craft beer

Just to be clear, Stone Enjoy IPA and Stone IPA (and Ruination and RuinTen, etc.) are two very different things .  One is "okay", and one is fantastic but both receive high marks and rave reviews.  You got the "okay" one in my opinion, which is all that matters to me :P
 
But seriously it's all a matter of personal taste and whatever you like is the right beer for you.  Given that you lean towards more floral fruity flavors it's unlikely you'll enjoy any of Stone's IPAs since they're mostly hoppy piney bitter affairs.  I'm not a big pale ale fan so the only floral types I can think of suggesting off the top of my head is La Cumbre Elevated IPA, which will maybe never be available in your area, and New Belgium Accumulation.  I usually scoff at New Belgium's regular lineup but Accumulation is affordable and tasty and not a hop bomb in any way and probably available in all 50 states.  It's a winter release so if you're going to try it do so sooner rather than later.
 
If you're ready to come to the dark side I can list a bunch of stouts and porters, if I haven't already somewhere in this thread. :beer:

georgej said:
beeradvocate and ratebeer manage to remove all the fun from brewing/drinking.
Click to expand...
 
It's fun to see what the general consensus is on a given beer but I usually wait until I've tasted it and formed an opinion.  I'm usually close to the average score.  What isn't fun is purchasing beer based on their scores.  I've had plenty of 90's to even 100's that I didn't care for and wouldn't buy again.  Trying a new beer is an adventure and a crap shoot. 
 
thegreenman said:
 
 
 
Well I just gave Stone IPA another try to see if it measured up this time after not tasting it for several years.  
Unfortunately, it does not. I am not a fan of beers (even IPA's) that leave my mouth feeling like I just ate a salt lick. It's just too much harsh hop astringency and none of the wonderful fruit flavors (citrus, tropical)and aromas that I love in an IPA. 
 
Maybe I am just in love with the Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra type of hop flavors/aromas and I'm not getting it from Stone. 
 
Click to expand...
I feel ya.  I am not a fan of the Hop Bomb types of IPA's offered these days.   Give me balance and I am quite content. 
 
Dorkasaurus said:
Just to be clear, Stone Enjoy IPA and Stone IPA (and Ruination and RuinTen, etc.) are two very different things .  One is "okay", and one is fantastic but both receive high marks and rave reviews.  You got the "okay" one in my opinion, which is all that matters to me :P
 
But seriously it's all a matter of personal taste and whatever you like is the right beer for you.  Given that you lean towards more floral fruity flavors it's unlikely you'll enjoy any of Stone's IPAs since they're mostly hoppy piney bitter affairs.  I'm not a big pale ale fan so the only floral types I can think of suggesting off the top of my head is La Cumbre Elevated IPA, which will maybe never be available in your area, and New Belgium Accumulation.  I usually scoff at New Belgium's regular lineup but Accumulation is affordable and tasty and not a hop bomb in any way and probably available in all 50 states.  It's a winter release so if you're going to try it do so sooner rather than later.
 
If you're ready to come to the dark side I can list a bunch of stouts and porters, if I haven't already somewhere in this thread. :beer:

 
It's fun to see what the general consensus is on a given beer but I usually wait until I've tasted it and formed an opinion.  I'm usually close to the average score.  What isn't fun is purchasing beer based on their scores.  I've had plenty of 90's to even 100's that I didn't care for and wouldn't buy again.  Trying a new beer is an adventure and a crap shoot. 
Click to expand...
I used to homebrew porters and stouts exclusively, that was back in the early 90's. I burnt out on them except for a couple times a year, usually on a cold winter's night. (which we have only had one of so far this year).
 
Nothing beats Fullers in a London pub. 
 
i have no idea if this has already been said but i have been really big on Belgium style beers such as fin du monde made by  unibroue brewery  and the ones they sale at trader joes also made by unibroue but for 1/2 the price. i also enjoy Chimay 
 
Miniac67 said:
i have no idea if this has already been said but i have been really big on Belgium style beers such as fin du monde made by  unibroue brewery  and the ones they sale at trader joes also made by unibroue but for 1/2 the price. i also enjoy Chimay 
Click to expand...
Have you had Tank 7? It's a farmhouse ale, not a Belgium. But it is funky and delicious.
 
122.jpg

 
besides my own, here is one of my favorites
 
Halbrust said:
Have you had Tank 7? It's a farmhouse ale, not a Belgium. But it is funky and delicious.
Click to expand...
I had a "Serge" Farmhouse ale a few months back from Saint Somewhere Brewing, and I really wanted to like it but the wild yeast taste just reminded me the infections I tried to avoid when homebrewing back in the day. 
 
On the IPA front I am just finishing a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon IPA and I rate it as "somewhat better" than a Stone IPA. It is somewhat piney, somewhat floral, not astringent, not fruity, but still good. On a number scale,  A SOLID 4 OUT OF 5. 

beerbreath81 said:
attachicon.gif
122.jpg
 
besides my own, here is one of my favorites
Click to expand...
What hops do you use to bitter and finish? 
 
punchy said:
I am a huge fan of Firestone Walker and Lagunitas. FW double barrel ale and Lagunitas has a couple that I like. IPA, Censored Copper Ale, and the Lagunitas Sucks! :D
Click to expand...
 
