Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, India Pale Ale Brewed with Green Tea

 Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, India Pale Ale Brewed with Green Tea.

10.1% ABV. Brewed and bottled by Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA, with Baird and Kiuchi breweries, Japan. 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Dank. Resinous. Fruity. Hoppy. And I’m getting a little tea.

In the mouth: why doesn’t the label say double IPA, or even triple? Doubly dank, deeply resinous overwhelming in its hop attack, gobsmackably boozy. And, sure, there’s some tea in it. Some sweetness, but largely bitter. Tea is in there somewhere. Kompai!

Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “What if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things di­fferently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a di­fferent strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and well worth brewing again. But what if we changed it up a bit? This time around, we exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand for Helga hops from Australia. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.

Stone 26th Anniversary Imperial IPA

 

Stone 26th Anniversary Imperial IPA. A triple dry hopped Imperial IPA 26 years in the making.

Mostly clear, bright orange color, slim white head. 

In the nose: dank and citrusy, high hopping stepped up into the stratosphere, set afire. Orange, grapefruit, mango.

In the mouth: popping with hops, turned up a notch or ten. Busy bitterness on the palate. Resinous to extremis. Big, juicy, dry, dripping, hot, wet, sizzling…this one’s a beast. And I can dig it. Sometimes you got to go all out. 

One of our favorite releases every year is in the summer when we celebrate our anniversary. This one is two-fold: 26 years of Stone Brewing and 25 years of Stone IPA. To honor that beer, we did this supped-up version with massive amounts of Centennial hops and 9.7% ABV! Cheers to us, cheers to you, cheers to Stone IPA, and cheers to another amazing year.

25 years ago we celebrated the 1st Anniversary of our fledgling brewery with a beer that was far away from the craft beer norms at the time. It was far too intense. It was far too hoppy and bitter. Yet it became the shot heard ‘round the world, and beer history was changed forever. We’re talking of course about our flagship Stone IPA. So, to celebrate the beer that (eventually) launched generations of hop fanatics, we present this imperial version of the beer that made our name among the (budding) craft beer legions. Loaded with gloriously bitter notes of piney, citrusy, resinous dankness, it’s everything we love about our classic West Coast style IPA…properly turned up to 11.... we mean 25 for the occasion.

Stone Delicious Citrus IPA

 Stone Delicious Citrus IPA. 

7.7% ABV. Stone Brewing, Escondido, California. 

From the Stone 12 Days of IPA. All the ones I have had before are down the hatch, now it’s all “new-to-me”s.

Nearly clear, bold orange hue, sizable ivory head. 

In the nose: bold citrus. Fresh lemon and orange, twist of pine.

In the mouth: juicy, slightly bitter, dry. Citrus explosion blended with brief bitterness, and all is smooth. Medium bodied, easy drinking. Lacking a bite I like from an IPA, but I get where they’re going. It’s likable, nothing wrong with that. 

Citrus version of Stone Delicious IPA

Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA. W/ Added Passion fruit, orange, and guava.

 Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA. W/ Added Passion fruit, orange, and guava.

8.1% ABV. Stone Brewing, Escondido, California.

I bought the Stone 12 Days of IPA box. Just couldn’t resist it. I started drinking one a day on December 13  and I will finish on the 24th. First three: IPA, Ruination, Scorpion Bowl. This is the first one that has not been reviewed here before. I skipped this when it was released because it has “hazy” in the name. I get the hazies only when they’re in a variety pack or when they are thrust into my hands as a free sample. Or, sometimes, if I don’t read the label closely.

Lightly clouded, hardly hazy, amber hued, with a surprising number of floating particles. This bottle can’t be that old. 

In the nose: tropical sweetness starts it off, gaining in intensity. Overwhelming citrus rising up. Orange supreme.  

In the mouth: juicy, citrusy, slight bitterness. Smooth stuff. Glides down the throat with nary a trouble to be found. Bold citrus and tropical tones keep popping on the palate. Lighting bodied, with alcohol starting to creep on in. 

I’m not overly fond of fruited IPAs, but this one hit the spot, and it wasn’t hardly as hazy as advertised. 

West Coast hops.  East Coast haze.  Passion fruit, orange and guava juice inspired by the popular Hawaiian drink.  This ridiculously tasty double IPA combines influence from across the country into one of the most flavorful beers we’ve ever released.  One could call it a perfect storm, we’d say it’s Peak Conditions.

