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Goodbye Stone Pale Ale 1.0; Hello Stone Pale Ale 2.0

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by crob3888, Feb 26, 2015.

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  1. crob3888

    crob3888 Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2010 California

    http://blog.stonebrewing.com/index.php/pale-ale-outro/

    Goodbye to Stone Pale Ale 1.0; hello Stone Pale Ale 2.0

    Whatever that means, details seem scarce for now.

    "It was born in 1996 within the humble, rented (strategically near Pizza Port) Solana Beach condo of Stone Co-founderGreg Koch; a 99%/1% collaborative effort between Koch (the one percent in that equation) and fellow Co-founder/original Brewmaster Steve Wagner. Before Stone sold a single beer, the duo spent countless hours experimenting with a wide array of recipes in search of a brew worthy of becoming the world’s first taste of Stone Brewing Co. Such status was tough to live up to, and plenty of trial beers fell short, but when Koch and Wagner first tasted Stone Pale Ale, there was no question in their mind that it was the one!

    Maltier and more full-bodied than most American pale ales—not to mention tons hoppier than most beers at the time—it was a bold direction to go with the only beer in a fledgling portfolio. There was no proven market for a beer like Stone Pale Ale, so it was risky. Many accounts Koch called on tasted the beer and looked at him like he was crazy for thinking anybody would want to drink something so assertive. He was laughed out of a number of bars, pubs, taverns and eateries, but through it all he and Wagner never gave up on Stone Pale Ale. They had faith in the beer and their favorite thing about it was that it was so different from other beers in the mid-nineties suds landscape. That faith was further bolstered by the fact Pizza Port owner Vince Marsaglia saw fit to put the first-ever keg (and thousands of subsequent kegs) of Stone Pale Ale on at his brewpub. Those were big-time bragging rights and proof that people who really understood craft beer would, in turn, understand Stone Pale Ale and Stone Brewing Co.’s overall brewing approach.

    That theory proved legit. Behind a rising number of business owners willing to embrace more than fickle, fizzy, yellow macro-lager, Stone Pale Ale found platforms upon which to shine and, a year later, Stone Pale Ale became San Diego County’s first-ever brewed and bottled beer (first appearing in 22-ounce bottles in June 1997 before making it into 12-ounce six-packs in the spring of 1998). It’s been a steady favorite of our fans over the past 18-plus years amid an ever-changing craft beer landscape. However, everything has a lifespan; nothing is forever. Not even Stone Pale Ale. The same spirit of providing drinkers with something bolder and cutting edge that led to this beer’s creation has led brewers across the country to similarly up the flavor and vibrancy of their beers. That has led to evolving tastes among people who drink craft beer and a thirst for hoppier beers. That’s true of us as well, and, honestly, Stone Pale Ale doesn’t hit our palates with the same poignancy that it once did. That’s not the experience we endeavor to provide to our fans, so we decided in early 2014 that it was time to change things up.

    A year ago, we challenged current Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele to come up with an updated version of Stone Pale Ale. We’re not quite ready to spill the hops regarding details. To be honest, we’re still making some final tweaks to the recipe. But suffice it to say, it’ll be something new and in keeping with the direction our brewery is headed. And, if the invigorating effect it has on our taste buds is any indication, it’ll be a beer you’ll be happy to make the acquaintance of. So, join us in most honorably discharging Stone Pale Ale, the beer that helped to build Stone Brewing Co. to what it is today, and ushering in a new era of bold, forward-thinking beer signaled by the upcoming arrival of Stone Pale Ale 2.0."
     
    #1 crob3888, Feb 26, 2015
    HighWine, JDoogle and Roguer like this.
  2. DaltonC

    DaltonC Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2013 Idaho

    [​IMG] Coming May 2015
     
    #2 DaltonC, Feb 26, 2015
    aratcliffe, LakerLeith, jcos and 1 other person like this.
  3. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    That's such good advertising you should pat yourself on the back! Stone makes good beer. If they brew it I'll drink it!
     
    #3 premierpro, Feb 26, 2015
    yemenmocha, 2beerdogs, neenerzig and 4 others like this.
  4. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,240) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    As long as it doesn't taste like salty onions, ditch weed, or cat pee I'm in.
     
    #4 Domingo, Feb 26, 2015
    swolepeer, neenerzig, Sponan and 3 others like this.
  5. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    As long, too, as there's no needless ramp up on the ABV. Let pale ales be pale ales.

    Still mourning the impact of Green Flash West Coast IPA's shift from 7.3% to 8.1% -- totally affected the flavor/balance of the beer.
     
    #5 breadwinner, Feb 26, 2015
    amiracle, yemenmocha, swolepeer and 10 others like this.
  6. JBogan

    JBogan Pooh-Bah (1,849) Jul 15, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I like the current Pale Ale but am looking forward to trying the new one.
     
    #6 JBogan, Feb 26, 2015
    neenerzig, Premo88, StoneBrewing and 1 other person like this.
  7. Akerstache

    Akerstache Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2015 Germany

    I wonder what they're changing about the recipe. If they're completely re-vamping with a few different hops and malts or just tweak a few ingredients, put in more/less of an ingredient and such.
     
