Liberty Station Ashy Staché
Stone Brewing

Attractive amber color with a modest foam in the glass. On tap at Liberty Station. Seriously smokey, which is always intriguing and makes for an interesting aroma. Then there is the signature Stone take-no-prisoners hop bitterness. Some malt, clean and well made, but undrinkable. Ghastly smokey, bitter aftertaste that bites like rabid chow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed from notes taken last week at Stone Liberty Station, San Diego.

A- Poured from the taps into a tall chalice. Orange-amber bodied with a creamy, one-finger white head. Cap has nice retention and eventually falls to a frothy ring and some islands in the middle of the beer. Clouds of lace coat the glass.

S- Hoppy at first with nice tropical and citrus fruits, feeling juicy. Smoked malts in the background are intriguing and somehow work with the fruity hops.

T- Unexpectedly, the first sip is a blast of peat smoked malts and wood, not like a campfire like some brews but solid smoked meats and scotch come to mind. The smoke seems to come in and out of the frame and the juicy stone, tropical and citrus fruit hops break in. Some pine, berry and fresh baked bread hints as well.

MF- Creamy light-moderately thick body with a higher end carbonation I prefer in hoppy brews. Moderately bitter finish and pretty frothy texture.

Seems to somehow go back and forth from the smoke and hops but they also work well together. I have had other Smoked IPAs but none as good as this one. Stone always seem to make hops work though.