Stone Ruination IPA

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Escondido, California USA

12oz bottle. Wow. This is my kind of stuff right here. I’m a big fan of this style and is a fine example indeed. Needless to say if you like hops you’ll like this but what surprises me is that even with the 100 IBUs it is still so tasty and drinkable. I still give the edge to Dogfish 90 in this category but this one can fill in just fine.

Strong, excellent citrus pine aroma, but kind of a weak head. Bitterness definitely isn’t my favorite beer characteristic, but this IPA doesn’t taste like 100+ IBUs... other spicy/tangy/peppery flavors mask the raw bitterness. Just like their Arrogant Bastard, this one has a complex, intriguing flavor, but this one isn’t as full-flavored by comparison. In the end, like other IPAs, it was hard for me to finish the 22oz bottle.

On Tap at Stone .Pours cloudy orange with medium head. Huge hop aroma citrus grapefruit. Taste is citrus, grapefruit. I have not had this one in a few years, and its still good as ever.

An extremely hoppy/bitter double IPA, and with such a high IBU with a small ABV the bitterness is high. Only for the hop lovers, it smells of rich california hops with a floral and citrusy aroma. Flavor is very complex and deeply bitter, but not as overbearing as advertised. Would like a more balanced finish, but my hop crazy palate loves it and can’t get enough.

Bottle shared with hophead22...Pours a pretty golden color with a thin white head.. Great piney hop smell.. Doesn’t seem like a 100+ ibu beer, I thought it had great balance to it.. Tasty DIPA

Light clear copper pour with a big three finger head. Great hops aroma, big IPA taste (100+ IBU) but you can still taste the malt. Time for a hops nap.

This is one of the IPA’s I have had I would put up against any of the Dogfish Head IPA’s, and still be torn between the two brands. This is a stellar IPA. Great Hops, great flavor, appearance. Pours hazy, with a little head. Tastes so good to a hophead. Great IPA!

It poured a hazy golden liquid with a small foam. Smelled of grassy hops and grapefruit. The first taste got my mouth looking like an ass. This beer is so bitter that it made my ass-hairs curl up in a fetus position. Since I love really bitter beers Ive always wondered how far you can push it before it goes over the edge. Well I think Stone has crossed that edge, this was a bit to much for me. But I was in a bit of a rush and think I need to try it again to give it a second chance. Update 2009-09-13: I re-tested this beer and this time the bitterness wasn’t so bad at all. Very enjoyable and I have decided to change my score slightly.