STONE Delicious IPA

You're right. Hate is the wrong word. It's more dismissiveness. And it wasn't just about this thread.

Obviously we are blessed to be in a beer-rich state. And like you, I love love love discovering new local breweries. I also appreciate the mainstays like SNPA, Port Wipepout, Arrogant Bastard, Pliny and Blind Pig (hell, yeah).

But I gotta tell ya, after conquering "Mount" Pliny the Younger, getting drowned in Knee Deep Simtra or getting drenched by Citra Showers and Expo Hoppiness, I still have much love for Stone IPA, Smoked Porter and most of their beers. Their ubiquitousness does not diminish their quality. I don't buy Stone IPA sixers on the reg, but I am very happy to find it in a non-craft bar or restaurant when that's the only IPA. And I am still at my local on release day for most of their collabs and many of their seasonal releases. in the past year alone we had Xocoveza, a half dozen releases of Enjoy By, kick-ass Unapologetic collab, Grapefruit IPA and the golden stout, along with dozens more. Plus all the barrel-aged experiments?

And one of my all-timers, Stone IRS. Show me a better value cellar-worthy RIS (or IRS) and I'll eat my hat.

So while I love all our choices in California, I would not agree there are so many better breweries overall. I'm not even saying they are my favorite (that's probably Port/Lost Abbey), but they are certainly still playing in the big leagues.

 

Apologies if I'm misreading, but I completely disagree with this logic. Rarity is not a plus for me

 

Had this last night at Mohawk Bend...surprisingly better than the first batch I had months ago. Tastes very similar to El Segundo White Dog. Not as bitter as most Stone beers, although there was a lingering ashy bitterness.

 

not into the lemondrop hop. pretty decent beer though

 

Bummed to hear the bottle version sucks. Ive been drinking this of and on on tap the past year @ Stone and its been great. I'll grab a 6er to check it out.

 

First time I tried this one, I wasn't crazy about how harshly citrusy it was, I'm guessing from the lemondrop. But I'm drinking my third one now, and it's pretty nice. It has a certain heartiness to it. I must be getting used to it. It's so weird how a beer can taste so different on any given day.