Stone Enjoy By 7.4.14 a step down from 4.20.14?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Monkeyknife, Jun 7, 2014.

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  1. Monkeyknife

    Monkeyknife Grand Pooh-Bah (5,873) Jan 8, 2007 Missouri
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just picked up a few bottles of Stone Enjoy by 7.04 and was a bit disappointed. To me, it doesn't seem as good as the recent 4.20 issue. It has more of a vegetal/onion flavor going on with both the aroma and the taste. Has anyone else noticed this? It's a shame because the 4.20 edition was one of the best ones yet, IMO.
     
    #1 Monkeyknife, Jun 7, 2014
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  2. skubas86

    skubas86 Zealot (629) Mar 17, 2013 Illinois

    I agree
     
    #2 skubas86, Jun 7, 2014
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  3. TheBrewo

    TheBrewo Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 New York

    I found it to be much more bitter than balanced.
     
    #3 TheBrewo, Jun 7, 2014
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  4. turbotype

    turbotype Savant (1,035) Nov 5, 2013 California

    4-20 was most certainly the best Enjoy By I ever had.
     
    #4 turbotype, Jun 7, 2014
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  5. BlumBeer

    BlumBeer Initiate (0) May 17, 2012 Florida

    did you have enjoy by 5-16? it was no bueno as well..have 7-04 in the fridge..will crack it for the Heat game tomorrow..
     
    #5 BlumBeer, Jun 7, 2014
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  6. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here's my theory on Stone Enjoy By.

    The recipe stays the same, but that doesn't mean the ingredients are of the same quality every time. They aren't using whole-cone hops; they're using hop pellets. I know pellets are kept in storage for premium freshness, but I seriously doubt that there isn't some noticeable degradation over time.

    Based on that, I think the best Enjoy By iterations are likely to be those that are using the freshest hop pellets after the Fall harvest. I thought February might be the spot for that, but it seemed lacking (it was still a damn good beer, mind); 4/20 definitely seemed on the mark. It seems reasonable that as the year goes on, the pellets will subtly degrade, and that will have an impact on the different iterations of Enjoy By.

    Unless, of course, Stone is using older hop pellets for each batch, regardless of when it comes out; or if someone can prove that they use some fancy flash-freeze process for their hop pellets that results in literally zero loss of flavor or aroma. I may not be correct, but I think the theory is, at the very least, reasonable.

    ....I still can't wait for the July Enjoy By to hit stores around here. :grinning:

    @BlumBeer #LetsGoHeat!
     
    #6 Roguer, Jun 7, 2014
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  7. TheBrewo

    TheBrewo Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 New York

    You must have never had the first batch.
     
    #7 TheBrewo, Jun 7, 2014
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  8. DblDiamond

    DblDiamond Pundit (785) Jul 17, 2013 Arizona
    Trader

    Imho this batch is better than 4-20. I have 2 more bottles to make sure. :wink:
     
    #8 DblDiamond, Jun 7, 2014
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  9. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    Well, since this thread I'm glad I passed on Enjoy By this time. Last batch wasn't as great as the prior batch and so forth. I'm not falling for the "Enjoy By" hype anymore.
     
    #9 Shroud0fdoom, Jun 7, 2014
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  10. Strohsbeforehoes

    Strohsbeforehoes Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2013 Michigan

    I think it tastes very similar to the others. Balanced and fresh tasting. The best widely distributed IPA IMO.
     
    #10 Strohsbeforehoes, Jun 7, 2014
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  11. BobGrizzle

    BobGrizzle Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2013 Florida

    they tweak the recipe everytime, so its possible.
     
    #11 BobGrizzle, Jun 8, 2014
  12. jlira

    jlira Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2014 California

    This was my favorite enjoy by.
     
    #12 jlira, Jun 8, 2014
  13. goingbrokeonbeer

    goingbrokeonbeer Grand Pooh-Bah (3,412) Dec 4, 2013 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My favorite has been 2-14-14 by far.
    [​IMG]
     
    #13 goingbrokeonbeer, Jun 8, 2014
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  14. BeerBeast

    BeerBeast Pooh-Bah (2,491) Oct 9, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    It's the same beer every damn time!!!
     
    #14 BeerBeast, Jun 8, 2014
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  15. qcbrewer

    qcbrewer Pooh-Bah (2,041) Dec 3, 2010 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Actually - I'm having one as I type. I think it's just fine actually, and equally as good. However, the problem we all encounter is the inability to side by side compare this series, so our taste buds will always ask this question.

    What matters is that this is a friggin fantastic beer!
     
    #15 qcbrewer, Jun 8, 2014
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  16. TravlynMan

    TravlynMan Aspirant (285) Apr 10, 2014 Massachusetts

    I thought the taste changes slightly over time, as the hops fade the malt becomes more pronounced. I hope this is the case as i bought a whole case today.....
     
    #16 TravlynMan, Jun 8, 2014
  17. KalH

    KalH Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 North Carolina

    Great IPA, best one yet IMO.
     
    #17 KalH, Jun 8, 2014
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  18. FinchSCF

    FinchSCF Initiate (0) Aug 22, 2013 Michigan

    I'm in agreeance with the OP. More dank and less fruity pop than 4.20 but still great. I'll be grabbing another 7.04 before it's off shelves.
     
    #18 FinchSCF, Jun 8, 2014
  19. Spiral517

    Spiral517 Zealot (687) Sep 17, 2013 Maryland

    just finished my first ever enjoy by tonight so i can't really compare to previous batches. it was delightfully fresh of course! definitely more earthy, grassy, and oniony than fruity. that didn't bother me i liked it alot. however, i do prefer my ipas and dipas more citrusy than earthy. also, even though i think it is very good, much like hopslam, it's not so much better than other really good dipas to be priced at what amounts to about 26 a six pack. Good? yes. That good? No.
     
    #19 Spiral517, Jun 8, 2014
  20. robear

    robear Initiate (0) May 24, 2014 Wisconsin

    In my experience, Enjoy By changes on a daily basis. I've had it at 1-day old and it tasted much different than it does at 7, 14, or 28 days old. I think this plays into how you taste it- some people actually enjoy it most at 2 weeks old vs. 1-day (me) and some want it as fresh as possible. I'm sure there are tiny variations by batch, too.
     
    #20 robear, Jun 8, 2014
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