IPA (India Pale Ale) - Stone Brewing Co.

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Well, I'm not a hophead, but you've got to give it's due; this is an impressive brew. The color is a cloudy, peachy amber; pretty. No head on this to speak of; light lacing. The aroma is complex as it immediately screams citrus, yet has buttery caramel underneath. The taste is a rush of hops with a strong start and a longlasting, pleasant bitterness to finish. Flowery overall sense. This grows on you, but slowly.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2003 19:50:40 | More by AtLagerHeads

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance: Pours a rich golden peach color with a fluffy, creamy, sticky white foam lace; with very good retention. Decent carbonation. On the nose the aroma of raw hops, and a hint of fruity esters. On the palate there is an intense hop assault on taste buds, sharp bitterness, light biscuit and grain flavor, light malt sweetness, pear, sour apple; fruity esters, and pine. Body is medium. Mouth feel is crisp, sharp/bitter, and smooth. A very good IPA... a hopheads delight.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2003 06:19:56 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

HopheadEd

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A hazy orange color that is just a shade too light for me, IMO, for an IPA. Great head, lasting and lacing through the bottom of the glass. Sweet citrus hop smell, slight alcohol, and a little hop aroma, to say the least. Hops lead off the first taste, mellow malts, and sweet, oily hops. Very nice, not overwhealming. Spicey, short and crisp mouthfeel and aftertaste, very nice and very drinkable. Stone is now my favorite West Coast brewery!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2003 17:25:14 | More by HopheadEd

freed

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This IPA followed an even hoppier one, though the virtues of this beer were obvious. The bright citrus color, the beautiful golden color, and the saliva abating qualities of an IPA ring true. I enjoyed this beer quite a bit, but didn't realize what a kick it had until later.

It might have been partly due to the lack of moisture in my mouth, but this made for an excellent sipping beer. I wasn't in any hurry while I enjoyed this. I'm actually starting to salvate again right now. What time do they open?

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2003 08:38:19 | More by freed

mickstepp

Ohio

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

Another fine offering by the venerable Stone Brewing Company. Orange color with a big thick frothy head. Citrusy smell of hops with a little yeast background. Nicely structured with a medium bodied, creamy texture. Good strong hop flavor which is what I expect from a Stone brew. This is an American Pale Ale standard along with Burning River, Avery, Three Floyds, Hop Devil and other strongly hopped, refreshing and delicious examples of the style. A very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2003 17:41:38 | More by mickstepp

Dmann

California

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What a bold beer! Right from the get go I knew I would enjoy this one. It poured a light amber color with a great fluffy white head. The aroma of citrus and spice was in full force and smelled absolutly wonderful. To say this beer is hoppy would be an understatement...it is VERY hoppy. But this is a good thing because it is still very smoothe. Mouthfeel was perfect, and the taste was great. It had a bit of a pine taste at the beginning, then as it hit my tounge it flavors opened up and revealed a very spicy flavor, and finished with a little alchohol warmth. This reminded me a lot of Arrogant Bastard, but with more of a spicy flavor. This is a great beer and now they make it in six packs....awesome!!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2003 03:19:24 | More by Dmann

purplehops

Maine

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Stone IPA pours an amber-orange color with an off-white frothy head that last for the duration. As you drink you are treated to a nice lacing on the sides of the glass. The aroma is citrus hops, floral hops, spicy hops, sweet hops, grassy hops, hop hops, and just a hint of caramel malt. Did I say hops? This is a very nice dry hopped ale. The taste starts with a very green hop bite and hints of malt and then finishes with flavors of spicy hops and biscuit malt like flavors. Perhaps even a taste of allspice. I'm sure this comes from the hops and not true allspice. The aftertaste is warm, smooth, and (what else) hoppy. There is a hint of alcohol flavors starting to develope in the aftertaste. Just enough to give you a warm glow after the fifth or sixth swallow. The mouthfeel is very smooth with no hint of an acid bite that one would expect from so many hops.
Overall an excellent IPA. Hoppy, smooth, an alcohol punch, and pleasant in the mouth. I only wish that it had a wee bit more malt in its flavor profile. But hey, that's being very picky.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2003 05:22:27 | More by purplehops

zerk

California

4.47/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Stone brews up some of the boldest beers in existance... their IPA is no exception. Pours a crystal clear light copper, with a thin but persistent white head that leaves a fair amount of lace behind. Aroma is all about the hops... pine, citrus, and just a touch of toasted malt. The flavor is bold and balanced... grapefruit and pine hit you over the head, then once you regain your senses, you notice a nice toasted malt profile that lasts for what seems like milliseconds, then you notice the wondefully bitter finish. Not a single flavor is out of proportion. The moutfeel is very smooth and creamy with a medium body. With this beer, I can honestly say I've crossed over... I'm now officially a hop head.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2003 20:13:34 | More by zerk

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first sampling from the Stone brewery. Needless to say, I was more than impressed.