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA.

9.4 % ABV, Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

I almost skipped this one. Another "hazy"? Sigh...So, I was late in picking it up. But I bought with a week to spare. Of course, I can have one a night, and get them all done in time. And I did drink the first five before the countdown clock struck. Yes, I enjoyed five of the six before that arbitrary holi-date of 10-31...and, well, it really doesn't matter? Here comes my notes on can #6, two days after I turned into a pumpkin. 

It's all hazed up, alright, but not too, just enough to stay cool. Bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Big hops, bold citrus, certifiably dank. Huge lupulin rush. Candied apricots and fresh squeezed orange rinds, grapefruit and lemon. 

In the mouth: Juicy, dank, citrusy stuff to be sure. Just enough bitter and then some. Sleek bodied, easily drunkable. (That's not a typo.) Bam, it's a hop explosion and I'm digging it. Dripping hoppy goodness all over the palate, over the lips, and off the chin. Absolutely lovely. 

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.21 Hazy IPA is here to haunt your beer fridge with a hazy look and a heavy helping of Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo and Nelson Sauvin hops. But the refreshing dryness and huge tropical fruit flavors in this double IPA are nothing to be afraid of. The only thing that would truly be terrifying is missing out on this frighteningly fresh creation…

Stone 25th Anniversary Triple IPA

Stone 25th Anniversary Triple IPA.

12.5% ABV. 100 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

I was a little disappointed when this first came out. For their 25th anniversary, surely Stone should release a 25% ABV IPA, right? I mean, it's appropriate and so easy to do. Can't be hard. So, they half-assed it, and did one at 12.5%...that's okay, ...I guess. 

Let's drink it!

Clear, bold, rich amber hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bomb-tactic! Creeping in on barley-wine territory with the richness and intensity. This is hop aroma as crack. Candied apricot and orange peels that are actually on fire doused with fusel alcohol, laced with pixie dust and goblin tears...or something like that. This is exactly what anything calling itself "triple IPA" should smell like, nothing less. 

In the mouth: Pow! Next level. Bigness, thickness, richness, all swirling around the nucleus of hoppiness. Citrus and stone fruit flavors ride lupulin highs. While this is definitely outsized and a bit of a challenge, with a bit of an alcohol burn, I find it endlessly delicious. 

It was 25 years ago that we planted our flag in North County San Diego. We showed up to a modest, empty warehouse with some mighty big dreams. We thought people deserved a world with better beer, and were determined to be part of a cultural transformation we believed could happen… even though few others shared our vision. This massive triple IPA is another important milestone on our continuing journey. Speaking of journeys, for reasons you may guess, our 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2021 will be a bit understated for such a monumental anniversary, so we’ve decided to hold our big event in 2022 with the Stone 25+1 Years In The Making Anniversary Celebration. After a quarter of a century and quite a few twists and turns, we’re still here. Here for hops. Here for quality. Here for making great mistakes. Here for more good times. Here for another round. We thank you sincerely for the years of support and pledge that we will, as always, strive to live up to the reasons for your loyalty! 

Stone Scorpion Bowl IPA

Stone Scorpion Bowl IPA. A punch to the stinger.

7.5% ABV,  76 IBU, Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white froth atop.

In the nose: dank is the word. Candied apricot, peaches, orange, citrus galore. Entrancing. Powerful.

In the mouth: hop flavors bombard the palate, Stone fruit and citrus blast the senses, leaving trails of bitterness. Brittle, yet vibrant, feeling fantastic, for a hophead like me. Just delicious.

Medium bodied, with a long bitter finish, and forever unfolding flavors. Small bit of sweetness interrupts the bitter bounty but for a moment, then the fierce assault begins it’s rotation anew.

You can always count on Stone for a great IPA, done right.

To create a recipe so tropical and fruity without the addition of fruit was no feat our team of brewers would leave up to the gods. They took floral and citrus notes from Mosaic, Loral and Mandarina Bavaria hops to dish up a mouthwatering fruit punch to the palate. Get deserted on your own island or share with others. One thing is for sure: there is no need to light this one. It is already on fire.

Stone Features and Benefits IPA

Stone Features and Benefits IPA. (AKA F + B). Session. lo-cal, gluten-reduced IPA. 

4 % all./vol. 12 fl. oz. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. (& elsewhere.)

