Ruination IPA - Oaked & Double Dry Hopped - Stone Brewing Co.

brystmar

New York

3.33/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Mug's. Billed as Stone Ruination with Oak & Dry Hopped with Chinook. Not sure if this is that exact beer...?

Copper-orange body, white head up top retreats in due time. Far too difficult to smell this aroma -- what's here seems pretty good (fresh oranges, barnyard grass) but its unacceptably subtle.

Grassy, piney hops lay out alongside a hearty oak character. So much hop character here, malt is almost overwhelmed. Feels watery too, needs more body.

Overall: "meh". Gimme another pour of Flower Power instead please.

Serving type: cask

08-13-2012 22:35:56 | More by brystmar

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask for a Stone tap takeover event at the Fridge in Lancaster. Served in a tulip, the brew appears a fairly clear golden copper color with a finger of off-white froth. Webby and stringy patterns of lace stick all over the glass.

The smell is juicy with hops. Dank, weddy, herbal and it displays a dry tannic to raw oak barrel character underneath. It gets more citrus-like and leafy as the experience continues.

Tastes bitter and weedy with earth and herbs like the normal ruination experience. Where it takes a turn to unique is the raw tannic oak dryness in the mouth and into the finish. Bitter pith and pulp is a little rindy without being oily. Faint toasty malt provides no sweetness with hop aspects that are fruity, floral and a bit spiced almost leaning towards cedar when coupled with the raw oak.

Surprisingly easy drinking. Nice arrangement of favor. Medium body with a light level of carbonation. Certainly worth a try but perhaps without the $8 a glass asking price. I wouldn't have it again even if it wasn't limited to 1 per person during this event. The cask delivery was spot on and made it.

Serving type: cask

02-27-2012 03:07:04 | More by stakem

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-02-22 in Lancaster, PA at The Fridge during a Stone event.

A - Lightly hazy amber/orange with a short, white head and mildgood lacing.

S - Mango, orange flesh, big hop floral, pine and mild biscuit.

T - Certainly can tell it is Ruination with the same base flavors of bright citrus, lemon-iced cornbread, caramel and significant rind bitterness. There's an extra big dollop of oily hop bud and pine and an unusual clay flavor, which some may describe as cheese-like. It finishes nicely bitter with strong, lingering pine needles.

M - Medium body and light carbonation combined with the resinous, clingy and prickly sensations made this mouthfeel a winner for me.

O - Since I like Ruination, I enjoyed this twist on it. It didn't make it significantly better but a nice treat nontheless.

Serving type: cask

02-26-2012 11:55:07 | More by Tucquan

BJA

California

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

10 oz serving in appropriate glassware. Drank 2 at The Public House in La Jolla, CA.

A: The beer was a bright golden orange color. The head was ½ inch, off white and quite creamy. The head left some of the most impressive lacing on the glass I have ever witnessed. Thick lacing.

S: The predominant scent was of stinky brie cheese (in a good way). Within this scent lay green apple, pear, cardamom, and dank hops. The scent was quite pungent.

T: Much like the scent. It tasted like stinky brie with more of the hop bitterness present. The oaking really blended the flavors together. You could say it is a very ‘structured’ beer as if you were describing a French wine. The finish was long but did not leave the same bitterness clinging to the roof of the mouth and tongue as regular Ruiniation IPA. It was very drinkable. I was so tempted to get a third glass, but I didn’t want a hangover again after the barrel aged beer night I had attended on the previous evening where I had too many delicious barrel aged specialties.

M: It had a lighter mouthfeel at first, but the depth of flavor makes me question myself. The carbonation was perfect: medium.

O: After the first few whiffs and sips, I had to review this beer. I have never had a beer that tasted of stinky brie. I never thought that would be a ‘good’ beer. This was groundbreaking for me. That is awesome.

A summary of flavors: stinky brie, green apples, pear, cardamom, hops (balanced between fresh and resiny and spicy and piney), oak. The malt backing it up was superbly balanced: slightly sweet and crisp. The oaking really blended the flavors and created a structured beer that rivals the best cabs and French Bordeaux I have ever had. If you ever have the chance…

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2011 04:38:02 | More by BJA

HopHead84

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11/4/2011

On tap at Churchill's.

A: Transparent bright orange with great clarity and a mountainous white head.

S: Bright orange, tangerine, and grapefruit notes with floral aromatics and a healthy dose of pine resin. Oak is evident and complimentary. Smells great.

T: Orange and nectarine flesh with a flourish of oak that adds a unique twist to the beer. Hops are bright and very flavorful. Pine suffuses my palate and malt reminds me of cracker. There's a touch of sweetness but the beer is dry on the whole. Finishes dry with lots of citrus.

M: Lower medium body with upper moderate carbonation.

Overall: Damn good. Oak goes really well this is beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2011 23:30:06 | More by HopHead84