22 oz. brown bottle with all the printing etched into the bottle in green and white lettering. 6.9% alcohol. It's nice to know that the gargoyle on the label "wards off modern day evil spirits such as chemical preservatives, additives, and adjuncts." Who wants evil spirits in their....spirits?

Appearance: Poured a clear dark copper with a generous 2" thick frothy white head. Stuck to the sides of my glass quite nicely.

Aroma: Hmmmm.....how should I put it? Hoppy. Yes. Hoppy. Citrus-laced hops nuking your nose. Does that adequately describe it?

Taste: As can imagine, the hops win the "hops vs. malt" contest in this offering. Very crisp and decadent hop character drenches this beer. If you don't like (an obscene amount of) hops, then avoid this beer. An outstanding IPA. Definitely my favorite.

Mouthfeel: Excellent.

Drinkability: For a 6.9% beer, I could drink this all day. There's a little warming effect from it, but nothing to keep you ordering another...and another...and another.

I can't wait to try the other Stone beers I recently purchased. With an arrogant bastard, double bastard, and ruination IPA waiting to be consumed, I may be bitter the rest of this year.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2003 17:20:34 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

Brewzzle

Australia

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

As one of my favourite styles of beer this certainly ranks up there with the best I've had.

The first thing you notice when you pop the bottle is the aroma, wonderfully clean with a very strong hop profile. The aroma just get stronger as it pours, in fact I was not sure if I would spoil the moment by actually drinking the beer. Well, I am glad I took a taste, it has well rounded body, full of malt, hop bitterness and too many other delicate flavors my palate couldn't discern. The overall feeling it left me with is that it is well made, everything in proportion.

If it weren't so expensive I think I could just drink this IPA and be completely satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2003 15:07:58 | More by Brewzzle

allboutbierge

Austria

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

If you've been to D's in Pittsburgh a couple times Im sure you've met Mike, hes a regular there and he recommended this to me early tonight. This IPA gives an exceptionally strong floral fragerance with a hint of citrusy scents. Head is white, fluffy, and disapates rather quickly. Its color is lighter than that of other AIPA's such as HopDevil. Flavor is very hoppy. First sip just smacks your face with the taste of hops and lingers throughout the bottle. Very hoppy beer. Taste is slightly bitter but very pleasant and tasty. A hophead's beer...Im gonna have to try arrogant bastard soon, which was characterized to me as 'similar to this but on steriods'

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2003 22:13:58 | More by allboutbierge

putnam

Michigan

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

My first Stone product. Run down in Ohio by my pal John Neil. Thanks!

Gorgeous, viscous, brilliant amber liquid. Super rich, concentrated ripe grain aromas are overcome by deliriously fresh, sticky hop fragrances. The greens lean toward the "lemonade" side of the spectrum. Overt nose on this one.
Fluffy on the palate. Perfect carbonation here. Intense flavors of sheep's milk ricotta, lemon, egg pastries, heavily toasted, and graphite dust...maybe even a little charcoal. Edgy, forward and commanding. Good entertaining beer. True to its genre. Maybe one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2003 15:25:11 | More by putnam

Zraly

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This has exceeded my expectations.

For one, I'm not a huge hophead. I'm more of a malt gal. Just as I prefer particular genres of music, I prefer particular structures of beer...high on the malt, medium on the hops. My usual preference (in terms of music) is either heavy, moody guitar rock or old Delta-style blues. But, this is not to say I do not appreciate other makes of music...because I love music in general. So, when I hear Bach or Dr. Dre, although they are not in my "favorite" style(s) of music, I appreciate their offerings. They do what they do and they do it well.

Stone is like Bach/Dre to me; overly hoppy beverages are not my first choice. But, I know a good one when I taste it. And Stone's IPA is a case in point.