Crystal clear, bright golden color, slim whitish head, soon gone. 

In the nose: Heavy lemon. Heavier cat pee. Fairly stinky. 

In the mouth: Lightness personified. Beer-ified? Bold citrus flavors, slight hop bitterness, very little from malt, minimum texture. Extremely light in body, but not without flavors. This is definitely not brewed with me in mind, but some of you should really like it. Just far too thin for me. 

There's no way you can make an insanely flavorful, hop-forward IPA in true Stone fashion while keeping it under 100 calories, right? And surely not with just 2.9 carbs, gluten reduced and 4% ABV! Well, our brewers, along with the rest of Team Stone, love proving preconceived notions wrong. This beer brings all of the above together with the hop-driven boldness you'd expect from a Stone beer. Now, you can have both the features and the benefits.

Stone Enjoy By 07.04.21

Stone Enjoy By 07.04.21. Tangerine and Pineapple IPA. Ale with Tangerine and Pineapple. 

A fruitfully independent Double IPA. 

9 % alc./vol. 90 IBU.  Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA. 

Slightly hazy, bright orange hued, 1/4 inch head of ivory foam above, with a myriad of small, floating particulates about...bit of a surprise there. 

In the nose: Citrus and tropical fruit notes all over this aroma. Tangerine is king of the scene. Pineapple lurks just below. 

In the mouth: Great bitter blast at the start, fruit right behind. Just a little bit juicy, turning nice and dry on the end. Juicy, hoppy, dry, brittle, in direct succession. And now the alcohol roars in, and it's feeling groovy. 

This one arrived a week late to our store, for some reason, not showing up until 06-23-21. I wasn't too hip on the idea of a fruited double IPA, so I held off at first, but eventually I bought a 6-pack on 07-03, taking notes on my third can on the evening of 07-04-21, putting off publishing until 07-05-21. Now, to finish the last 3 before they've gone downward. (I say in all facetiousness, knowing that the best by date is merely a gimmick, tied mostly to holidays these days.)

There’s more than one recipe for independence. This edition of our brewed-to-be-enjoyed-now IPA is a fruitfully fresh new variant loaded with real tangerine & pineapple for maximized summer celebrations. Whether you crack into this one as soon as you get home or hold onto it until the 4th of July, make sure to enjoy it before the fireworks end as usual. And independence doesn’t have to mean keeping it all to yourself, especially if you’ve got some independently-minded friends and family to share with. 

Stone Liquid Poem Double IPA

Stone Liquid Poem Double IPA. Glory to the Hop. 

9.4 % ABV, 100 IBU, Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Clear, bold and bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bursting with vibrant tropical tones and citrus notes, slightly sweet and overtly fruity. Resiny pine needle trickles delight the senses, as well. 

In the mouth: Starts off sweet, succulent, strong, and increasingly bitter. Citrus and pine take hold of the palate and keep up an encampment. Long, bitter finish on the back of the throat and the top of the mouth.  It's a rowdy hop mess at play on the palate, dank and delicious. I enjoy this type of domination, ruination, decimation. 

Yes, slowly, but surely, the alcohol rises, the hop bitterness continues, and all is well with the world. Damnably delicious, this, and it hits me right in all the right ways. Way to go, Stone! 

Hops, used artfully, can be a lyrical

journey for the palate. What you have

here is the liquid equivalent of some

old school classic punk rock poetry.

We took the path less traveled 25

years ago, and it could be accurately

argued we were a bit noisy in our

adventures co-pioneering the West

Coast style IPA. People heard that

noise and joined us in the hoppy mosh

pit, and the path has gotten even

more lively since then. We based

this recipe on the classics, with

citrusy-piney Centennial, Chinook

and Columbus hops, plus a dash of

'new classic' Citra for good measure.

Big yet refreshing, bold yet nuanced.

Undeniably LOUD. Just as we like it.

Stone Enjoy By 4.20.2021 IPA

Stone Enjoy By 4.20.2021 IPA. Blazy Hazy IPA. Brewed to be blazingly fresh. 

9% ABV, 50 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Lightly hazy, bright orange hue, large and lasting creamy white head. 

In the nose: Fresh, lively happiness. Citrus & pine, slightly floral and tropical, with a touch of stone fruit, to boot. Lovely stuff. 