Lagunitas Sucks is one of my favorite IPAs and probably in my top 10 favorite beers.  Unfortunately Firestone Walker isn't sold here but I have managed to try a Double Jack and a Parabola.  Both were quite good. 

beerbreath81 said:
attachicon.gif
122.jpg
 
besides my own, here is one of my favorites
Click to expand...
 
Yep that's a good one.  I've helped empty more than a few cans.  I just saw it in bottles last week... no idea why they'd bottle it but whatever.

thegreenman said:
I used to homebrew porters and stouts exclusively, that was back in the early 90's. I burnt out on them except for a couple times a year, usually on a cold winter's night. (which we have only had one of so far this year).
 
Nothing beats Fullers in a London pub. 
Click to expand...
 
I haven't reached the burn out point yet.  I still enjoy a nice hearty stout or porter after working in the garden.  Wife thinks I'm nuts but I consider stouts and porters all season brews.

Been too busy drinking Boulder's Shake Chocolate Porter, Lagunitas Sucks, and Odell's Mountain Standard to try many new beers but wife is on a Green Flash kick and brought these home. 
 
IMG_20140104_195613_6zezip28pi.jpg

 
Check out the 120 year old shot glass I picked up for 20 cents:
 
IMG_20140111_182114_wu8397w5d8.jpg
 
thegreenman said:
What hops do you use to bitter and finish? 
Click to expand...
I use pellet hops throughout all my brews, as far as certain types, all depends on what I'm goin for. Mt Hood, Northern brewer and cascade are a few of my go to varieties. Due to moving I havent brewed in about a year and am really getting the itch to get going again. Are you an all grain, or extract brewer?
 
P.S.---did you happen to see these
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/big-mouth-bubbler-6-5-gallon.html
 
Dorkasaurus said:
Yep that's a good one.  I've helped empty more than a few cans.  I just saw it in bottles last week... no idea why they'd bottle it but whatever.
Click to expand...
Agreed, also saw this one floating around this fall but have yet to try it...didnt realize it was a seasonal
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/923/46369/
 
beerbreath81 said:
I use pellet hops throughout all my brews, as far as certain types, all depends on what I'm goin for. Mt Hood, Northern brewer and cascade are a few of my go to varieties. Due to moving I havent brewed in about a year and am really getting the itch to get going again. Are you an all grain, or extract brewer?
 
P.S.---did you happen to see these
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/big-mouth-bubbler-6-5-gallon.html
 
Agreed, also saw this one floating around this fall but have yet to try it...didnt realize it was a seasonal
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/923/46369/
Click to expand...
I started with extract but migrated to grain towards the end (havent brewed since @1996. when I started my own biz and didn't have the time anymore.)
 
 
I would probably shy away from anything called Palate Wrecker. I mean what's the point?  I enjoy tasting other things too.
 
Craft beer labels have gotten as silly as novelty hot sauce labels.  What's next?
Dr. Hoppy's​
Throat Devastator​
[SIZE=35.55555725097656px]Hopped with the world's bitterest hop, [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=35.55555725097656px]The Colorado Crusader[/SIZE]​
 
beerbreath81 said:
 
 
Agreed, also saw this one floating around this fall but have yet to try it...didnt realize it was a seasonal
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/923/46369/
Click to expand...
 
I don't care for the Euphoria as much.  Despite being "just a pale ale" it seems more bitter and less tasty than the Modus.  Your mileage may vary.

thegreenman said:
 
I would probably shy away from anything called Palate Wrecker. I mean what's the point?  I enjoy tasting other things too.
 
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I didn't purchase either of them.  I don't even remember which one was "too bitter" for me but it was probably the wrecker.
 
SmokenFire said:
A sixer from my favorite local brewery: 
j0yah0.jpg
Click to expand...
 
We "imported" some of their stuff.  The Anti Hero and Crystal Hero come to mind, there was one other but I can't remember the name and bottle is buried somewhere in collection.  They appear to favor IPAs.
 
My favorite hoppy beers have been released, Troeg's Nugget Nectar, and even better Bell's Hopslam!!!  I had my first Nugget Nectar of the season today.  Looking forward to the Hopslam, my most favorite of all hoppy beers.
 
Dorkasaurus said:
 
We "imported" some of their stuff.  The Anti Hero and Crystal Hero come to mind, there was one other but I can't remember the name and bottle is buried somewhere in collection.  They appear to favor IPAs.
Click to expand...
 
Thus far their offerings do favor IPAs.  If you get a chance to go to the brewery you'll find a nice selection spanning all styles.  They were hand pumping some kind of cask ale from the basement that was nice, and I had the Mad Cow milk stout that was good too.  
 
Drinking this one right now. I have never tried Mission Brewery of San Diego's beers before.
This one is OK but has a bit too much of an alcohol taste for me. It's 9.25% ABV.
 
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top