Pataskala Red X IPA
Stone Brewing

Bottle dated 1/27:
The beer pours a deep amber - almost a rust-hued brown. Head is medium large bubbles that doesn't quite look soapy. The head grows eagerly with a swirl of the glass, and leaves some spotty lacing.

I am not getting a lot in the nose here, initially. A little biscuity malt with very little caramel sweetness. There's a candied orange note that comes to me next, as I keep swirling and searching. As it warms, I start to get just a hint of spice and maybe some strong iced tea with a little lemon.

The taste comes to me with a nice amber malt base, with a bit more strength than most ambers I have had. There's a little bit of tea and even perhaps some fairly toasted bread. The bittering notes are not giving me a whole lot of distinct notes to which I can to get a hold. There is perhaps a generic citrus rind note in there. It takes a while for the opening malt notes to subside enough to let the bittering agents come into their own. At that point, a lightest bit of spice accents a sweet grapefruit pith.

Not a big fan of red IPAs, but this stays balanced enough in the beginning and lets the bittering notes play out slowly. One of the better ones for my palate, but it still doesn't quite get me desiring the style. That said, I could have another of these if the situation dictates without much worry.

RB transfer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a deep ruby/copper color with dark mahogany edges and a two finger frothy white head that quickly settles into a thick, lasting ring. Excellent retention, lingering for the duration with large rings and streaks of soapy lacing left in its path.

Floral, slightly earthy aroma with delicate resins and grassy soil countered by a sweet malt backbone. Surprisingly tame coming from stone. Hints of caramel, toffee and vinous dark fruits. Sadly not much going on here. Pretty bland and hops are minimal.

Thankfully more complex and interesting than the nose suggests with a pretty nice hop profile. Dank, earthy and bitter countered by juicy, tart citrus sweetness and a touch of summit/onion flavor. Grass and dank, piney bitterness followed by ruby red grapefruit, orange peel and tart pink lemonade. Sweet malt backbone with caramel, toffee, light bread and vinous dark fruit sweetness. Well bakanced and easy to drink. Interesting hybrid of wcipa and red ale styles. Solid beer.

rich, red/orange color, fairly aromatic and tastes as good as it looks and smells, one of my favorite, if not favorite from Stone, particularly after having a "normal" IPA or two. This mixes up the rotation pretty well.