The head poured rich, creamy, and fluffy . The beer itself was a beautiful, deep gold with a touch o' amber. The smell was hop heaven...like I just opened a pouch of fresh hop flowers. The smell was also tinged with a note of citrus...which carried over into the flavor.

As well as the citrus note, there is a spicy undertone that comes along with the malt hints, it is a sweet spice, or a spice that would compliment a sweet flavor. (Perhaps it is cinnamon I pick up on?)
What amazes me most is, beside all the flavor and hoppy goodness...this beer finishes incredibly smooth, clinging to the glass all the way to the bottom. It's crisp and snappy. And so damn refreshing.

This is a high quality brew. It doesn't get much better than this.

This beer goes exceptionally well with shrimp and spicy cocktail sauce.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2002 20:21:40 | More by Zraly

kelticblood

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a light amber gold color.Wasn't much of a head,but left trace amounts of lace.Head dissolved quick to almost nothing.Has an immediate hop smell.Taste of hops is unmistakable and hefty.A medium body with an unusual high ABV for an IPA.The finish is very bitter with no presence of an alcohol taste.Leaves a dry feeling on the mouth.You'll be burping up hops for awhile with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2002 09:56:34 | More by kelticblood

Viking

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear orange-amber brew with a few lazy trails of C02. Nice, thick white head. Head fades a bit quickly, but leaves plenty of lace on the glass, and atop the beer. Smell of piny-grapefruity hops is strong. I didn't notice any malt in the aroma. Taste is a wonderful bitter hop bit, citrusy and herbal with a bit of caramel malt to keep it from being 2-Dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2002 08:50:09 | More by Viking

maxpower

Missouri

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, light orange -copper color with a white frothy head, nice lacing. Clean citrus-pine aroma, medium body malty with a strong hop profile, nice balance, One hell of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2002 08:12:34 | More by maxpower

Jon

Illinois

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

Mmm... hops. This IPA pours a golden copper color with excellent clarity and a frothy, off-white head which holds up well. Nose is dominated by citric, floral hops. With 60 IBUs, the taste is big on hops, as well, with some nice malt support. Not overpowering, but rather fairly well balanced with a definite nod to the hoppy goodness. Mouthfeel is smooth overall, and is fairly easy to drink for a brew of its ABV. Stone produces an upper-tier American IPA with this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2002 20:48:32 | More by Jon

bewareOFpenguin

Massachusetts

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

Poured a nice golden color with a good head. The first sip signalled what was to come as the taste of hops filled my mouth. Not extremely bitter, but pleasantly biting. The ABV could be felt as I continued to consume. Quite a pleasant IPA, and I will be buying more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2002 07:11:25 | More by bewareOFpenguin

Longstaff

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is really a unique IPA. Pours out beautifully with a nice white head and golden yellow body. I expected more hop aroma but it was there along with a buttery malt nose. Light bodied while going down but the aftertaste is buttery with caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla flavors dominating. A cedery hop flavor is there and the bitterness complements the malt very well but does not overwhelm. When this beer warms it takes on belgian ale qualities which I am guessing comes from the type of yeast they use. A very fine IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2002 07:24:57 | More by Longstaff

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

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

This is a top notch IPA. Aggressively hopped. A wonderful hop aroma abounds. Very good flavor with the hops dominating, yet very drinkable and not too bitter. If you're a hop-head you need to find this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 22:04:23 | More by PhantomVodoo

doerickson

Virginia

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

Light copper in color with a smallish white head. Hop aromas of pine and citrus fill the nose. Light carbonation. The hops bite you right away and don't let go, although there is some toasted malt flavor to keep the hops from completely having their way. I haven't tasted many American IPAs that were better than this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 14:07:47 | More by doerickson

Todd

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: 12oz brown bottle. Fancy painted label with loads of definitions and the usual (nice bottle), but no freshness date. Poured into an Imperial pint glass.

Appearance: Clear, but thick looking, brillian amber with a good 2-3 finger clumpy, fluffy, creamy, sticky white foam lace. Excellent head retention! I recommend that you pour this beer hard, but controlled for max. eye candy.

Smell: Hop aromas are off the hook! Wonderfully aromatic, a bit pungent, with strong herbal / spice characters. Loads of thick fruity esters join the fun, too. I think Stone should bottle this scent and market it as a beergeek cologne.

