IPA (India Pale Ale) - Stone Brewing Co.

TheBungyo

Washington

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pablo Piccaso would have trouble crafting a masterpiece such as this. The stiff white cream head finishes off this brew as you'd imagine a master chef with a perfect garnish would. Nose is massive pine, followed by a mix of grapefruit and caramel. I have to be honest, the smell is as devine as any beer lover could hope. Taste is a tour of hops ...pine, graprefruit, lemon, peach and finally caramel. This is probably the perfect IPA. Mouthfeel is suitably creamy and drinkablility is near perfect. A rugged yet sessionable beer that everyone with any sense will respect. Thank you Stone!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2006 05:30:02 | More by TheBungyo

TheDeuce

New York

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow...

Appearance-big headed goodness comes out of the bottle, light color head booms up but remarkably settles afterwards into the glass, good looking beer.

Smell-hoppy as all get out, alcohol is totally hidden by hoppiness no other aromas to speak of, smells like it was just brewed a second ago.

Taste/Mouthfeel-amazing, easy drinking, substantial hop flavor but no burn or rashness, balanced with a dash of malt, maintains a light texture but still substantial. Even those who don't like hoppy beers or are just starting on them would probably like this.


Drinkability-easy to drink, clean finish except for a small trace of hops, just how you would want to do it, 7% alcohol for those who don't know.

Overall-Simply put one of the best IPAs I've ever had, it's taken me forever to try Stone beers and now that I've had one I can't wait to try more. Astoundingly good.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2007 21:30:25 | More by TheDeuce

pwoods

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On-Tap at Dilly Deli poured into a pint. Reviews based off notes.

A: Pours golden orange and coppery. 1+ finger head that reduces and stays at about a 1/4 inch. Patchy lacing.

S: Strong floral hops and fresh piney scent. Makes my mouth water thinking about whats coming. Alcohol stays hidden nicely. Slight nutty malt aroma peeks through toward the end.

T/M: Strong peppery spices and amazing hop bitterness. I love this in bottles but its AMAZING on top. Getting a piney/sappy bite. Nutty, buttery malts show their face just before the end. Medium body that turns slightly creamy at the malts and finishes bone dry.

D: If I hadn't had a big lunch, I would probably have to stop after 2 or so, but I could really drink this for quite awhile before experiencing palate fatigue. Extremely tasty and easy to drink. Without a doubt one of my favor brews.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2007 20:32:31 | More by pwoods

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Another brilliant brew from Stone. Pours a hazy amber color with a frothy white head. This beer is dominated by hops but is balanced out by a sweetness that doesn't make it too bitter. Not as good as their Ruination IPA but excellent for a single IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:24:23 | More by corby112

charliedango

Illinois

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Stone IPA is by far one of the finest india pale ales that I have ever had. It has the heavy hops one comes to expect from an IPA, but it's smooth and far less abrasive than other brewers takes on IPA. It's a drag that you can't get Stone in Illinois, but well worth the drive to pick up a few bombers.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 02:08:48 | More by charliedango

bobhits

Kentucky

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

In most styles of beer I take a standard somewhat generic beer and I hold all others to it. The APA for example is best shown by seirra nevada. I'd never call that a great beer, it's average in most of its efforts. With IPA's I used ot judge them to dogfish head 60 minute but stone ipa honestly is easier to get and all IPAs end up being graded down because they aren't stone.

The nose is other worldly, served in a stone iPA glass the nose is just breath taking. Floral, fruity, spicy, piny, and hell if I could have this as a perfume I'd buy it for all the ladies. This is the best smelling beer I've ever been with.

The appearance is cloudy off yellow/copper, an unimpressive head on this pour but normally it does far better. Leaves a decent but not amazing lacing. Not much carbonation.

I'm an atheist, but this beer makes me want to thank god for the taste. It's citrus, crispy, with malt COMPLETELY in the back seat but at the same time perfectly complementing the hops.

Look, I've given beers 5's before. This beer is the best beer I've ever had when I really truly sit back and judge fairly. I can't give the appearance a 5 though...again a flaw in the bro's scores. Many beers have exceptional qualities. This beer in many places is perfection...and there is no 6 to give.

