Stone IPA

Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA

Located in North County San Diego, Stone Brewing Co. is known for its often vigorously hopped beers and fierce gargoyle mascot.

ABV: 6.9
ABW: 55
Color: 10
Bitterness: 77
Original gravity: 1064

Bursts of citrus on the nose and palate — tangerine, orange, grapefruit — along with pine, taming honeyed malt and light caramel. Firmly bitter on the palate too, through to its finish — and clinging. Yet, the beer doesn’t trip over itself by being so assertive that it sacrifices drinkability. In fact, it’s surprisingly drinkable for such a bold beer. The flavors are clean, tight and well-defined. A delicious American IPA.
- John Hansell

Being very much in the mood for a big, hoppy beer, I grab a Stone IPA. It pours a slightly hazy gold and announces its pedigree with a snootful of hop aromatics, from fresh mowed grass to slightly spicy tobacco. The body doesn’t disappoint my craving, with a light, honey-tinged fruitiness up front, but a big, mildly alcoholic and unabashedly hoppy middle and end, featuring notes of nutshell, citrus zest, concentrated herbals and peppery spice. Despite the assault, however, the surprisingly elevated alcohol and background honey notes mellow the “bite” and hold the hoppiness to a pleasurable, rather than painful, level. In this mood, I could drink several of these.
- Stephen Beaumont

John Hansell
John Hansell is an equal-opportunity drinker. He writes about beer, wine and spirits. He is the creator, publisher & editor of Malt Advocate, a magazine for the whisky enthusiast.

Stephen Beaumont
Stephen Beaumont boarded his first plane at the age of 15 and hasn’t looked back since, obsessing about travel to the point that he gets nervous if he doesn’t have a ticket or two stacked on the corner of his desk. When he’s not running around in search of new taste experiences, he makes his home in Toronto, where a new cultural experience is only as far away as the next neighborhood.

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