In the nose: More of the above drops on the palate. Big hoppiness matched by bigger booze. Powerful. Juicy. More tropical notes emerge  to join the citrus explosion. Full body. Big spill of flavors, juicy fruit, candied apricot, orange pith, gummi bears. 

Once again, the sixth bottle in the 6-pack is the one I publish notes upon. I did it, though, if there was any doubt, I managed to finish off the lot of them before the due date. Six bottles down in 10 days. I did it!

We’ve been brewing the groundbreaking Stone Enjoy By IPA series since 2012. Despite dozens of releases and a few variants over the years, we’ve never done a hazy version… until now. Stone Enjoy By 04.20.21 Hazy IPA is a celebration of those magical little green buds we call hops. This stunningly fresh imperial IPA is brewed to be enjoyed within 37 days, so don’t let the back of your fridge bogart. Sit back, relax, and take this puppy down in a blaze of hazy glory with a b̶i̶g̶ ̶o̶l̶’̶ ̶r̶i̶p̶ series of thoughtful sips.

Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA

Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA. India Pale Ale brewed with Centennial and Sabro hops and juniper. 

A discovery carved by hops. 

7.3 % ABV, 40 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Stone Brewing co., Escondido, CA & Richmond, VA. 

Another one from the 12 IPAs variety pack. Not sure if this one is available on it's own, but it is back in the latest IPA 12-pack. Only four individual beers in that one, but, heck, if you like, there's more. Unfortunately, I only have this one.

On to the beer! 

Clear, bright golden/amber hue, long-lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Dank and sticky. Big citrus, tossed in with some candied stone fruit (no pun intended)...and then along comes the juniper. Interesting, very interesting. 

In the mouth: Starts out fruity, juicy, dank and delicious. Smooth, tasty, and utterly intriguing. Moderate bitterness, medium malt, long finish, fully flavored. Fresh and zesty fruity flavors never quite quit on the palate. It's a very good IPA and you can drink it. Also, I feel like it deserves a rank of: yum a dum dum.

Once again, Stone overdoes it with the label copy. Nothing wrong with that...

We often associate space with the future. Progress. What’s next. But in reality, any cosmic body you’d encounter out there is unfathomably ancient. It may take cutting-edge technology to reach it, but upon discovery, you’re immediately taken back in time. 

It’s in this spirit we offer Stone Cosmic Runestone IPA, a blend of historic Nordic brewing tradition (Voss Kveik yeast and juniper berries) and American craft beer innovation (a healthy dose of Centennial and Sabro hops). Like the eons old entity that is our watchful Gargoyle, journeying through the infinite universe, leaving cosmic breadcrumbs and waiting to be discovered by a fortunate explorer.

Today, that’s you.

Stone Exotic Destinations IPA

Stone Exotic Destinations IPA.

7.5 % ABV. 53 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

This bottle came from the Stone 12 IPAs of Christmas sampler pack, in which, along with everything else they were putting out at the time, all the labels were printed upside down for some reason. I think they're back to normal, now. 

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, large and lasting white head.

In the nose: Wide and wonderful aromatics, big splash of citrus and pine. Touch of tropical. 

In the mouth: Ah, yes! This is my kind of IPA, indeed. Bold blast of bitter hoppiness from the top, juicy delivery of citrusy hop flavor onto the palate, orange and grapefruit, with a pinch of pineapple and passionfruit on the side. Long bitter finish. Medium bodied. Not an especially high IBU, but the bitterness clings on the palate through out the duration. Bright, juicy, bitter. Shove that bitterness down my happy, hoppy tongue, baby, this is how all IPAs should be!

I'm going to keep my eyes out for more of this stuff. 

Introducing Stone Exotic Destinations IPA, a 7.5% creation loaded with Citra and the brand new Talus (HBC 692) hops. Huge floral aroma with notes of citrus and sweet fruit plus just the right hint of tartness. Greetings from Beer Paradise. Population: you.

Stone Enjoy By 01.01.2021

Stone Enjoy By 01.01.2021 Unfiltered IPA.

9.4 % ABV, 90 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Lightly hazy, bright golden hue, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: pouring out citrus and tropical tones, arresting and lively. Shockingly pithy and poignant. 

In the mouth: Aggressively assertive bitterness blazes the palate, with the fire and the fury of the high alcohol ready at its command. Huge hoppiness. Bitterness delivers. Citrus and tropical notes offer a sweetness to match the bitter, with high firepower poised right behind it. Medium bodied, long, bitter finish. Great complexities in this, and an abundance of pleasure. 

