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Japanese Green Tea IPA
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,854 - ABV:
- 10.1%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #13,944 - Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 12.72%
- Reviews:
- 494
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 02, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 10, 2011
- Wants:
- 124
- Gots:
- 300
Collaboration with Baird Brewing Company & Ishii Brewing Co
Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “what-if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things differently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a different strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and, as proven by the reissued edition you hold in your hand in 2015, worth brewing again. But what if we changed it? Yes, it’s riskier to change something most people thought to be liquid perfection, including our two-time collaborators Bryan Baird of Japan’s Baird Brewing Company and Toshi Ishii, a former Stone brewer and the founder of Guam’s Ishii Brewing Co., but we’ve found that, when approached with cautious curiosity and logic-driven creativity, reward often follows such risk. So, in bringing this IPA back to life, we followed the same recipe developed four years ago, but exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand, a hop-growing region that was becoming popular in 2011, for Helga hops from Australia, an area with a burgeoning botanical scene right now. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.
2011 version is 9.2%
2015 version is 10.1%
2011 used NZ pacifica hops
2015 used AU helga hops
Our style of brewing has always been about taking chances. It’s an extension of our “what-if” mentality, wherein we ask ourselves what would happen if we did things differently in the brewhouse, such as fermenting with a different strain of yeast or, in the case of this beer, incorporating whole-leaf green tea imported from Japan. The answer, embodied in this IPA when we first released it in 2011, was something truly magnificent, delicious and, as proven by the reissued edition you hold in your hand in 2015, worth brewing again. But what if we changed it? Yes, it’s riskier to change something most people thought to be liquid perfection, including our two-time collaborators Bryan Baird of Japan’s Baird Brewing Company and Toshi Ishii, a former Stone brewer and the founder of Guam’s Ishii Brewing Co., but we’ve found that, when approached with cautious curiosity and logic-driven creativity, reward often follows such risk. So, in bringing this IPA back to life, we followed the same recipe developed four years ago, but exchanged Pacifica hops from New Zealand, a hop-growing region that was becoming popular in 2011, for Helga hops from Australia, an area with a burgeoning botanical scene right now. The result is an IPA that’s as bright, herbaceous and bitingly hoppy as the one that’s had our fans requesting its return ever since its depletion from store shelves, but with a modern, hop-driven twist that makes this second draft unique and tasty in its own right.
2011 version is 9.2%
2015 version is 10.1%
2011 used NZ pacifica hops
2015 used AU helga hops
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DaftPatrick:
Rated by DaftPatrick from Minnesota
3.85/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Feb 17, 2015
3.85/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Feb 17, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.89/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.89/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber brew with adequate foam in the chalice. From the 12 oz bottle. This is surprisingly good, with a great deal of sugar, plus the hot alcohol. Wonderful aroma of orange with herbs. Tastes of melon and a deep herbal note. Kind of woody and dark, yet brightened by the fruity hops. This was from the mixed 12 pack last winter, so this bottle well aged. However the alcohol seems to preserve the hop flavors nicely.
Nov 02, 2023Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.66/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Taster at Shade City Brewfest. Pale hazy yellow with a thin white head. Green tea features prominently in the aroma and taste, leafy, grassy. Hard to believe it's 10%, barely noticeable.
Jun 07, 2023Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.18/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz bottle EB date 1/20/23 into a shaker pint glass.
L: Pours hazed apricot w lighter edges, a 1" off white slightly creamy head w good retention to skin & edge foam, low fine carbo bubbles, very little lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, apple, caramel candy, floral, light alcohol, candied orange, a hint of cinnamon, yellow Hawaiian bread, a suggestion of ginger. Fruity.
T: Firmly sweet malts, sweet hops, citrus zest, peach & apricots in brandy, perhaps even rummy, strong bitter tea, fruit cake, lightly nutty, pine resin, very fruity overall, very sweet but not cloying as resin & zest control the linger.
F: Juicy, thick, smooth & creamy heavy-bodied, warming in the chest feel w a robust center and a med-length finish that has a very long linger. It is not really drying at all.
O: An elegant powerhouse. Whoosh! Straight to the head strong, rather complex w an abyss of hops and malting flavors mingling. It has an enlivening full-flavor which commands attention to its well balanced bittering presentation. It is excellent in its style.
Jan 17, 2023L: Pours hazed apricot w lighter edges, a 1" off white slightly creamy head w good retention to skin & edge foam, low fine carbo bubbles, very little lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, apple, caramel candy, floral, light alcohol, candied orange, a hint of cinnamon, yellow Hawaiian bread, a suggestion of ginger. Fruity.
T: Firmly sweet malts, sweet hops, citrus zest, peach & apricots in brandy, perhaps even rummy, strong bitter tea, fruit cake, lightly nutty, pine resin, very fruity overall, very sweet but not cloying as resin & zest control the linger.
F: Juicy, thick, smooth & creamy heavy-bodied, warming in the chest feel w a robust center and a med-length finish that has a very long linger. It is not really drying at all.
O: An elegant powerhouse. Whoosh! Straight to the head strong, rather complex w an abyss of hops and malting flavors mingling. It has an enlivening full-flavor which commands attention to its well balanced bittering presentation. It is excellent in its style.
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia
3.7/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 9/22/2022 into a Willi Becher pint glass.
L - Pours a medium amber color with a fluffy white head.
S - Smells of citrus.
T - Tastes bitter and malty.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Not a bad IPA, but has an odd flavor, maybe it’s the green tea.
Dec 27, 2022L - Pours a medium amber color with a fluffy white head.
S - Smells of citrus.
T - Tastes bitter and malty.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Not a bad IPA, but has an odd flavor, maybe it’s the green tea.
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours orange red with a small white head. Smells of citrus hops, nice and inviting. Tastes of citrus hops with a sharp tea notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 10, 2022Reviewed by DrukenFish
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Tasty.....I like Stone Brewing....a bit partial. Curiosity got the better of me this Christmas with the 12 days of IPA. Japanese Green Tea IPA was in the mix and match.....surprisingly tart. I like the over all color...mild head. Good buzz! Got this one as more of a lark than as a serious beer...but I think serious beer is to be considered. This beer is smooth, whereas some IPAs tend to be a bit harsh...this one is smooth sailing. Give it a go!!!
Nov 19, 2022Rated by pkalix from California
3.13/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.13/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
meh..... not even for ten percent....
Oct 31, 2022Rated by rpw from New York
4.05/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bought a case of 24 cans on clearance for $12.99. They're about 6 weeks past the enjoy by date, but hey I'm stoked!
Aug 09, 2022Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
3.9/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an almost clear golden amber color, decent eggshell colored head fades quickly and leaves a moderately laced glass. Pine and bitter hops, typical old school Stone, taste was there, but I didn't get any green tea. Pretty solid IPA though.
Jul 04, 2022
Japanese Green Tea IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
1465 ratings
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