In the quest to try every beer on the planet one often forgets about the easy to find and cheaper offerings. Well IPA lovers...there is no better staple. There is no beer I come back to as often and trust me I've got about 40 different beers in the fridge...this one will be bought again before all of those are even sampled.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 11:20:09 | More by bobhits

rmwtsou

California

4.97/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the best IPA in a bottle that I have tasted so far. It is very hoppy, simply delicious. I am happy to report that now it is available at Costcos for $25.99 a case (at least in the Torrance, CA Costco.) Bought 2 cases and now I'm happy.(9-10-2011)

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 21:59:04 | More by rmwtsou

Wildman

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer poured out a nice copperish gold color and formed a nice fairly white head, that when subsiding, left some nice lace. Aroma had elements of hops and some citrus. The taste had a substantial amount of hops and slightly bitter aspect to it, which is good in an IPA. Good beer

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2002 16:12:14 | More by Wildman

hyuga

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a big, impressive froth that almost refuses to settle (which, of course, is a good thing). Leaves nearly enough lace to make it look like it didn't even settle! Copper to orange color. Absolutely beautiful hoppy aroma. Tons of floral and citrus character. In fact, it jumps out at you before you even finish opening the bottle. More citrus-like hop bitterness in the flavor, with some hints of spiciness and great malty undertones. Hops make it very smooth and crisp, and the bread-like maltiness underneath rounds it out quite well. Great balance of bitterness and sweetness as well. Dangerously drinkable! This is one wonderful brew. I'm loving every Stone brew I try with a passion! If you're just starting to love hops, this is a great step up from their pale ale if you're not quite ready for "ruination". And for the seasoned hophead, this is a wonderful treat and an exceptional brew all around! No matter who you are, try this! It will not fail to impress.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2002 00:56:42 | More by hyuga

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a hazy orange-amber with an off white head. Good head retention for an IPA. The head fades to a thin film of foam on the surface of the beer. This is usually a good indicator of a malty beer. The aroma may be the sweetest floral smells I've ever experienced in a beer. I have a fragrant rose in my garden called "Seattle Scentsation". It may be the best rose aroma I've ever experienced. This beer reminds me of that scent. Wow!

The hop florals carry over into the taste as well. Very bitter, very good. And there is a substantial malt base to support all the hops. A hint of sweetness slides in the finsh, possibly caramel notes. Also a bit of ale "fruitiness", which I only noticed later in the glass. But the hops just blow me away. I'll revisit this beer at a later date when I'm slightly less in awe.

The mouthfeel is also very full for an IPA. The beer seems to expand to fill your mouth, and gets silkier the longer it's on your tongue. Mmmmmm, goooood. It finishes rather cleanly, with a good hop kick to cleanse the palate.

6.9% ABV? You have got to be kidding me! I could tatste no alcohol notes, and could drink this beer for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and supper and still want a few that evening.

I can't believe I waited a couple of weeks to try this beer after I bought it. I'm buying more on my next beer run. This beer could temper my desire to try new beers somewhat. It is one of the best I've ever experienced flavor-wise, and is very drinkable. Not just a hop-head's IPA. It's a beer lover's IPA. Dare I say it's my new IPA? It will be when I can get it.

** 7-8-03** This beer is still awe inspiring. One of my favorties. Greg is a Beer God**

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2003 21:30:58 | More by aaronh

rugger

Arkansas

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love IPA's and especailly big ones, however I know this one isn't a big one, but it comes across as a great one. There is nothing that I can find wrong with this beer. I tried to find something that I didn't like, but I couldn't find it.
Pours a beauty of a light copper color with a nice head and some nice lacing. The smell is of a nice hoppy citrus that when you smell you can't help but to say AAAHHH. The taste is smooth and hoppy which is what you want however here we have a nice balance and before you know it you are looking for another one. I only scored this one higher than the arrogance because it is a little lower than alcohol and I could probably drink several more of these before I started forgetting things. Stone Brewery I love you. Please come to Arkansas soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2004 18:14:13 | More by rugger

nickg902

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bought a case awhile ago and I finally have gotten around to reviewing it. I have drank at least one of these each day since I bought the case and I have to say that they all have bottled pretty well. The beer pours a rich amber color with a small head. Aroma is hoppy and quite citrusy. The taste begins with citrus fruits, with orange peel and grapefruit being the most prevalent. The aftertaste is clean with a nice hop bitterness, but not too bitter to be a bother. The mouthfeel is smooth with med carbonation. The drinkabiliy is high, I have had two or three at a time without losing the subtleness or balance of the beer. Perhaps the best offering from Stone to date. I would recommend this to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2006 02:17:08 | More by nickg902

sessycuban

California

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Another Stone favorite that I've never bothered to review until now. 12oz bottle poured into my Stone IPA glass.

