  A masterfully crafted west coast IPA.  Slight astringency noted.

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied.  some syrupy characteristics present.

Overall:  Aggressively hopped, masterfully balanced IPA fitting of the Stone name.  A roller coaster of flavors that dazzles the senses.  Highly recommended. 

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 21:53:44 | More by Kisejohn

Enoch

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Aroma: an immediate strong, sharp grapefruit scent mingled with fresh-mown hay. Moderate scent of alcohol.

Appearance: orange-gold color. Minor haze. Large long-lasting white head. Lacing stuck well to the glass throughout.

Flavor: immediate spicy hit of grapefruit followed by an explosion of hops bitterness. The bitterness lasted a *long* time. Dry finish. Some maltiness underneath, but almost lost beneath the hops.

Mouthfeel: Light/medium body. Some alcohol warmth. Good carbonation.

Overall: Wow. I wish I could rate the aroma higher. Everything was just about perfect, but the aroma blew me away. This could be my new favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:45:07 | More by Enoch

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My favorite beer.
Poured from bomber to pint glass, enjoy by 12/17 date

Pours a golden copper with a mild cloud in the middle. A finger and a half of head, amazing retention and lacing down the side of the glass. Mild carbonation, a very sexy dipa

Aroma consists of hops, grapefruit, citrus and a light malt backbone. Alcohol is present, along with some earthy floral notes as well. Terrific smelling brew

Taste is foremost and upfront, hops hops hops. Grape fruit, tropical fruit, and sweet bready malts shine through. Everything is flawlessly represented and blends together perfectly.

Mouth feel is as consistent as the other elements, giving you a strong bitter sensation following a nice bitter sting, leaving the palate decimated and 'ruined.' Spikes to the roof of the mouth, extremely dry finish

Overall this beer leaves your mouth desensitized and raw, wanting more and more. A hydrogen hop bomb that doesn't disappoint, and deserves every great score it's gotten. Is and will continue to be a staple in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 04:09:35 | More by lordofstarside

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, pours a golden amber color with a tight fluffy white head that lingers leaving good lacing, clear

S: beautiful nose of hops, grapefruit, pine, grass, very floral, hints of malt

T: huge hop bitterness balanced by sweeter malts, honey, grapefruit

M: medium to fuller bodied, slight alcohol presence, very clean but persistent hop finish, ample carbonation

O: This is one of the best of the widely available Double IPAs. It has an enormous hop presence carefully balanced by sweeter malt notes. The smell and taste are outstanding. It is worth seeing out by those who are big fans of hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:12:09 | More by M_C_Hampton

scottum

Vermont

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow! I love me a hoppy IPA. Not sure if this is better than Victory HopDevil or Dogfish Head 90 Minute, but certainly in the same league. Stone makes some mean hoppy brews and this is no exception. Pours out a beautiful amber with a very nice white head. Tastes of hops. True to form this brew will kill your palate. But as long as you have this taste is your mouth who cares. The balance is wonderful. This is a top notch brew. Thank you again Stone!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 09:24:19 | More by scottum

erikm25

Washington

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a rich golden Herculean copper smoked orange with subtle amber highlights. I didn't turn the lights out but this probably glows in the dark. You could solidify it, then melt it down, forge it into gold coins, and it would be accepted as legal tender worldwide. The head is comprised of tightly nestled white bubbles that as a thriving community resonate into a chorus of huge foaming copper. Lacing is absolutely abundant, frothing, and sticking all over the glass.

S: This has to be smelled to be believed. Like being in a lush forest and having trees hold you down with their tentacle branches and bleed fresh pine tar and sap right into your nostrils. A kaleidescope of flowers combined with a bouquet of malts. This aroma reminds me of God's most pure and persecuted plant.

T: Massive hops but with sweet honey qualities. Grapefruit, citrus, lemon, and pine resin are all perfectly represented in this nectar. A flavorful peppered caramel and cinnamon malted backbone of sweetness with an intricate pineapple and citrus vertebrae. Overall this is very complex, rounded, and bitter. The alcohol is only present in that nice warm feeling that follows.

M: Very creamy and full. Excellent carbonation. So good in the mouth you want to keep it there as long as a piece of gum.

D: This is the one that opened my eyes to the world outside of mainstream beers. Despite that personal bias the reviews do not lie. Overall this beer is like an amusement park. Scaring your taste buds in the bitter fun house and numbing the mouth on the hoppy tilt-a-whirl . In a perfect world I would make this a daily indulgence. Perfection.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 01:51:48 | More by erikm25

cottonkoozie

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Absolutely beautiful, theres a head, theres lacing. The color is amazing. Thank you hops.

