IPA (India Pale Ale) - Stone Brewing Co.

cozmohollis

Delaware

4.78/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: Orange in color with a white head a really good lace.

S: Citrus scent.

T: Orange and other citrus flavors with a good amount of hops from beginning to end. Really clean and smooth.

MF: Medium light body with medium carbonation. Crisp, refreshing, smooth and clean with a hoppy feel the whole time. Drinkable with a light and dry finish.

O: One of my favorite IPAs. I love how there are hops all throughout this beer but it doesn't over power it. A good IPA for any time, even summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 05:52:04 | More by cozmohollis

FairyFunBoy

California

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Straw color with a red hue. White 3 finger head.
S- Burst of pine and sap with a great citrus undertone.
T- Orange, pine, biscuit malt. Overwhelms the palate in the best way possible.
M- for such a great beer the mouthfeel was a little light. Not too much malty velvet like I would prefer. Carbonation wasn't sufficient half way through the pint.

O- this is one of my go to beers. Stone is dependable, their IPA is a great addition to their suburb collection.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:57:56 | More by FairyFunBoy

Cobrito

Georgia

4.79/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Not sure there's much point in rating a beer that already has more than 5,000 reviews, but here goes for my faithful reader(s).

Bottle with enjoy by date of July 17, 2013.

I find that Stone IPA's excellence sneaks up on you. The appearance and head are fine but nothing dramatic in terms of size or museum-quality lacing or anything. The aroma is somewhat tightly wound, at least coming from the bottle, and it is subtle though nicely complex--dank hops with with a surprising, orangey-grapefruit fruitiness that tells me this beer was made by people who have a sense of composition and desire to combine flavors in an at least somewhat out of the box way. So then I drink. And drink. And it goes down so incredibly easily, but the complexity of the nose is still there in the palate, and the finish on the back of the tongue, while somewhat short, has a pleasant bite, and it is so tantalizing. Can I do that again? And again? In part because of the company's over the top ad copy, there is this sense that Stone is bad ass, but this standard IPA seduces slowly but completely. The Billie Holiday of IPAs?

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 22:46:34 | More by Cobrito

Kuaff

Alaska

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served from a bottle into a tulip glass around cellar temperature.

Stone's IPA has a nice two fingers of a white, frothy head, and the beer itself is a remarkably clear, golden amber color. Such pure clarity... very beautiful.

The smell has strong pine, some citrus, and a little bit of candy-like honey sweetness. This is exactly how I like an IPA to smell.

It tastes much like it smells... great! I get all the classic IPA flavors in abundance. Like the bottle says, it's brewed with simply "barley, hops, water, and yeast." It's amazing how such simple ingredients can be melded together so perfectly. The bitterness is impressive. If you can stand to wait a few minutes before the next sip (challenging as it is), you'll still be able to taste the bitter hoppy goodness long afterwards.

The carbonation is right where I want it, just like everything else with this beer.

Bottom line: this is an outstanding IPA that delivers a plentifully flavorful punch that puts some lesser DOUBLE IPAs to shame. Stone rules.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 09:07:30 | More by Kuaff

RyanTeeter

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: This IPA is gorgeous! A straw color that is dense with flavor so although it is clear it does appear hazy. It carries a great, wonderfully dense head. The head just sits atop the beer, like a billowy comforter on a bed.

s: The smell is the classic citrusy hops common to the American Hops style.

t: The taste is spot on to an American IPA. Nice citrus hops characteristics leave a lingering grapefruit acidity on the back of the tongue. You do get a wince of the alcohol within the flavors however the balance with the grapefruit is perfect.

m: Very smooth....'gives you chills' smooth. Low carbonation allows for this to simply rush down the throat, demanding more.

o: This is the quintessential IPA. This was a pleasure to drink and I would be blessed if there was more in my fridge (there is not). As I am reviewing this beer I am taking sips between every two or three words - I cannot keep it out of my hands. Very positive experience!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:01:42 | More by RyanTeeter

brodericksloth

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Excellent nose ..very citrusy and clean. malts integrated but not pushy. overall hop dominated. very nice summer beer, it cools you off. lingering chewy pine aftertaste but not palate wrecking easy to drink. high acidity from hops. alcohol well hidden at 6.9% abv. nice head until the end. good pub or outdoor beer; only improves as it heats up.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:15:58 | More by brodericksloth

VoodooBear

Puerto Rico

4.81/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: 22 oz. brown bottle with an "enjoy by" date printed on the neck. Served in a Samuel Adams pint glass.