A - The beer pours a medium golden color. It is a little bit above standard for an IPA, with fluffy head and great lacing.

S - I'm getting pine, citrus, grapefruit especially, floral hops, and even caramel. This pretty much has everything one would want in an American IPA.

T - Wonderful! Hops, hops, hops. Lots of citrus with some carmel sweetness. The beer finishes slightly minty, with plenty of lingering bitterness. Very good.

M - The beer is medium bodied. You can either make this one a sipper or a swiller; it is very versatile.

D - This beer is incredibly drinkable. I, for one, am very happy that Stone decided to sell these in sixers. One of Stone's finest brews.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2007 17:42:49 | More by sessycuban

secondtooth

Indiana

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a cloudy gold, with a large head of foam.

Nose is big and floral, with an unmistakable grapefruit/citrus hops character.

Taste is clean and bitter, punchy and explosive on the palate. A little sweet malt to balance.

The relatively high ABV (6.9%) is hidden well.

Packed with big flavor and freshness, this is a top-tier brew with character and guts.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 20:50:41 | More by secondtooth

devinoconnor

New Jersey

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Stone is always a pretty safe bet, so I was extremely excited to try their classic India Pale Ale.

Pours a golden citrus color. Smells of hop and bitters, a little citrus in there as well.

Taste is a wonderfully balanced pairing of hops and bitters. Although Stone claims its filled with hops, I didn't find it to be overly hoppy like so many other IPA attempts.

Goes down very smooth and it's a very easy drinking beer as far as IPA's go. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 21:59:22 | More by devinoconnor

Snow81

Minnesota

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Light orange clean tint

Head: Big frosty white head that stays for the length of the beer

Smell: A nice bright Citric and grapefruit on the nose

Taste: Sweet malts with a very subtle citric hop

Weight: Light body with a low to medium carbonation

Finish: Nice bitterness creeps in and soaks into the palate with a little stickiness on the lips

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 04:22:53 | More by Snow81

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a beautiful amber color with a generous white head with great retention. Lots of lacing down the glass makes for a pleasing visual experience. The smell is out-of-this-world good. Loads of citrus hops hit the nose with a wallop. The taste is all hops. Delicious grapefruit flavor with touch of pine. Plenty of bitterness makes this a hop-head's dream, and not for the faint-of-tongue. If there was ever a beer deserving of being called exceptional, this is it.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 23:30:57 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

les1721

Oregon

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Serving type; 22 oz. bottle with awesome artwork. Got to love the Gargoyle.

Appearance; A rich golden, orange hued beer with a nice thick head that's lacy and sticks around.

Smell; Very piney, citric and fruity. Very aromatic and pungent and a little earthy and herbal. Its smell is awesome, they should make cologne that smells like this.

Taste; The taste is divine. Hops are the first thing you taste. Very piney, a little citric, herbal and intense. The hop profile is profound and the bitterness intense but not overwhelming. Very grapefruity. A nice subtle malt profile balances it out and the finish is very clean yet lingers. Sweet but crisp. Almost contradicting, this beer has it all.

Mouthfeel; Medium mouthfeel with a perfect amount of carbonation.

Overall; This is a perfect beer for me. Strong and hoppy, but balanced and not overwhelming. Complex but crisp. I really think if God was going to have a beer this might be it.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 05:00:15 | More by les1721

t2thebro

Iowa

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle

A- golden yellow, with a slight greenish tint. Thick two finger head that stays put. Heavy lacing.

S- this beer smell made me giggle! That's a first. Like pure hops on Italian bread. Perfect balance light bread, floral, fruity, earthy.

T- wow!!!! Thank you may I have another!! Starts
Earthy and just a bit of breast malt. Smooth floral to follow. Slight but not over powering citrus notes. Finishes dry with the perfect balance of hops and malts which makes the aftertaste seem like a dessert. A little hint of smoke which I think is the secret of this brew.

M- light airy, and a bit of oil. With the flavor this don't matter much.

O- wow! Light enough to enjoy a few, with the flavor composition of a double ipa. No greasy aftertaste, not a huge filling beer. All flavor! Amazing!!!

O- wow!! Light enough to enjoy a few with the flavor of a double ipa

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 02:01:33 | More by t2thebro

bensbeers

Maryland

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served in a pint glass.