S - WOW, the hops are the first thing noticed, but once you really take a smell, theres more there. Its balanced, has that nice malty undertone that a pale ale should have.

T - This is what beer should be. HOPS, bitterness, malt undertones, spices, and that fruity balance.

M - Great, could be a little more full, but still really good.

D - I'd drink this all night, and probably end up trashed, but who cares!

This stuff is great, VERY pricey, but worth it. If you have never had a beer with a lot of hops, this ain't the place to start, but if you like pale ale's find this and try it. I remember when I was in high school and thought I hated hops, couldn't stand the bitter taste, now I can't get enough! GIVE ME MORE!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 02:04:45 | More by cottonkoozie

unclemeat9

California

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'll skip color since I am, alas, color-blind.

Smell - Hops! Awesome, floral, pine, hops!

Taste - This beer is one of my favorite beers, hands down. The hops are dominant but somehow not too bitter. The floral notes even act to cover up the considerable alcohol content. This beer is trouble.

Mouth - perfectly carbonated. Crisp and dry. Frames the hops in the aftertaste as if they were onstage in your mouth.

Summary - drink this beer. If you don't particularly like heavily-hopped beers, drink it anyway.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 05:45:52 | More by unclemeat9

scottyg354

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pours hazy orangish yellow, with a creamy 2 finger head. Looks really nice.

S: Smell is citrus and malt. Some pine notes show thru as well.

T:Citrus and Pine all the way, followed by some light crusty bread notes. Finish nice and dry, perfect balance of bitter and malt.

M: Crisp and refreshing, not to boozy, but it does show through a little.

O: Great IPA. One of my top 5 beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 15:59:11 | More by scottyg354

estlinska

Arkansas

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

From a bottle into a tulip glass. I've only lived in places where Stone is not distributed, so these are true treats for me. Pours a slightly hazy orange color with two fingers of white, frothy head. The head lingers for eons and leaves beautiful lacing on the glass like strings of cob web. The aroma is all hops, sticky with citrus grapefruit and resin. Hiding in the nose is a waft of honey sweetness. The first taste is a blossom of pure hops; the heavy flavor is all citrus hops with a backbone of pine. It blends beautifully into that promise of honeysuckle like sweetness I found on the nose. The sweetness on the back end coupled with the unapologetic hop smack in the mouth makes this THE IPA against which I compare all others. This is the beer that turned me into a beer geek. Other IPAs are guilty of just loading you with hops for hops sake, but this beer uses them the way they are meant to be used. Cheers to the guys and gals at Stone for brewing such a gem.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 00:01:58 | More by estlinska

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Excellent double IPA. Pours mostly golden with a hint of orange coloring. Smells like a bouquet of hops. Taste is out of this world with hops all over but becoming sweet especially as the beer warms beyond usual fridge temperatures. Overall one of the best beers I've tasted and definitely earns its rights as a benchmark for double IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 02:54:14 | More by Oakenator

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a hazy orange color with a 1 finger head and nice lacing.

S: Extreme hop aromas, both fruity and floral. Very strong and inviting nose.

T: Wonderful mix of hoppy flavors. Grapefruit, peach, pine, and more!! Malts are present, but very subtle. Hides the alcohol very well. I'm in love. This is a hophead's dream.

M: Medium bodied with nice carbonation.

O: I absolutely love this beer! I fell in love the first time I drank it and that hasn't changed. Pretty much ideal.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 01:23:38 | More by nUgZ

Jordan

California

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Noble hop profile, rich and full bodied bliss. Delightful vanilla/honey and complex floral aromas. Inviting and well centered A-IPA. The label acts as a intimidator, but dont be fooled. Many like-characteristics with Ruination and Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA. Ruination being slightly superior. My advice to anyone who enjoys the IPA, sample this. First class.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2002 01:25:43 | More by Jordan

