Stone Brewing Debuts Stone Viking Space Probe Double IPA

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by ESHBG, Jan 28, 2020.

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  1. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,099) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    (Escondido, CA) – In the spirit of all the exploratory missions deployed across the galaxy — be they spacecraft, Viking or other — Stone Brewing launches Stone Viking Space Probe Double IPA. The 8.5% ABV beer boldly goes where no hazy brew has gone before with an unchartered combination of hops and Belgian Candi Sugar that earns it a spot among the ranks of Stone’s genre-defying creations.

    The beer’s name is a nod to the legendary space probes, Viking 1 and Viking 2, celebrated for their far reaches of space exploration. Here on earth, Stone charts a constant course of discovery across the world of beer. Not quite the 34 million-mile trip to Mars, but an epic destination still, this asteroid of a beer hails from Stone Brewing – Napa. It’s within this small batch spacecraft of craft that many of Stone’s most adventurous brewing techniques are explored.

    Stone Viking Space Probe Double IPA was the third beer ever produced at Stone Brewing – Napa. Its flavor profile was astonishing – lingering on palates and winning over craft beer connoisseurs in the same way it thrilled Napa’s prestigious wine drinkers. Naturally, both groups recognize that it takes a particular expertise and knowledge of ingredients to create such an experience. Stone Brewing Senior Manager of Brewing & Innovation – Small Batch, Steve Gonzalez explained:

    “I’ve never seen this combination of ingredients before. Citra hops, as their name implies, add citrus flavors but also stone fruit. I get a ton of ripe peach notes. Ella hops create the tropical flavors, but not the typical stuff – more complex tropical flavors, like Papaya. Belgian Candi Sugar offers two benefits, a perceived sweetness, and a dryness. So, there’s this pillowy extra layer of sweetness and it’s still more dry than most hazy beers. All around balanced with lingering wheat and peach notes, I really think we nailed it. I can’t get enough of this one.”

    Stone Viking Space Probe Double IPA is dark gold with a subtle haze like that of a far-off nebula. Pineapple, peach, lychee, watermelon, papaya and even marshmallow can be found in the aroma. Ella and Citra hops impart flavors of tropical fruit, notably pineapple, peach, papaya and sweet guava, along with a hint of lime zest. It’s creamy and smooth with warmth on the finish.

    Stone Viking Space Probe Double IPA releases the week of January 27, 2020 in 12oz six-pack cans, 22oz bottles and draft for a limited time. It is brewed for life on Earth – Vikings, Space Explorers and Average Joes – but if intelligent life exists in the unknown, there’s a very good chance they’ll like it too.

    QUICK FACTS
    ABOUT STONE BREWING
    Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an award-winning industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times and has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company operates brewing facilities in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA, in addition to tap room locations throughout the US, Germany and China. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing… and pledging to never, ever, sell out to the man. For more information on Stone Brewing, please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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    #1 ESHBG, Jan 28, 2020
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  2. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Love the name, but I pretty much stopped drinking Stone once they became an IPA shop.
     
    #2 QuakeAttack, Jan 28, 2020
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  3. ericwo

    ericwo Zealot (624) Aug 21, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I pretty much drink everything Stone makes BECAUSE they are an IPA shop.
     
    #3 ericwo, Jan 28, 2020
    ChicagoJ, ToddSoonerFan, upsbeernut and 9 others like this.
  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Tastes Great - Less Filling!:confused:

    Cheers!
     
    #4 JackHorzempa, Jan 28, 2020
    IPAExpert69 likes this.
  5. IPAExpert69

    IPAExpert69 Savant (1,065) Aug 2, 2017 Pennsylvania

    This will be a cop, Stone always seems to find a way to suck me back in regardless of their nauseating marketing strategy. Just goes to show good beer always is my motivating factor.
     
    #5 IPAExpert69, Jan 28, 2020
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  6. JTW10

    JTW10 Zealot (527) Nov 25, 2013 Pennsylvania

    If I wanted to drink juice I would buy juice. I hate to be all cynical but Jesus Christ, every new IPA(and popular old ones!) has a description that sounds like they are selling a fruit basket.
     
    #6 JTW10, Jan 28, 2020
    ChicagoJ, AWA, jakecattleco and 3 others like this.
  7. deleted_user_1007501

    deleted_user_1007501 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2015

    I wish they would bring back the Emperial DIPA...
     
    #7 deleted_user_1007501, Jan 28, 2020
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  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Have you tried the newly released Sierra Nevada 40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale? That might be your 'cup of tea'.

    Cheers!
     