Appearance: One finger head goes down eventually and stays there until the end. It has a clear, bright gold color, and leaves some very nice lacing.

Smell: The smell is fantastic, with a dominating herbal hop scent and some pine, fruit and spice notes present too.

Taste: This beer has a big hop character, overwhelmingly so. It's very herbal, spicy and bitter. You've gotta love hops to really appreciate the details and character in this. If you don't it'll be just another (albeit good) strong, bitter brew.

Moutfeel: It feels creamy, full bodied and smooth. It leaves a tingling sensation on the palate that's quite curious.

Overall: An amazing brew in every single aspect. If you love hops, IPA's or just something crisp, bitter and challenging, you'll love this beer. If you don't, you'll probably be put off by the intensity of it all.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:10:18 | More by VoodooBear

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in standard ale glass

A: dark orange; very little head; carb is good, but the bubbles are inert; little lacing
S: very hoppy, lively; aroma lasts quite a while; promises much in the way of hops
T: sweet, intense IPA; quite lively; strong in the finishing hops
M: viscous, thick mouthfeel

This is an amazing IPA, but to be had only on occasion, because of the intensity

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:32:05 | More by Arithmeticus

Roguer

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Pours a surprisingly dark orange-copper color. Very small cream head. Nice amount of carbonation. Thick but translucent. Leaves nice lacing on the glass.

S - Has the fresh citrus, grapefruit scent I would expect. Not overpowering.

T - Hop-forward, with a surprisingly strong element of malts. Grapefruit peel on the backend. The malts give it a caramel feel, while the citrus is definitely not as pronounced as I would have expected. There's a little bit of citrus sweetness, separate from the notable maltiness.

M - Very nice, mouthy and thick, but drinkable. I don't see this as an all-day drink. The alcohol is very well-hid (granted, it's only 6.9% ABV), the flavors are well-blended, and the carbonation doesn't bother the tongue or palate at all.

O - This is very good, very drinkable, a good example of an IPA. It's neither as thick nor flavorful as a DIPA, but there's certainly no lack of hops, and it provides surprising balance and complexity. For my personal tastes, I'm not big into the malty flavor, which is accentuated as the beer warms up. I don't think it makes it a bad beer; I think it's quite intentional, and well-crafted.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 20:01:47 | More by Roguer

Connormick

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The IPA from Stone Brewing Co. was poured from the bottle into a clean pint glass. It had a smaller head (1-1.5 inches) but it was nicely shaped.

The part of this IPA that bothered me the most was the appearance. It seems like a plain looking IPA, kind of a copper colored cloudy color. But it looked like there were solid particles hanging around. It may not be a big deal, but it bothered me just a bit.

The smell was my favorite part of the beer. It was incredible, an intensely strong hops smell, it practically cleared my sinuses.

The taste was a lot like the smell. A strong hoppy taste but refined with a citrus and pine-like backround. I am not really a fan of IPAs but I feel that for what this drink does, it does really really well.

Mouthfeel was fine. I could feel the carbonation but it wasn't crazy.

Overall, I'm not really a fan of IPAs. But this IPA makes such a strong identity for itself that I have to like it even if I wouldn't drink it regularly. If you REALLY like hops, it will make you happy.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:25:59 | More by Connormick

Bosoxfan20

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured from 12oz bottle into a Speigelau IPA glass. Pours a copper color with a nice 1-1.5 finger white head. Average retention with sticky lacing. Nothing special, just looks like an IPA

S- Citrus with some floral, pine and grassy hops. Orange and grapefruit rind lead the charge to the charge to the olfactory sensors. Sweet base on the back end

T- Dynamite. Hop forward with the citrus the nose caught from the 3 Cs of hops. Maybe even a little more intense than the nose led me to believe. Just a touch of bready malts to keep the hop profile honest. It's not super balanced...and it's not trying to be. Delightfully bitter finish with a slight hint of acidity.

M- Mid body with nice carbonation. A lil slick with an oh so dry finish. Crisp, drinkable and refreshing.