Taste: First thing that hits the palate is hop spice. It's herbally and there's lot of it -- a bit piney, too. There's a background peak of grassy hop flavours, and a near puckering effect -- I know George Carlin hates this word (screw him), but this beer is "zesty!" and one hoppy-ass beer, to say the least. (drink this beer and burp ... gotta love that)

Mouthfeel is so damn smooth, very creamy, a bit syrupy and big all around.

Malt-wise, things get nicely balanced with a very full and rich body and moderate sweetness, in comparison to the hops. Middle fruity flavour, akin to pineapple. Big bready and yeast-like finish (a tad too much, but forgivable), going dry with residual hop flavours still kicking ass all over your palate.

Notes: Simply put ... this is one insane IPA, and not for the weak palate. To compare it to other IPAs would be silly, however I think this sums it up ... Once Stone comes into a new market it's like a challenge to other brewers in the area: "I know my big beers are bigger and better than yours, but let's see yours anyway. I promise not to laugh." Oh ... and this is just their standard IPA doing the speaking.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2002 14:47:39 | More by Todd

QXSTER1

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Massive hops aroma assaults the senses after pouring this appealing amber brew. Puts other IPA's into another category.
The nose says all hops the taste says big, grainy, caramel malt underlying the big time Pacific Northwest hop profile. The hops are so flavorful, bitterness doesn't really come to mind. The citric, piney adjectives don't seem to capture all the different complexities available in this brew. Anyone who loves hops and thinks they've had it all should try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2002 10:44:39 | More by QXSTER1

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.93/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

After the Stone Ruination I thought things could not get any better. How Wrong could I be? the Stone IPA is even better than the Ruination!. The trademark 22 fl.oz bottle contains yet another masterful brew, with more charisma than the Annual convention of Conceited Egocentrics.
It poured with a reasonable head, which quickly rescinded to a modest ¼” covering. Little carbonation once things calmed down, with the head later breaking up to reveal just a “halo-head” clinging to the edges.
A Golden Amber Color that had a feint orangey glow at times. The aroma is totally inescapable unless you have no nose, or burnt out your septum doing Coke. According to the “blurb” on the bottle, this is because of 2 weeks of dry-hopping. It works and gives a very pungent fresh hop nose, extremely floral in character, just like walking through a Kent Hop field after it has rained (yes I have done this!). The hops continue into the taste. A stunning hoppy, citric bitterness introduces the beer. This is SO fresh, I expected to find hop cones inside the bottle. There is malt hidden in the background that defers to the higher authority of the hops, and a very mild sweetness does help to balance the beer at the end. You would not believe this beer is 6.9% ABV, there is little or no alcohol character to this beer at all – it is all about Hops. Just as it should be. The “normal” Stone IPA, as I now see I incorrectly referred to it before I tried it tonight, has a much better overall balance than the Ruination.
It’s Drinkability? Well, it is simply only limited by that of your own Capacity!!. This is THE sign of a truly Great Beer in my very humble opinion, and one which I rarely encounter. Simply an Exceptional IPA, which has the ‘edge’ on its more famous stablemate Ruination I think.
I am beginning to have the utmost respect & highest regard for Stone. I have limited experience of US Brewers, but if there are better ones out there– I can’t wait to try them!

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2002 20:24:19 | More by TheLongBeachBum

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

The body is a hazy deep peach in color, topped by a frothy white head that holds well and leaves some excellent "sticky" lace. The aroma is of a fruity, sweet (almost sugary) malt, and bold floral & citrus hops (that combine with the sweetness to offer alot of pineapple - but also some lemon). The body is medium/full with a very fine, moderate carbonation that gives a light zest on the tongue and then becomes quite creamy in the mouth. The flavor offers a blend of rich, sweet, fruity, and lightly caramel & bready malt, and loads of citrusy, floral, piney & grassy hops backed by a solid bitterness. It finishes with a lingering combination of sweet floral malt flavor and dry bitterness. Although the bitterness is hefty, it's not overwhelming, and the sweet malt remains evident throughout the glass. The alcohol is beautifully cloaked, revealing only a light touch of "spiciness" in the flavor. This is a really unique and exceptional beer that's well worth seeking out. Well brewed. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2002 19:22:15 | More by NeroFiddled