Loved the fruitiness of this beer. Everything about it - the color, smell, and taste - reminded be of mangoes. A brew with a huge foamy tan head that left a layer of foam the whole way down the glass. Being the Cali ipa that it is, it packs a huge hop punch. Piney, grassy hops on the nose and slick fruity ones in the mouth. Mostly tropical - sweet mandarin oranges and pineapple. Mouthfeel is just how I enjoy it - lightly carbonated, thirst quenching, but still leaves you looking for another sip.

Overall a damn good beer. Maybe even one of the best I've had to date. Loved how drinkable it was and really enjoyed the fruitiness created by the hops. Would highly recommend this beer, as I really don't think it gets much better than this. Drink on!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 03:24:13 | More by bensbeers

Joshpu

California

4.95/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: Golden orange in color. One finger of white head. Quite a bit of carbonation. Very nice lacing. It's pretty clear.

S: Piney hops and citrus.

T: Very hop forward beer, citrus notes.

M: Light to medium bodied, very crisp and dry. Very drinkable.

Overall this is an excellent beer. This is exactly how I want an IPA to taste. A nearly perfect tasting beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 07:20:33 | More by Joshpu

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
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

Mitchster

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Clear, light caramel, forming a rocky, pancake-bubbled white head with very good retention and lacing. The aroma is just wonderful with the most intense pine resin odor I've ever smelled in a beer...just wonderfully aromatic and full of sweetly fragrant, floral qualities. Pungent and skunky like marijuana. Carbonation is moderate. The mouthfeel is wet, smooth and spicy with a medium body, leaving the teeth sticky with hop astringency in the finish. I like what it's doing to my mouth with the hop astringency. The taste begins with intense pine resin bite with a nice astringency and pungency, followed by a moderate pine resin bitterness lightly offset by malts kinda hanging out in the background. The finish is all about freshly crushed pine needles with a faint suggestion of thyme or sage. No off-flavors, imperceptable alcohol.

The definitive version of a West-Coast IPA...this is an awesomely pungent beast, yet balanced by beautiful malts, and is supremely tasty. It took me a while to get used to Stone stuff, but this is just one hell of a beer, and one of the top 5 IPA's I've ever had.Stupendous!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2004 23:57:43 | More by Mitchster

palma

New York

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is by far the best IPA I've ever had. Completely amazing. Read on to experience my experience... However, I highly recommend you get your own bottle so that you can appreciate one of the best beers in the world for yourself.

Light orange amber body with a thick and rich creamy looking head. Nose is all hops and very enticing along with a sweet citrus aroma. Taste complements the nose perfectly. The hop flavor is the best I ever tasted. Big piney oily hop taste along with a sweet grapefruit flavor. Very light malt taste hiding in the background. Ends with a smooth bitterness and a very subtle bready/biscuit aftertaste that makes you really want another sip. This beer is not harsh at all. Just easy drinking all the way. Oh this baby is good! I can drink these all night long. If you're not a big IPA fan I would give this beer a try. It might very well convert you.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2004 23:42:50 | More by palma

BeerFink

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Decanting this bomber reveals a pale golden colored brew with a thriving frothy white head. Some patchy lacing is left as this ale is greedily consumed. Aroma is nice and strong. Probably the best nose to any IPA I've ever experienced. The prerequisite hops are present to a large degree - citrous and pine notes are tantalizing, dancing with an herbal quality. What sets this aroma apart is a sweet, estery, floral aroma - quite wonderful really. There is also some caramel and pale malt smell present. Do they sell air fresheners like this?? The taste does not disappoint that which the smell put forth. The lovely product of dry hopping is immediately evident. Lots of clean citrous, grapefruit, and some pine nip at the tongue. Assertive hops? Yes sir. However there is a wonderful balance by smooth malt and sweet caramel. True to the IPA style, the malt holds back and allows the beautiful hop character to shine. A little spice and herbal notes dance around as well. Although the malts take the back seat, they never leave entirely. The flavor is exceptional in the fact that it is all about the overall flavor - not just a kick-in-the-nuts blast of hops. The hops are diverse, and the malt character is expertly contrived. Finish is a great blend of dryly bitter hop oils and the faintest of sweet malt. A little alcohol warmth in the finish drives this brew home. Mouthfeel is smooth, but a little thin. Overall, this IPA is so good, its probably sinful. Who cares - not me. I'll have another (and another).

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2005 01:29:45 | More by BeerFink