O- The way an IPA should be. If I had to drink 1 IPA for the rest of my life, I certainly wouldn't be upset if this were the one. An overlooked classic here. Can't believe it took me this long to try it.

No bottled on date even though i know Stone is relentless with their dating.
Relatively inexpensive. Dont' remember what i paid for the 12oz, but i remember the bombers were only $3.99.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 21:40:10 | More by Bosoxfan20

pkalix

California

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

hazy gold with some head on top.
nice hop aroma, interesting nose impression.
lemon-y, slightly pine-y hop dominant taste. the lemon is something different than what i am accustomed to.
overall, this is a great hppy kind of brew. i get the malt that's in it, i like the abv volume, and i can do the hop flavor. the grassy kind of lemon-y is refreshing and perfect in its own right. a little bit of scotch this evening kind of pronounces the flavors a bit more, too . . . . . .

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 04:35:49 | More by pkalix

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very solid Cali IPA. This one makes me want to run out and get a Ruination; not sure what I'm waiting for. Stone has been consistently good for me and this IPA stamps high quality! For the price, drink this one on the beach or on the slopes, really can't go wrong!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 22:01:06 | More by DenverHopHead

SanDNigel

California

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

What a great beer.
A- Fresh/clean looking SanDiegoIPA. Creamy off white head/bright golden body
S-Everything you want from the 3 C's absolutely mouthwatering straightforward piney/citrusy with just the right alcohol punch
T- Great. Perfect beer to drink any time/day/week/month/year in sunny San Diego. Crisp/clean/refreshing (yeah it's someone else's motto, but it is much more true of this selection)
Perfect bitter/sweet
M- Its good. Goes down easy. Pretty bubbly
This is such an undeniably good beer. Bottom line

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:02:04 | More by SanDNigel

EagleTalon

Arkansas

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out to a creamy white head, concentric rings of lace, and hazy golden color. Aroma is "c" hops and sticky Carapils malt with notes of pine, citrus and cilantro. Flavor is a world class blend of pungent hops in your face, pale malt backdrop and lingering alpha acid bite. Mouthfeel is light to medium and carries the flavors well. On the whole, a damn fine American IPA made by people who stake thier rep on quality and craftsmanship.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2013 18:49:30 | More by EagleTalon

JackMcAwesome

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dated: 06/04/13

Poured into a mug.

Look: A hazy light gold is poured with a one finger head. The lacing is quite minimal, so I'm wondering if it's the glass. I'll edit if that changes. A constant flow of bubbles from the bottom keep feeding the head throughout.

Smell: HOPS. That's almost it for my nose. A bit of citrus. Perhaps on the grapefruit side. Everything I expected, and it lingered quite nicely.

Taste: Follows the nose completely. Upfront is all hops, which turns into citrus, and it seems to end on a honey note. Very interesting, and smooth.

Feel: Medium light carbonation. Mildly slick, but not a tipping point for me. (I'm personally not a fan of slick beers, but this one is balanced well enough, so it's not an issue.)

Overall: A great buy as pretty much everyone seems to already know, and well worth visiting again. For anyone who wants a punch in face with a hop glove, give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 19:18:51 | More by JackMcAwesome

Hendry

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Minimally hazy honey color that pours a two inch foamy head that is truly nice and hangs out for a good spell. The nose is that of a well crafted California IPA, which is hop forward and has an average citrus aroma for the style. Lacing is quite good.

Flavors are that of a well crafted West Coast IPA: punguent, piney, and slightly bitter. The aftertaste is on the bitter side and pleasant. Stone is widely available as I picked up mine at the local supermarket for a $5 bomber.

Overall, no letdowns here: a nice solid example of a Cali IPA, yet for an extra $1.50 AleSmith IPA scratches my itch in the pronounced citrus aromas/ lingering aftertaste arena for pocket change.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 03:46:25 | More by Hendry

dar482

New York

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The color is a light hazy orange.

The aroma has big hops, citrus, and grapefruit. Very expected from Stone.

The taste has a good upfront orange, then grapefruit, lemon juice, and then a big bitter dry finish that actually turns into huge tart grapefruit peel and sticks there. I wish there was more citrus punch in the front. It's a bit away from Ruination to my surprise.

