IPA - Virginia Brewery Prototype
Stone Brewing

 

Picked up 2 bombers from NY Penn station. It's a 9.4% alcohol beer, and drinking it from a white wax paper bag seems sacraligious. (And it probably is). Huge hops presentation like most of the Stone Enjoy By series. Suprisingly thin on mouth feel for such a big hoppy beer. Immensely flavorful, and especial pride that it is Virginia brewed (or contemplated to be). "VA Brewery Prototype" on the bottle just made if more necessary to try. Truth is I had one, and went back to buy the second. If this is representative of what we should expect from the Stone Brewery in Richmond, VA .... we are in for lots of treats.

 

 

 

 

On tap at Swillburger/The Playhouse in Rochester, NY.

This one doesn't taste/smell exceedingly different than the regular Stone IPA- which is a good thing, considering they want it to be the same eventually, yeah?

Pours a light amber color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

There's a lot of grapefruit on the nose, some clean pine bitterness, and a sturdy malt backbone. It's the simple Stone IPA that's always been one of the best West Coast IPAs.

This is lighter bodied, very crisp, with a good level of carbonation.

Not much to say about this one, other than it's good- you know what it tastes like.

 

Poured on-tap in a snifter. The beer is bright golden-orange, with a thin, clingy, white head. There was a pepper spice and hop bitter smell to the beer; green and sweet at the same time, with a solid grapefruit tart character, as well. Tastes of pine and hops on first taste, somehow balanced with a sweet backbone. Heavy cI trust blend to follow. The beer is smooth and full bodied in mouth, with a smooth, dry finish. Solid bitter and resinous linger. Good beer.

 

 

 

 

A:Light amber in color with a white head.

S: Big grapefruit, as well as a bit of resin, as well as a bit of orange peel.

T: Assertive bitterness, with orange peel, grapefruit, and a touch of pine. Light bread, and a bit of herbal finish.

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation, and a touch of carbonic bite in the finish.

O:Overall tasty. Tried it with the standard Stone IPA, and there is a slight difference. Perhaps just fresher. This one tasted a touch brighter, with more hop flavor, and slightly less bitterness.