IPA (India Pale Ale) - Stone Brewing Co.

tectactoe

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.1%

06-08-2012 06:12:52 | More by tectactoe

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

EduardoOrtega01

Panama

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-22-2013 20:56:39 | More by EduardoOrtega01

BigbROB

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-22-2013 16:09:46 | More by BigbROB

DStoked

Ohio

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-22-2013 13:33:57 | More by DStoked

SpdKilz

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-22-2013 13:23:31 | More by SpdKilz

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

jwat

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-22-2013 04:17:58 | More by jwat

gamanley

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-22-2013 03:04:14 | More by gamanley

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-22-2013 02:41:43 | More by SmellsofMahagony

jmcgahran1

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-22-2013 01:37:57 | More by jmcgahran1

scoot64

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-21-2013 23:22:54 | More by scoot64

VirginiaJeff1

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-21-2013 19:29:47 | More by VirginiaJeff1

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 19:06:30 | More by Beerandboards

jakecattleco

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 17:59:20 | More by jakecattleco

verge

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 17:59:06 | More by verge

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 08:05:43 | More by PlinyBeMiney

RealCoolHand67

Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-21-2013 07:52:03 | More by RealCoolHand67

ericwa1154

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

05-20-2013 21:56:58 | More by ericwa1154

DarthBeer

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-20-2013 17:10:36 | More by DarthBeer

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