The wonderful bitterness and fruity pop is great, but I don't care too much for the grassy lingering finish. Exceptional IPA, but I prefer Centennial and Union Jack. A good dry hoppy IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:45:46 | More by dar482

Dope

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Best by 5/29/13, so quite fresh.

A: A clear medium amber pour. Big fluffy white head. Head fades very slowly.

S: Grapefruit with a little resin and caramel.

T: Lots of grapefruit and resin. Resinous hops quite strong in fact. A little bit of caramel sweetness but it gets overrun by the hops pretty easily. Waves of bitterness in the finish. Resinous, piney hops linger in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied, drying in the finish. Almost a little soapy in the finish too.

O: It's a pretty simple IPA but very nice. Huge on the hops with little malt backing it up - truly a west coast IPA and a standard of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:20:25 | More by Dope

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured this 22 oz bottle into a pint glass. This American IPA poured a hazy golden color, produced a thick creamy head, excellent retention and excellent lacing. The aroma consisted of malted grain, citrus and pine. Medium in body, this AIPA has a foundation of malted grain, biscuit, fruity easter and dominant piney hops. Bitter and well balanced- Nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 20:42:38 | More by GossageBrewery

dougbassett

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

One of the "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" -- #20 of the ones I've reviewed here.

The paradigmatic American IPA. There are others I like better, but if I wanted to introduce a newcomer to the style, this is probably the one I would give them. It hits all the classic notes.

Pours an impressive golden brown/bronze color. The head disappears quickly but it's nice to see it while it's here. Classic nose of orange peel, lemon and dry Xmas spice -- flavors more or less the same with a terrific finish at the end -- the bitterness lasts a long, long time.

Like some other beers I've tried of it's type, I think it's only real fault is that the body/mouthfeel is really too light to support the flavors contained therein. This would've been even better at a heavier concentration.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 23:30:59 | More by dougbassett

gr0g

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Amber in color, slightly hazy. Solid two-finger head that leaves a nice sudsy ring around the crown of my pint glass. Plentiful hop aromas, primarily of grapefruity citrus with a touch of pine. When I first got into IPAs, the aroma score would've been higher, but Stone's IPA lacks the tropical fruit notes present in other top-notch IPAs. Still, pleasantly floral and yet pungent, letting you know the hops are in charge of this beer.

Flavor is bitter from start to finish, and while it isn't balanced by any definition, there's still a solid malt profile. Grapefruit on the palate as in the nose, some resin follows, and some slightly sweet caramel notes finish it off. Spritzy carbonation and slightly oily texture give it a mouthfeel that's an ideal match for the flavor.

Overall score gets a bump because of ubiquity and consistent quality. For "old-school" C-hop IPAs, Stone's is hard to beat.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 22:42:48 | More by gr0g

capnamerica

Arkansas

4.93/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Stone Brewing IPA from San Diego

A - Hazy light golden with a nice white head.

S - Excessively hoppy with strong pine notes. Dank/pungent herbal aroma.

T - Extreme hops right away. Moderate bitterness with a dry yet refreshing finish.

O - One of the best beers I've had. Very anxious to try more Stone Brewing products.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:01:19 | More by capnamerica

CorvetteMike

Rhode Island

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

IPA has been my beer of choice for any years. I live close to Boston and have sampled many local IPS's. One local Eastcoast beer has been my favorite until now. This Stone IPA has received a 5 star rating because it is a superior beer.

a: Wonderful honey color.
s: Light hop/citrus smell.
t: Well balanced smooth taste.
m: Medium body with no after taste, smooth.
o: Best Westcoast IPA.

This beer does not need any improvement.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 19:24:34 | More by CorvetteMike

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.61/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- very cloudy light orange. 1 1/2 finger head, frothy. clings to glass.

S - citrus like hops, more bitter hops, pine?

T - unlike most IPAs (IMO), the bitterness in this one is not overwhelming, which def. scores it points. The grassy flavor in the middle, does not. The hint of pine helps out the grass. Somewhere in the middle of all that hops, there's a subtle sweetness that tastes a little like sweet orange juice.

M - thick and nice for an IPA. good level of carb.

O - I'm not a fan of IPAs, and this one did not convert me, but still good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 22:18:13 | More by TastyAdventure