Reviewing the 16th Anniversary IPA from Stone Brewing Company out of Escondido, California.
Score: 85
Bottle is from the 08/13/12 release. Served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 08/24/12.
Appearance: Pours a clean orange-amber color with one finger of off-white, tannish head that settles to a thick ring around the glass. Nice lacing, but mediocre retention. 4/5
Smell: Lemon, candied caramel malt, and earthy hops. Some herbal spice, sage and a little Dole's pineapple juice too. 3.5/5
Taste: Strong, earthy caramel malt backbone with a herbaceous hop overlay. A little rye towards the finish. Finish/aftertaste is a dirty earthy lemon and caramel flavor. 3.5/5
Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, medium carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter and malty. 4/5
Overall: A very disappointing IPA. I like lemon in my IPA (Zeelander from Toppling Goliath is outstanding), but the combination of earthy caramel and herbaceous spices did not bode well with my palate. Nothing undrinkable, but nothing worth celebrating a 16th anniversary with either.
Recommendation: Stick with a fresh bottle of Stone's Ruination IPA. It is still one of the best (and cheapest) IPA on the market.
Pairings:
Cost: $6.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.
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