Tag Archives: double ipa

4 - Good (buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., USA

Stone 20th Anniversary Encore Series: 10th Anniversary IPA

Monday, 28 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 10%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 2006 label, 2016 re-release. Hops – Summit, Chinook, Crystal and Simcoe

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Every one of you who spread the word has built up this brewery to what it is today. We can give no credit to a radio ad, to a TV ad or to a billboard – and I’m glad. MIKE PALMER // Team Stone since December 1998.

None of this would be possible if it weren’t for two visionaries. Greg Koch and Steve Wagner. Thanks for having the guts to go out and take a major risk and performing the near impossible. DAVE DYER // Team Stone since July 1998.

I came to the brewery almost seven years ago in response to a help wanted ad that read “if you like accounting and beer, send us your resume.” That’s for me, I thought. What the job really is, is much more than just accounting and much, much more than just beer. CONNIE GREEN // Team Stone since December 1999.

Stone is just not the company I work for, it is something I truly believe in. The culture, vision, attitude, and bragging rights over my friends and family make this company a passion for me. I appreciate all the Stone fans for their support over the years. JAKE RATZKE // Team Stone since January 2000.

My love to my family at home and to my Stone brothers and sisters and, of course, most of all to all the great Stone fans out there who make it all worth it. Cheers! MIKE LOPEZ // Team Stone since March 2000.

“Does Stone make a light beer?” NO! And stop asking, you wussies! KAREN WESTFALL // Team Stone since March 2000.

With the Stone 10th Anniversary IPA our love affair with the hop continues. My compliments and thanks to everyone who’s been a part of our history. We have an incredible Team here at Stone, and we’ve really enjoyed sharing our beers. GREG KOCH // Team Stone since October 1995.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that after ten years there’s still so much I’d like to do with beer – more recipes to brew, experiments to try, other beers to sample and enjoy – that the next ten years won’t be nearly enough. STEVE WAGNER // Team Stone since October 1995.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.92
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 22 oz bomber, bottled on 25th August 2016, to be enjoyed by 23rd November 2016 (drank on the 27th, so I’m four days late). Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a big three finger slightly off white colour with great retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Tropical pineapple with touches of mango followed by citrusy grapefruit and mandarin, pine and a hint of caramel.
Taste: Caramel biscuit malt with a blast of tropical stone fruits, bitter citrusy mandarin and its zest with notes of pine and citrus pith.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and boozy on the finish.
Overall: This was nice, with my only minor complaint being that I’m not too fond of a boozy feel on IPAs or Double IPAs in this case. Other than that, I found it enjoyable.

4 - Good (buy), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., USA

Stone 20th Anniversary Encore Series: 5th Anniversary IPA

Saturday, 26 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 2001 label, 2016 re-release

Brewer Description: (from bottle) It’s late July as I write this. Weather’s been great. Good San Diego weather – nice and hot, but not too hot. The days are like a warm burrito accented by the salsa fresca of the afternoon’s cool ocean breezes. Perfect beer-drinking weather (admittedly, I think ALL weather is perfect beer-drinking weather). August is knocking on the door. September and our 5th Anniversary Open House are just around the corner, and the phrase “going green” is beginning to take on a life of its own. Seems like I’ve been asking Steve and Lee for weeks for some hints on what they are doing with the Anniversary IPA this year and I haven’t been getting anywhere. It’s tough to rope in a brewer sometimes. So, just now I went out in the brewery looking for one of them and, lo and behold, I managed to corner them both. “OK, you guys,” I said, planting my feet firmly, “nobody’s going anywhere until you tell me what the hell we’re doing with the 5th Anniversary IPA so I can write up the label.” After a long pause and some shifty glances side to side looking for an out, they realized the only way they were going to get away from me was to give up some information. “We plan on doing a lot more dry hopping this year,” said Steve. I had kinda figured that, so no way I was going to let them off that easy. “Actually, we’re going to hop it more all around, just especially in the dry hopping,” volunteered Lee. Jokingly, Steve piped in: “Hmmm, maybe we could just pack a fermenter with hops and then fill the remaining space with fermenting beer. Heck, why not just switch the amount of malt we use with hops…that way we could add a little malt in at the end and say that we’re ‘dry-malting’ it.” Now, that’s a thought…. So, how would we describe this year’s Stone 5th Anniversary IPA in comparison to years 1-4? In a word, “more.” Enjoy it because there won’t be any more Anniversary IPAs after this one…

