Stone Ruination IPA redux

I personally had it too far apart to tell what differences -- if any -- there were, but it "seemed" different. Then again, I had it out of the mixed 12 pack they released, and it had some age on it, too...

 

All the Ruination on shelves in Louisiana is typically expired, so can't say I've had a chance to try the new recipe. Don't really see why they would change it, but I'm sure it's still delicious fresh

 

This thread just leads me to ask: Are your guys' stores having trouble moving Stone's beers? I know mine has told me that they're not a popular buy, but I don't understand why -- aren't they one of the better selling breweries in the country?

For instance, I saw a Coconut IPA that was best by some day in October a couple days ago.

 

I actually just had the new one last Friday, and I was actually a bit disappointed. Ruination had been one of my faves for a while, but this new rendition felt too booze forward and not as citrusy as I remember.

Also, with regards to it sitting on shelves - yes. As I mentioned in a different thread, cases of Enjoy By, Espresso RIS and Coconut IPA just sit around at my local spot. I partially feel that it's due the influx of new breweries and/or new releases that just continue to flood the shelves. With all these new beers, the average (and by average, I mean one not as financially endowed as half the posters in the "post a pic of your latest haul" thread) craft beer enthusiast's beer money is spread more thinly and is more strictly allocated. I could be wrong.

 

Ruination always slips my mind when looking for a solid year round DIPA, I need to stop forgetting and start buying. Maybe then I'll actually see Enjoy By in my area sometime.

 

I had the new version recently - the first time I'd had a Ruination in quite some time - and was impressed (I drank a second bottle last night, which confirmed that initial reaction). Nice vibrant citrusy hops that just seemed "brighter" than I'd remembered (though to be honest, that may have been a function of the fact that it was fresher than most Ruinations I've had in the past).

As for Stone products not moving. . . Stone IPA flies off the shelves in my area, even where it's priced as high as $13.99 a sixer. Their other beers don't seem to move as quickly; I suspect it's a function of price (for example, Stone Pale Ale is $13.99, and while it's good, you can find plenty of good Pale Ales that are only nominally more expensive - for a 12-pack) and the "gotta try new stuff" attitude of many craft aficionados.

 

When was the formula changed?

 

http://beerpulse.com/2013/08/stone-brewing-co-to-dial-up-ruination-ipa-a-notch-1078/

 

I'm not sure I've had the new version, but every time I've had it, I've liked it. Ruination is one of my go-to DIPAs, just like Stone single IPA. And it moves well here in SoFla. Only a few of their beers seem to sit.

 

If you live in a rural area like me, the distributers are not likely to pick up even the most popular of craft brands. The craft drinking population out here is too small, and can't be counted on to sustain the profitability of a beer because we 'try one beer and never buy it again'. This is a big part of the reason why I wonder how sustainable the craft movement really is. Ticking? Fun hobby, terrible for business. Plus we buy more expensive beer, but we don't have 5 of them in a night like the BMC drinking alcoholics that keep wholesalers profitable.

 

We don't?!?!?

 

Maybe those of us who can afford it

 

Posted this in the latest haul thread recently, but my 9 friends and I went through these 27 DIFFERENT beers on a Saturday night after Thanksgiving (plus a growler of Victory Moonglow):




So I guess we do go through that many - sometimes

 

Stone needs to up their game. Oh- that's a different thread.

 

If I was hard pressed to point out a difference, the 8.2% version seemed a little bit sweeter than the old 7.7% But honestly, it's negligible. Still a killer beer.

Also, the store I work at has no problem selling Stone bombers. The only one that ever comes close to going out of date is the Cali-Belgique, but I always make sure to buy a few out of each case to keep the fresh ones coming.

 

I had no idea that they did this, but I did notice the last four-pack I had (September, I guess) did seem to have a sweeter finish and some sort of peachy/yeasty thing going on in the finish. I just wrote it off as batch variation, but a change in recipe would also make sense. The next time I see some freshies I'll have to check it out again.

 

Thanks. I guess that might have be a lmgtfy situation.

edit: although---I am still wondering if anyone knows when 'the paperwork' was finished at when the first batch of the new version was bottled. The last one I had was bottled around Aug. 20; it definitely had a peachy note, but I don't know if that was the old or new one.