    #8 JackHorzempa, Jan 28, 2020
    ChicagoJ, AWA, jakecattleco and 4 others like this.
  9. OscarO67

    OscarO67 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2011 California
    Trader

    I had a bottle this weekend. Good, but didn't get all the notes they are talking about in the review. I think the candi sugar brought out the malt more and only a touch of citrus flavor. Definitely not a juice bomb. Cheers!
     
    #9 OscarO67, Jan 28, 2020
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  10. pjeagles

    pjeagles Zealot (682) May 29, 2005 New Mexico
    Trader

    There weren't enough Loral hops for my taste.
     
    #10 pjeagles, Jan 29, 2020
  11. FatBoyGotSwagger

    FatBoyGotSwagger Grand Pooh-Bah (3,999) Apr 4, 2009 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    My bro picked up a 6 pack this week. All I have to do is ask him for can but I don't really want to try this.. even for free.
     
    #11 FatBoyGotSwagger, Jan 29, 2020
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  12. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    LOL. Saw this the other day for $15 a 6er (one place in Central PA is charging $17). Assumed it would be around $12-13. Not something I'll be purchasing.
     
    #12 BeastOfTheNortheast, Jan 29, 2020
    upsbeernut likes this.
  13. ClockworkOrange

    ClockworkOrange Pooh-Bah (2,190) Feb 19, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Soooo much cheaper now that they only ship from VA now instead of CA right? lol oh yeah, and cans are cheaper too (for the breweries)
     
    #13 ClockworkOrange, Jan 29, 2020
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  14. AZBeerDude72

    AZBeerDude72 Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2016 Arizona

    I have grown very skeptical, every time Stone kicks out a new beer it always tastes the same as their other offerings and most of what they mention are in the beer I cannot pick up. I will snag a single if I can get one to see but my expectations are lower and lower over the years.
    I wish Stone would do more Stouts and Porters and some Lagers, every time they do something non-IPA its usually solid.
    Cheers
     
    #14 AZBeerDude72, Jan 29, 2020
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  15. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Speaking of beer, space, and nomenclature I think Event Horizon takes the cake. It was a beer far, far ahead of its time, or it all happened long ago.
     
    #15 rgordon, Jan 29, 2020
  16. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I concur. Stone is known for their ipas but I prefer their stouts and lagers.
     
    #16 GetMeAnIPA, Jan 29, 2020
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  17. AZBeerDude72

    AZBeerDude72 Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2016 Arizona

    I really wish they would focus a lot more on non-IPA beers, I think their IPA blinders need to come off already. I get they love over the top hop bombs, but I feel they became a one trick pony to many. I bet if they spent the next two to three years doing other things a lot of folks would gravitate back to them. I still like Stone but they lost that special appeal they once held.

    Cheers
     
    #17 AZBeerDude72, Jan 29, 2020
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  18. neenerzig

    neenerzig Pooh-Bah (2,885) Feb 15, 2006 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    I agree that it would be very nice to see Stone not be as laser focused on IPAs as they seem to be these days. It certainly seems that 10 or even 5 years ago they were doing many more non IPA beers than they are these days. Stone's made a lot of absolutely outstanding non IPA beers. More variety from them these days would be nice. All that being said, all of their IPAs are always at the very least solidly good, and quite a few are outstanding. I've yet be disappointed from any beer I've had from Stone, and I've reviewed well over 100 of their beers over the years on this site. And there are more that I've had from them that I did not get the chance to ever review here. For me at least, they are still the most consistent brewery making good IPA after good IPA. And I picked up a 6 pack of the Viking Space Probe the other day. And it is another damn good beer from Stone.

    Eric
     
    #18 neenerzig, Jan 29, 2020
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  19. Lucular

    Lucular Grand Pooh-Bah (4,367) Jun 20, 2014 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I tend to be pretty cynical about Stone (especially their IPAs) but I had this one on tap and blew me away. Tons of citrus/tropical/peach flavors with some wheat and a pillowy mouthfeel - pretty much as advertised. I had the beer before reading the description and went in with fairly low expectations which were easily surpassed. For a mass-produced NEIPA it is quite good.

    That said, I will not be picking this up at $15/6-pack...so it is likely a one-and-done for me.
     
    #19 Lucular, Jan 29, 2020
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  20. DokiDokiLitFam

    DokiDokiLitFam Pundit (977) Jun 3, 2019 New Jersey

    Is $15 for a 6 pack considered unreasonable? At 8% ABV, a DIPA that is quite good would be a quick pick. A staple if I liked it enough. But maybe I'm the weird one. I dunno...
     
    #20 DokiDokiLitFam, Jan 30, 2020
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