Longstaff

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

WOW. I don't think I can do this one justice or add to what has already been said, but this is one big, bad, malty, insanely hoppy, kick-ass beer that has everything I love in beer. When you pour this mother out, you can tell it is thick and malty and will have the mouthfeel of syrup. The grapefruity, floral, earthy, and herbal hop aromas can be smelled from across the room. After I poured my first pint, my roomate asked if I had been brewing earlier, and said he could smell the hops as soon as he walked in the room. The flavor of this beer is the closest I have come to heaven. The hop flavors are demanding of your attention by hitting you in the face as well as exhibiting some complex subleties. I detect some grapefruit flavors, pineapple, and pine needles in the hop profile. The bitterness is there but not as bad as you would think because the ultra sweet malt sure subdues it. The malt background is sweet like molasses with some buttery and butterscotch flavors that seem to melt in your mouth. All in all a greatly complex beer that is so drinkable for all of its bigness. All other beers taste like water in comparison.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2002 11:37:24 | More by Longstaff

sideshowrob

Maryland

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is what a massive IPA should be. This beer is delicious... Heed the bottle's warning label though, this is a beer for the dedicated hop-head only.

Appearance is very, very good - an almost glowing light amber color. Full of promise. The aroma is out of this world. Like Hop perfume! Taste is almost indescribably goood. Unlike other big-hop beers, there is no competition among the hops for taste or character. The hops in this brew are all singing the same, wonderful song. Very well done indeed. Mouthfeel is refreshing, smooth and zesty. As you may have guessed, I had no problems drinking this beer down either. I could easily have several over some pool or darts. (If only distro was a bit better for Stone in my neck of the woods.) A truely exceptional brew!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2004 15:06:52 | More by sideshowrob

mattcrill

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed this @ Barley's mini-RAF 5/13/06. Cask-conditoned with Simcoe.

Aroma: A citrus hop slam! Fruity, floral, citrus with a hint of honey. This is the kind of aroma that you get when you put your nose in a bag of fresh hop leaves. Just incredible.

Appearance: Hazy river water orange fading to yellow edging with a sudsy white head. Looks impressive...it has to have a ton of hops infused to have that lovely cloudy color.

Flavor: What an awesome balance of hop resins, bitterness, orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit rind, a touch fruity and a little sweetness to help temper this hop maelstrom. Just heavenly.

Mouthfeel: oily, slick, resiny, and it leaves a powdery hop coating on the palate.

Overall impression: Pure heaven. This is the nectar of the gods. What an awesome showcase of hop balance. World Class.

Serving type: cask

05-14-2006 15:17:47 | More by mattcrill

budgood1

Minnesota

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

-pours out of the bottle a peach tinged orange and rust colour...hazy and a bit turbid. tight off white head. festive lace. nice citric whif of hops...lemon and grapfruit...orange and tangerine notes. sweet malt in the nose also, and a hint of some yeast, must and smoke. i love the way this smells. gotta love the taste, too. lots of plump juicy fruit notes...very citric, the grapefruit and lemon notes dominate the palate without being just plain bitter and boring. it's a bit yeasty, with a dose of alcohol spice. this bruiser brings the goods for the hophead, honest to god. just enough malt balance without getting in the way of the hop parade. perfectly balanced as far as i'm concerned, meaning the body of this IPA or double IPA is about perfect. then there is the mouthfeel, which is curiously and sublimely velvety for such a high IBU brew. fantastic. and the drinkability....outrageous for a such a plush and ample IPA.

ok, it's my opinion that this one lives up to the hype. a great IPA that caters completely to my taste hop bombs.

a huge thanks to Intiqken for this beauty!

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2007 00:40:11 | More by budgood1

Brad007

Vermont

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a nice pale color with a thick, frothy head (much better pour too!). Aroma is grassy and floral upfront with grapefruit in the nose. I can tell this will be one hell of a hoppy beer! Taste is malty at first and then very citrusy and floral in the middle, towards the back of the throat.This beer feels pretty well-balanced when compared to a few other Imperial IPAs I have had.

There's just enough hoppiness but not enough to overwhelm the palate. The grapefruit/citrus flavor is what I look for in an IIPA and this is no exception. Lots of lacing left behind in the glass.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2007 00:32:03 | More by Brad007

smurphy77

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer might be a best-in-class beer it's so good. It's really an exceptional IPA.

The beer poured a golden color with a medium-sized head that stuck around for awhile before dissipating. The aromas were succulent fresh hops and perhaps a hint of apples. Lovely, bright hop aromas were really perfectly balanced and not at all overpowering, portending the taste to come.

The taste of this beer was textbook IPA. You taste the smell, you taste the bitterness, you taste the freshness. The vortex of hoppiness swirls over the tongue in such a clean, crisp, refreshing way that could just never get old.

Lucky enough to find a sixer of this at bevmo in san jose for 6.99. What a deal. Too bad I'm only here for a week.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2007 01:35:26 | More by smurphy77