Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

Brillig

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

As far as this taster's taste buds are concerned, this beer nails the double/imperial IPA.

Great hop flavor, tangy grapefruit mixed with other wonderful hops flavors, laid on strong, with a bit of a malt base. Balance? Who wants balance? The malt is launching pad, keeping strong enough for the hops to rocket off into delightful dominance.

I grab this whenever I get a chance. Another victory for Stone and a special anniversary offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 02:51:41 | More by Brillig

Impfan

Washington

5/5  rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is what an Imperial IPA should be all about. It's the perfect marriage of English ingredients with a San Diego hop intensive profile, except there's no cattiness in this one, just plenty of peach, and pear esters to compliment the more typical grapefruit, mandarin orange, and tangerine. The malt provides a marmalade-like thickness to support all those hops, and the finish is positively endless, but never interferes with the craving for yet another intense sip. This stuff puts me in mind of my old standby, Youngs Special London Ale, only on major steroids! Kudos, Stone!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 00:13:22 | More by Impfan

FARGO619

California

5/5  rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a clean golden yellow with flashes of orange and lively bubbles of carbonation that dance below the foamy, feather white head that very patiently leaves a hearty lacing behind.

Citrus and floral hops traditional of an American IPA as well as the citrus yeast more traditional of an English style as advertised. There is also some sweetness hidden in there as well as citrus zest.

The flavor offers similar citrus hop bite accompanied by the same yeast as the aroma, with even more citrus character and floral hops with hints of spice.

Medium bodied that went down smooth. Definately a good summer beer that I had on a nice cool day with an ocean breeze. Perfect beer to chill to.

Serving type: bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 00:29:36 | More by FARGO619