California Double IPA
Stone Brewing

 

 

This beer was brewed for the UK Wetherspoons Pub Chain Beer Festival in April 2008 by the Stone Brewing Steve Wagner using facilities provided by Shepheard Neame Brewery in Kent. According to the Wetherspoons Festival hand-out, the beer was made using hops of American Centennial, American Simcoe and English Target. The resulting beer (in short supply!) was dark bronze in colour, with a rich malty aroma, with strong bitter hoppy tones. Poured from Hand Pull, had reasonable head of fairly dense foam that lasted well down the glass. Taste was very good, rich & complex, very malty to start but with great depth and a dark bitter hoppy aftertaste - but never overpowering. Slight hints of toasted grains and sweetness to start, but bitter hoppy finish. The overall taste being very satisfying and moreish. Yet the 7% alc was not immediately apparent. I just wish more of this beer had been available during the Festival as it soon disappeared from those few Wetherspoons pubs lucky to get any!

I found it easy to drink, though knowing it being 7% alc could not class it as a 'session' beer.

With any luck Shepheard Neame might have learned a few hints from Steve Wagner in brewing this terrific beer and give us something good in the future!

A fantastic Beer Ambassador from the States to England, making a mockery of some of our beers here and hopefully making UK drinkers realise there is more to the US than the dreaded "Bud" & "Miller" !

JohnW
B'ham UK April 2008