Just about yum a dum, dum. Wait, hold on...yeah. Candied fruit, mixed with magical pixie dust, and big ol' booze. I'm digging it. Holding onto one last bottle for tomorrow night, to welcome in 2021, and hope it doesn't resemble 2020. 

For this version of Stone Enjoy By IPA we thought: “We don’t always have a filter, so why should our beer?” By skipping a step and letting this devastatingly fresh, golden-hued double IPA go un filtered, the beer takes on a hazy appearance and its peach and tropical fruit hop aroma are intensified. So though it may sound like it, this missed step was no misstep.

Like the other IPAs in this series, this version is brewed specifically NOT to last.

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.20 IPA

Stone Enjoy By 10.31.2020 IPA. 

9.4 % ABV.  90 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: Fresh and lively, citrus and pine. 

In the mouth: Juicy and bitter, right off the bat. Vibrant hop bitterness. Lean bodied, easy drinking, but for the higher ABV. Orange and grapefruit notes, with the tinge of the alcohol rising up and setting it on fire. Dank and delicious. 

I haven't had a Stone Enjoy by IPA in quite some time. Don't always pick it up when it comes around, and I'm not sure those were wise choices. It's always going to be good. You can't miss with a Stone IPA. Maybe I thought they were going to be the same beer each time, but I'm clearly wrong. When I saw that this one was over 9 % ABV, I had to take it home with me. Alway need a good stock of double IPAs in the fridge. 

This can was #4 in the six-pack. That means I have to drink 2 more before midnight tonight!

I'm still not sure why they're printing all their labels upside-down now.

Just in time for Halloween, we’re releasing our massively-hopped Stone Enjoy By 10.31.20 IPA. Loaded with 10 different varieties of hops and meant to be enjoyed within 37 days, this double IPA is nothing to be afraid of. (Though its packaging will very much show the spooky spirit of the holiday.) The only thing that would truly be terrifying is missing out on this incredibly tasty creation

While freshness is a key component of many beers—especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs—we’ve taken it further, a lot further, in this line of devastatingly fresh IPAs. You see, not only did we brew this beer with over 10 different hops, we’ve also gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you’re getting this double IPA in your hands within an extraordinarily short window. That’s why the Enjoy By date isn’t randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the bottle, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive. Instead, we’ve sent a clear message in the name of the beer itself—further proving that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA.

Stone Woot Stout 7.0

Stone Woot Stout 7.0. Imperial Stout brewed with pecans, wheat, rye, and quarter aged in barrels.

11.5 % ABV. 45 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

And now we have my first notes on a Stone Woot Stout, the collaboration with former Star Trek star and home brewing enthusiast Wil Wheaton, which they've been making, in various variations, for many years. Seven, I think. Further research shows that I've logged in to other versions on Untappd, almost all of them at Acadia, kegs that I'd ordered. The Farking Wheaton W00tStout of 2015. The 13 % version of 2016. Looks like that's it. But, I never brought it home for note-taking. Time to change that. 

Utterly obsidian, complete opacity, slim dark head. 

In the nose: sweet, malty, a touch of spice. Deep...cavernous.

In the mouth: Dark and rich. Full bodied. Cocoa, coffee, dark fruit, tobacco, leather, all the usual suspects in attendance, but not much more. And the oncoming rise of alcohol rears it's head rather quickly. A bit of the barrel comes through in the flavor, Bourbon barrels. Just a touch of the whiskey, the wood, the cherry and vanilla. 

And I always love a good imperial stout. Didn't pick up any pecans, though. Not sure why you'd use them if you can't taste them. Just me, though. 

Stone Bourbon Barrel-aged Arrogant Bastard

Stone Bourbon Barrel-aged Arrogant Bastard.

8.1 % ABV. 100 IBU. 

Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

Fairly clouded, Burgundy-hued, large beige head atop. 

In the nose: Caramel and cocoa. Oak and vanilla. Rich and malty, with barrel effects edging in. Dark fruit delights. 

In the mouth: Oaky and smokey. Rich, sweet, malty, deep and devastating. Cherry and vanilla and deep bourbon barrel goodness. Big hop bitterness meets massive malt. Huge. Intoxicating. Delirious. Take your time, but take your chances. It's a biggie. More dark fruit deliciousness. 

