Ruination IPA - Oaked And Double Dry-Hopped
Stone Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On cask at Mug's. Billed as Stone Ruination with Oak & Dry Hopped with Chinook. Not sure if this is that exact beer...?

Copper-orange body, white head up top retreats in due time. Far too difficult to smell this aroma -- what's here seems pretty good (fresh oranges, barnyard grass) but its unacceptably subtle.

Grassy, piney hops lay out alongside a hearty oak character. So much hop character here, malt is almost overwhelmed. Feels watery too, needs more body.

Overall: "meh". Gimme another pour of Flower Power instead please.

 

 

 

 

On cask for a Stone tap takeover event at the Fridge in Lancaster. Served in a tulip, the brew appears a fairly clear golden copper color with a finger of off-white froth. Webby and stringy patterns of lace stick all over the glass.

The smell is juicy with hops. Dank, weddy, herbal and it displays a dry tannic to raw oak barrel character underneath. It gets more citrus-like and leafy as the experience continues.

Tastes bitter and weedy with earth and herbs like the normal ruination experience. Where it takes a turn to unique is the raw tannic oak dryness in the mouth and into the finish. Bitter pith and pulp is a little rindy without being oily. Faint toasty malt provides no sweetness with hop aspects that are fruity, floral and a bit spiced almost leaning towards cedar when coupled with the raw oak.

Surprisingly easy drinking. Nice arrangement of favor. Medium body with a light level of carbonation. Certainly worth a try but perhaps without the $8 a glass asking price. I wouldn't have it again even if it wasn't limited to 1 per person during this event. The cask delivery was spot on and made it.

Had this on 2012-02-22 in Lancaster, PA at The Fridge during a Stone event.

A - Lightly hazy amber/orange with a short, white head and mildgood lacing.

S - Mango, orange flesh, big hop floral, pine and mild biscuit.

T - Certainly can tell it is Ruination with the same base flavors of bright citrus, lemon-iced cornbread, caramel and significant rind bitterness. There's an extra big dollop of oily hop bud and pine and an unusual clay flavor, which some may describe as cheese-like. It finishes nicely bitter with strong, lingering pine needles.

M - Medium body and light carbonation combined with the resinous, clingy and prickly sensations made this mouthfeel a winner for me.

O - Since I like Ruination, I enjoyed this twist on it. It didn't make it significantly better but a nice treat nontheless.