IPA (India Pale Ale) - Stone Brewing Co.

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have one beer maxim: I'll never regret choosing Furious. Whether it's at a bar/restaurant, or in a liquor store, I am frequently faced with the dilemma we all face: a favorite -vs- something new. And while there's always something new to try, occasionally, you have to go to your go-to.

But then one day, you order your go-to, and someone else orders something you've never tried, and when you get a sip, you realize your go-to won't cut it anymore. Personally, I went from Summit EPA to SNPA to Two Hearted to Furious, where I've been stuck for about 6 years.

Well, Stone has been in the market for at least a year, and I have tried almost everything in their lineup. But somehow, plain old IPA has escaped my attention. And yet, I keep tripping over the notion (mostly in the BA forums, mind you) that Stone IPA is not to be taken lightly, that this, not one of the Bastards, is their flagship beer. That this may be the beer that causes me to think, as I take my next sip of Furious, that I ordered the wrong beer.

OK - the bar is set impossibly high. Let's go.

Poured from a 12-oz bottle into a Surly pint glass. It's a clear, golden liquid that produces a 3" foamy head. It looks sticky, judging from the lacing as I swirl it. Nothing to write home about here, but if we're being honest, appearance is the least important factor in enjoying an IPA. How does it smell?

In a word, not bad. Yeah, that's a couple of words, but come on. This is supposed to to be a transcendent beer. I'm fairly certain that I am required to pronounce the quality of my beergasm by the end of this review. It's malty. It's hoppy. It actually smells bitter, if that's possible, It also smells vegetal. And I'm not getting much fruit to speak of. No citrus, nothing tropical. Man, this isn't looking good. But how does it taste?

Maybe a little better than it smells. That stickiness was not an illusion. The malt is strong in this one, and that means there's enough sweetness to deal with the bitterness. Well, there's enough to start, anyway. This is one bitter IPA.

And one bitter IPA drinker. Is THIS the legendary West Coast IPA that is supposed to make me swear off all pretenders? Please. The presence of this beer wouldn't even make me regret ordering a Two Hearted. I. Don't. Get. It.

Drinkability: Not bad, same as overall.

EDIT: For some reason, I decided to drink my last bottle of Stone IPA straight from the bottle, which is something I practically never do. I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy this beer considerably more than in a glass. So I am taking the rare step (possibly my first) of adjusting my rating. Taste and overall bumped my 1/2 point.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 05:07:10 | More by DaveAnderson

mcaulifww

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -17.8%

05-20-2013 13:14:04 | More by mcaulifww

Geno206

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 04:22:54 | More by Geno206

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-20-2013 04:07:18 | More by Kmat10

pheelingIt

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 04:02:56 | More by pheelingIt

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

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -23.7%

05-20-2013 01:53:08 | More by skaboom420

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 01:39:34 | More by Ctrauty

Highstplz

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 01:11:01 | More by Highstplz

NJB145

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-20-2013 00:36:07 | More by NJB145

infiniteloop

California

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 23:40:00 | More by infiniteloop

IP-EH

California

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 22:12:13 | More by IP-EH

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

cornpone

New York

3.5/5  rDev -17.8%

05-19-2013 20:16:40 | More by cornpone

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 15:31:46 | More by ShawnMH

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-19-2013 13:35:29 | More by Photekut

supa0525

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 13:28:21 | More by supa0525

Boosnell

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 04:26:10 | More by Boosnell

Curloftheburl

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-19-2013 04:13:01 | More by Curloftheburl

grumblebee

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-19-2013 03:47:57 | More by grumblebee

Jd2391

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 03:09:36 | More by Jd2391

BRYeleJR

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 22:06:29 | More by BRYeleJR

alanv

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 21:31:14 | More by alanv

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 21:15:01 | More by jbarletto