Good stuff here. Just one a day, though, for real. Do it nice and moderate-like. K?

I, from a slumber that’s been anything but peaceful. I don’t take kindly to idling and I am anything but neutral. Life has nothing to do with killing time, and the knowledge that months have passed since the onset of my sequestering in this pitch-black oaken tomb (albeit a barrel flush with brilliant aromas of vanilla and char) does not sit well. But then comes a tingle followed by rejuvenating warmth, signs that something is different…something has changed…and for the better.

I feel stronger yet somehow more nimble and refined. I feel even more self-assured, and my vision for what is good and right, honest and true, is as laser-sharp as the brawny, bawdy, liquid Arrogance that shall further advance my battle against all things mediocre and geared toward the lowest common denominator. I have been born anew and, in the process, anointed with vibrant, inspiring, previously unexperienced character, all while maintaining everything I am and have always been—bold, bullish, unadulterated, and yes, Arrogant. 

Are you Worthy of quaffing a beverage of this intensity, irreverence and quality craftsmanship? Not likely, but for those who “get it,” I know my time in this bourbon barrel has not been wasted. Cheers to you, enlightened imbiber. On second thought, cheers to me! 

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA

Stone Aggro Agronomist IPA.
7 % ABV. 57 IBU.
Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hued, large and lasting ivory head of froth.

In the nose: Bursting with citrus notes, and traces of the tropical. Prickly pine pokes in. Delightful.

In the mouth: Blast of bitterness on the palate, loads of hoppy flavors. Tons of citrus and pine. Medium bodied, easy drinking, flat-out tasty. Just enough juicy. Sparked with citrus, charged with delicious. I'm enjoying this one all the way.

Getting all aggro can sometimes be a negative. Getting aggro with your hops however? Awesome. (Try singing that aloud in your best Stone Aggro heavy metal falsetto). Equally awesome: getting aggro with hop agronomy. It's often a tradition passed down through generations, as is the case with Perrault Farms in Toppenish, Washington. Since 1928, the Perrault family and friends have honed their craft to breed new hop varieties with ever more awesome (sing it again) flavors and aromas. This beer features the powerhouse hop Citra as well as two new varieties - Sabro and the as-of-yet unnamed HBC 692. These new beauties balance classic citrus notes with intriguing hints of coconut, herbs and stone fruit. We've gotten aggro many times with our beers since 1996. So a tip of the hat to aggro agronomists like the Perrault family who give us the tools to aggressively propel our craft forward.

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout brewed with Espresso

Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout brewed with Espresso.
10.6 % ABV. 65 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA.

Solid blackness, rich, large, toasted tan head.

In the nose: Coffee. Cream. Cocoa. Mucho malt. Char, smoke, molasses, anise. Deeply complex.

In the mouth: Chocolate is king from the start. More of the same noted in the nose. Full body. Smooth, despite the strength. Nice and easy imperial stout. Full of favorite flavors. I like this. It's delicious.

With a beer as bold and robust as Stone Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout, it’s not easy to build another level of flavor. That’s why we use hundreds of pounds of espresso beans to give Stone Espresso Totalitarian Imperial Russian Stout an added layer of rich complexity. The coffee flavors meld beautifully with the roasty bitterness of the dark malts for an intense complement of flavors, while staying true to the essence of this classic, historical style.

Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse

Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse. 4.7 % ABV. 12 IBU. Brewed in Berlin. Geist = Ghost. Stone Brewing Company World Bistro & Gardens, Berlin, Deutschland.

Lightly hazy, pale golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: dry, slightly spicy, wheat-y.

In the mouth: Sour from the start, tart and juicy on the palate. Medium bodied, light and refreshing. Citrus notes shine. Sour returns with each new sip. Smooth wheat malt flavors send it home.

Go ahead and drink it. It's a good one.


Our citrusy and refreshing Berliner Weisse is a modern take on a true Berlin classic. Brewed using the same traditional lactic acid cultures as the Berlin brewers of the 1920's, our Berliner Weisse is a bright and sparkling thirst-quencher. The beer embodies the liveliness of summer with the fruity tang of lemon and melon and the tartness of rhubarb and gooseberries. To ensure a properly Stone (and therefore iconoclastic) Berliner Weisse, we upped the ABV to a healthy 4.7% and hopped the beer with new German varieties, Huell Melon and Callista.