Stone IPA
Stone Brewing

Stone IPAStone IPA
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #113
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
93
Ranked #2,887
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 10.71%
Reviews:
3,247
Ratings:
11,818
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 07:16 PM
Added:
Jan 25, 2001
Wants:
  511
Gots:
  3,485
One of the most well respected and best-selling IPAs in the country, this golden beauty explodes with citrusy flavor and hop aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character.

The IPA That Launched Generations of Hop Fanatics
First Release: August 1997

By definition, an India pale ale is hoppier and higher in alcohol than its little brother, pale ale—and we deliver in spades. Now one of the most well-respected and best-selling IPAs in the country, this golden beauty explodes with citrusy, piney hop flavors and aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. This crisp, extra hoppy brew is hugely refreshing on a hot day, but will always deliver no matter when you choose to drink it.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Kurqt:
Photo of Kurqt
Reviewed by Kurqt from Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
With a 94 on the BA score, a 99 on the Bros score, and numerous personal recommendations, I'm coming into this review with extremely high expectations.

A: First let me say how much I like the packaging: the black and green color scheme, the expertly done drawing of the gargoyle, the way the label seems to be ingrained on the bottle through some manner of witchcraft.

Thin, foamy white head upon pouring. Drank out of an off-brand clear plastic cup because I've got no class at all. A layer of foam stays for minutes on the surface of the drink and around the edges of the cup, while carbonation visibly bubbles in a continuous and slow-moving manner towards the top. When held up to the light, the color could be most closely compared to honey (when the honey's in a bottle, not when it's being poured).

S: I smelled right after opening and was bulled over for just a split second. I'm still refining my beer nose, I'd characterize the smell as hardy, as being full-bodied yet having a lofty component. Nothing unusual per se, but a strong, reliable, yet distant sort of effect that I found myself smelling over and over again as I tried to pin it down.

T/M/O: This one's a straight shooter, definitely right-handed. What makes this beer great isn't some unexpected burst of flavor or unusual ingredient; it's the overall quality, the competence of the execution; it's the graceful balance between substance and drinkability. This beer rides like a dream. I'm going to sound like a broken record, but it strikes a tasteful balance between being light and pleasant, while also being bitter and complex enough that I want to keep sipping on it over and over again.

This beer did meet the high bar I had set for it before sampling it, though not in the way that I'd expected. This is the beer that I will judge other IPA's against; it is the standard for a well-made, high quality IPA without frills or gimmicks. I'm excited to compare some of the more adventurous takes on the IPA formula, my previous favorites (Great Lakes' "Burning River," Jackie-O's "Mystic Mama"), to this classic.

Addendum I:
As someone who's always preferred things that were a little different, I don't think this could ever be my personal favorite beer. Stone IPA is like the girl your parents want you to marry: comforting and substantial, but nothing exotic or challenging, nothing to get excited or passionate about. I find myself wanting something a little bitterer (is that a word?), though I know that I'm an IBU fiend.

Addendum II:
I've been sipping from bottle number two for a while now, and I keep coming back and lowering the score by intervals of .25. In the future, I think I'll try to rate beers blind, without any knowledge of the BA score, because I feel like knowing the BA score beforehand clouds my judgment.
Nov 28, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by Jacob313 from Michigan

Sunday at 07:16 PM
Photo of EyedrLI
Rated by EyedrLI from New York

4.37/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice hoppy smell after poured into glass. Nice color. Taste lingers for a while. Overall solid IPA.
Feb 28, 2024
 
Rated: 4.75 by RomanIPAFreak from California

Feb 26, 2024
 
Rated: 4.13 by Costa417 from Massachusetts

Feb 12, 2024
 
Rated: 4.35 by webbcreative from Oklahoma

Feb 05, 2024
Photo of dofo777
Reviewed by dofo777 from Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Slightly bitter at the start, but finished a bit fruity/citrus. All around a great IPA. It was refreshing from the start, matched the salty popcorn I was eating.
Jan 19, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by Maxxis from Illinois

Jan 09, 2024
 
Rated: 3.61 by Hitchman from Michigan

Jan 01, 2024
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: It pours golden and clear. It has a white head with excellent head retention.

Aroma: There are citrus and grapefruit aromas.

Taste: There are strong citrus flavors with grapefruit at the forefront. There are some floral elements.

Feel: It has a medium body with a strong bitter aftertaste.

Overall: Plenty of citrus flavors make this a classic west coast IPA.
Dec 28, 2023
Photo of LarryV
Reviewed by LarryV from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is one of my go to IPA's. Pours a lovely amberish color with a relatively long lasting head. Enticing hoppy aroma with a bit of graininess. I think this is a well balanced beer - it's bitter as an IPA should be, but the malt backbone is substantial enough to balance things out without being sweet or overbearing. Freshness does matter so the fresher you can get, the better. However, I've had this beer as old as 4 months and it's still decent. Stone prints a best by date on the packaging - at least on the 12 packs.
Dec 16, 2023
Photo of OfficerVZdiver
Reviewed by OfficerVZdiver from Florida

4.04/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is one of my “go to” IPAs when I know what I’m getting is good. Love the bitterness with just a little lemon taste, but that hood feels is still there. Stone never disappoints with IPAs.
Nov 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Nov 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by Danmooney40 from Virginia

Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.91 by AndyGG from California

Oct 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by akopczyk from Ohio

Sep 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.05 by Sinister-Palm from Mexico

Sep 19, 2023
Photo of farmerhank
Reviewed by farmerhank from Maryland

4.16/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is my go-to IPA. It has a nice strong bitterness with a good warming resin and malty flavor There is a nice lemon note in taste and smell throughout. I can take this in the can or pour in a glass. Main reason it's my go-to is it packs a nice punch for a nice price.
Sep 10, 2023
Photo of Burrocreek
Reviewed by Burrocreek from Arizona

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This classic American IPA starts with bready malt and a restrained note of stone fruit, then finishes with decisive bitterness. An ultra classic rarely improved upon. For a more adventurous brew, Ska’s Modus Hoperandi takes this concept further into parts unknown. For perfection, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale leans in the direction of drinkability.
Sep 06, 2023
Stone IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 11818 ratings