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 22 oz bomber, bottled on 25th August 2016, to be enjoyed by 23rd November 2016 (drank on the 26th, so I’m three days late). Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a big three finger white head with pretty good retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrus zest mostly mandarin and lemon, grapefruit, pine, biscuity malt and flowery.
Taste: Biscuity malt, light caramel sweetness, mandarin, orange zest bitterness, a hint of tropical mango and peach, with a light floral and herbal element.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I was not impressed with my first sip, BUT actually, this got a lot better the more I drank it. Its not too sweet and not too bitter in my opinion, which seems to be a rare thing with Double IPAs these days. I enjoyed it, especially the more I had.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Young Master Brewery

Young Master 1842 Island Imperial IPA

Thursday, 24 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 80 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) 1842 Island is a bold Imperial IPA that coaxes out and showcases every facet of an outsized malt and hop bill. It’s potent hop character is supported by a robust malt backbone lending it incredible complexity. Savor every sip as the flavor nuances unfold and culminate in a lingering, satisfying finish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.81
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 31st May 2017, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy dark amber colour with slightly less than two finger off white head that had great retention and left nice sticky lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malts, citrusy grapefruit, pine and touches of floral elements.
Taste: Bitter and herbal with some grapefruit zest, caramel and toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Nice lingering bitterness with pretty good malt and hop balance.

4 - Good (buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Pipeworks Brewing Company, USA

Pipeworks Emerald Grouper

Thursday, 13 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 9.5%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with honey

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dudddde… we put in like what was it… honey. No, like insane amounts of honey. Annnd… pssshh… seriously dank hops I got from this on guy I know. I think it was like… dude…. I am so gone. Simcoe and some Citra and some Mosaic and what if the colors I see are like not the colors you see… what was I saying? Right, right… L 7. If you put your hands together like that, it makes a square. Like a grouper. Wait what? Whatever… Pipeworks, they brew like the stickiest of the ickiest.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.29
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 22 oz bomber with no visible bottled on date on the bottle. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden orange colour with a big three finger white head that had great retention and leaves nice lacing.
Aroma: Tropical mango and pineapple, citrus grapefruit pith, lemon peel and honey.
Taste: Bitter grapefruit and orange pith, zest, pine and honey sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I was worried that with honey added, it would be too sweet, but actually, this was really balanced between bitter and sweet. The ABV is also well hidden. A great DIPA.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Pipeworks Brewing Company x Tired Hands Brewing Co., USA

Pipeworks x Tired Hands Marilime Law

Saturday, 8 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company x Tired Hands Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Hops – Simcoe, Centennial and Sorachi Ace. Malts – 2-row, Marris Otter, White Wheat and Acidulated Malt. Other – lime juice, lime zest and dextrose.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Warriors from two clans have teamed up and hit the seven seas to bring you an IPA like no other. Pipeworks and Tired Hands have set sail with Simcoe, Centennial and Sorachi Ace hops in hand. We’ve also added enough lime zest and juice to keep things tart. Enjoy this unique collaborative effort before you walk the plank, ya Scurvy dog!

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.37
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 22 oz bomber with no visible bottled on date on the bottle. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a golden straw yellow colour with a three finger white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong lime with a touch of grapefruit pith and lemons.
Taste: Like the aroma, tangy lime is at the forefront followed by some lemon, zest and grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was not bad but perhaps a bit too much lime such that it overpowers everything else.

words of another dreamy traveller