    #7 Akerstache, Feb 26, 2015
  8. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado




    Thanx for this. I thought I was crazy.
     
    #8 otispdriftwood, Feb 26, 2015
    amiracle and breadwinner like this.
  9. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Very few people like change, even for the better. I just hope this works out for Stone better than new Coke did for Coca-Cola.
     
    #9 otispdriftwood, Feb 26, 2015
    Sam-VW and LuskusDelph like this.
  10. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,170) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I imagine it would be something similar to the difference between Ruination and Enjoy By. And along the same lines as Victory replacing Hop Wallop with Dirt Wolf/Hop Ranch.

    Differences in dry hopping, updated hop profiles...etc.
     
    #10 AlcahueteJ, Feb 26, 2015
  11. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    Mandarina Bavaria hops are very, very good.

    This should be a solid go to beer, here.
     
    #11 FATC1TY, Feb 26, 2015
    Keffa, jcos, BottleCaps80 and 4 others like this.
  12. iwantmorehops

    iwantmorehops Zealot (739) Sep 25, 2010 Vermont

    If you pause the video you can read Mandarina Bavaria hops on the new bottle at the very end, thats pretty promising as I really liked Easy Jack.
     
    #12 iwantmorehops, Feb 26, 2015
    Canada_Dan and crob3888 like this.
  13. leantom

    leantom Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2011 Indiana

    Willing to bet the new "pale ale" will just be another ipa.

    Edit: Still going to try it and probably love it, though.
     
    #13 leantom, Feb 26, 2015
    HorseheadsHophead, UncleJimbo, jmdrpi and 2 others like this.
  14. FrancisT

    FrancisT Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2008 Vermont

    New Coke. Cant wait for Stone Classic Pale Ale!:wink:
     
    #14 FrancisT, Feb 26, 2015
    2beerdogs, Absolut, Prince_Casual and 7 others like this.
  15. charlzm

    charlzm Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2007 California

    Stone is killing Levitation and Sublimely Self-Righteous and now changing Pale Ale. And since I haven't liked a single new bottled beer they've made in the last five years, they're making themselves irrelevant to me.

    Still like Smoked Porter, Old Guardian and RIS, but that's about it now.
     
    #15 charlzm, Feb 26, 2015
    LuskusDelph and evilcatfish like this.
  16. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,240) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I think it's actually a totally different beer now. It used to be one of the hallmark examples of a "traditional" West Coast IPA. Bitter, piney, amber malts, but still drinkable. Now it has lots of melon and berry notes with lower bitterness on the back end. I don't mind it, but I wish they just created it as a new beer and left West Coast alone. I wonder if it just wasn't selling well or something else motivated the decision?
     
    #16 Domingo, Feb 26, 2015
    jasonmason and Eriktheipaman like this.
  17. BreweryRun

    BreweryRun Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2013 California

    West Coast IPA is 57% of Green Flash's sales according to their tour guide. While that doesn't say much about how it's sales have increased or decreased, if it is struggling, the whole company must be struggling. Based on their expansion I find it hard to believe they're not doing well. I think sometimes as beer geeks it can be hard to have a full understanding of what the beer market as a whole or even the craft beer market is changing. The BA community is realistically a very small slice of people who drink craft, I think your average craft consumer wouldn't notice the recipe change enough to stop drinking it.
     
    #17 BreweryRun, Feb 26, 2015
    HeadyBeer likes this.
  18. WillemHC

    WillemHC Zealot (592) Jun 21, 2013 Utah

    Im still pretty young but having grown up (almost literally, but I think my brain still works) drinking Torpedo as my favorite hoppy beer, I think I can comment on this. Its wild how fast the definitions of APA, IPA, DIPA have changed. Having spent the better part of SF Beer Week drinking hoppy beers, even I am having trouble wrapping my head around the pace of change. Altamont, faction, boneyard, cellarmaker, henhouse, and more are producing what I would argue are far superior to most else on the market. Anyway, what I am getting at is the fact that it must be hard when you once produced a beer that changed the game, when a number of years down the road that beer has become almost irrelevant. As more and more breweries are opening and offering mind altering beers, that pace is only going to speed up. Good luck to Stone, but Ill also always appreciate the classics. I think Ill drink a Torpedo tonight.
     
    #18 WillemHC, Feb 26, 2015
  19. evilcatfish

    evilcatfish Pooh-Bah (2,104) May 11, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I like the original Stone Pale Ale but would rarely see it at the store
     
    #19 evilcatfish, Feb 26, 2015
    2beerdogs and Hodgson like this.
  20. evilcatfish

    evilcatfish Pooh-Bah (2,104) May 11, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really liked Stone Pale Ale. Problem was not many stores ever seemed to have it in stock. Had they I would have bought it more regularly
     
    #20 evilcatfish, Feb 26, 2015
    yemenmocha and Hodgson like this.
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