Stone Enjoy By 12.21.12

 Stone Brewing Co.   Escondido, CA

Notes:

Double IPA

22oz Bottle

9.4% ABV

This brew was on serious limited release with only a handful of markets receiving it...there were three production dates: 9/21/12, 11/9/12 and 12/21/12...

From the bottle:

You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA.  Freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, hoppy IPAs - but we've taken it further, a lot further with this one.  We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last.  We've gone to extensive lengths to ensure you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we've sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA...before the world ends.

Appearance:  Pours a crisp deep golden color, pretty transparent…some bubble action happening in the middle…off white head forms and lasts…does look a little watery…(4/5)

Smell:  Citra hops galore…orange, grapefruit, mango, pineapple explosion…some sweetness and a touch of paleness…this is all hops… smells like the fresh orange juice I just did in my breville like an hour ago…this thing is fresh…it’s a mouth watering aroma…(5/5)

Taste:  Massive citrus hops…orange, grapefruit, pineapple, pine, earthiness…some bitterness, but it’s nice…some dryness, like a persimmon…there is some floral hop bitterness in the after taste…sweet, pale malt is present, but definitely overwhelmed by all the hops…does add a nice backbone though with good flavor…(5/5)

Mouthfeel:  Light to medium body…medium carbonation, nice fluff does form, leaving citrus bitterness all over my tongue…long lasting citrus hop flavor and bitterness in the after taste…smooth and refreshing, leaves my mouth watering for more, and I’ll oblige…(5/5)

Overall:  Awesome!  One of the best brews I’ve had in a long, long time…the taste is very fresh, crisp, light, full and awesome…enough hops to satisfy any hop head out there…citrus and pine hops galore, the malt does add some balance, but this is for the lovers… there is so much fresh zest to this, it lives up to the “drink by” concept…definitely head of the class in this ever expanding “west coast/american” pale ale and IPA genre…if you see this, buy it…then drink it…(5/5)

Score:

(4.88/5)