Why no Love for Stone?

Yeah, that was similar to my first impression:
"Reminds me of a long-ago malt liquor..."
(Maybe Molson Brador?)

Up until not too long ago (TTB COLA dated 2004) FAXE was still being imported into the US in those large cans.

 

Jack, as one of the poor misguided souls that said Wussie was my favorite Pilsner, I appreciate your post. I looked at the style guidelines on this site for Euro Strong Lager and Aussie at 5.8% abv is well below the 7 to 10% mentioned. Certainly below the 10%abv mentioned for Faxe. In reading your post it seems that it may no be your favorite but I will say my liking Wussie is encouraging me to try some of the other Pilsners that are appearing. I've just picked up and tried Sixpoint's "The Crisp" and enjoyed it - not as much as Wussie but I did enjoy it. Summer seems like such a good time to explore Pilsner and other lagers. I look forward to further recommendations from you on ones to try.

 

The first Stone beer I had was simply their IPA and I think it's excellent along with Xocoveza. Their smoked Porter with chili peppers was very good. The reason I don't dabble in the rest of their lineup is because like a lot of breweries today they seem fixated on hops and IPAs and I'm so sick of that mentality. They seem like the type of brewery that would over-hop a ESB and ruin it. They don't brew traditional styles or if they do there aren't distributed in my region. But at least they don't necessarily have the stigma of "every beer tastes the same" like another brewery I know.

 

I should have clarified...Wussie tasted like the middle between the "regular" FAXE and the stronger versions. Didn't know we were sticking to strict definitions. Please feel free to try the FAXE beers and decide for yourself.

 

i loved the Smoked Porter with Chipotle if that's the one you are talking about? not just Stone specifically, but like you, i am tired of everything must be hopped which that issue seems to be affecting what iterations we are seeing (or no longer seeing) from Stone. lastly. every beer tastes the same? in my mind, was that a crack at Lagunitas?

 

I was in New Orleans last week and stopped at Steins Deli and bottle shop. They had several bottles of Old Stone agers in the beer shed in the back--Old Guardian 2014, 2015, 2016 and the Russian Imperial Stout. I was going to buy a bottle of each but then the daughter had her eye on a Whale and I had to make some hard choices in order to stay on budget. Ended up only getting a bottle of OG 2016 since that was the one I have not tried. But if anyone is in NOLA...they probably still have some and freshness is not such a big deal with these.

 

I was in San Fran recently and visited toronado. Had Pliny the Elder on tap and it was excellent. Got home and a buddy had given me a sixer of ruination 2.0. To me, ruination was a better IPA. I know it doesn't get the hype given its wide distribution , but it is an amazing beer.

 

Seems like other than enjoy by (which is expensive), the only other beers people look for aren't readily available. I saw one wootstout and xoco before i knew what they were, but haven't seen since. I haven't tried their RIS, because lagunitas has a bomber right next to it for 2-3 dollars cheaper. I do enjoy "enjoy by", but they need to reinvent the wheel and make it readily available to get attention.

 

I agree as I too love Stone. They have made some "forgettable" beers, but overall I think they have an impressive body of work and staying power. The Enjoy By series is great, Arrogant Bastard is a craft classic, the Bastard family is generally always good, the W00tstout series is great, they make a very above average RIS and Fyodor's Bourbon Barrel Aged RIS was one of my all time favorite beers. They have had some duds over the past 2 years (like Go To IPA...), but have also put out some gems like Pataskala Red IPA, cranked out the RuinTen and Ruination and re-released for their 20th anniversary Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA. I'm still a fan and can't wait to pick up my magnum's after they're bottled.

 

Stone was on every craft beer buyer's mind for years and suddenly they've began to drift away from that spotlight by producing fruited IPAs and only IPAs on their portfolio.

A lot of us are moving on. We hope Stone comes back, or I'm not sure what they end up.

 

What I dig about Stone Brewing is that they apparently have a $100 million "True Craft" financial program that invests specifically into small, independent breweries looking for outside investment of less than 25% of their companies, with a stated goal to "allow brewers to continue to operate independently without having to borrow from banks, sell to traditional venture capitalists, or sell to multinational conglomerates."

Now that's something that I can love about Stone -- they promote the best part of today's craft brewing industry -- pioneering, innovative and creative with an emphasis on high quality. I support small, independent breweries with the vision to be the best. Forget fine wine, I'll take a finely crafted brew every time.

 

I remember reading about this venture a year or so ago but I have not heard or read about a single investment that has been consummated.

Can you share more information here?

Cheers!

@StoneBrewingCo

 

Good point and exellent question.

Especially in the context of Lagunitas having acquired a minority ownership in Shorts. Such low percentage acquistions were part of the intent of the Stone proposed venture.

 

I think Stone's RIS is far superior to Lagunitas. It's definitely worth a try.

 

But Stone decided to not produce their Imperial Russian Stout in 2017 so how is Lahey going to try it?

Cheers!

 

This is news to me.

 

Than I am guessing it is safe to say you did not read the Stone 2017 Release Schedule.

http://www.stonebrewing.com/beer/release-schedule

Cheers!

 

Why, yes it would, Jack. Thanks for the link.

 

Well, I sure still love Stone, and have ever since I first discovered them going on 14 years ago now a few days after I turned 21. Still the best brewery as far as crafting IPAs go in my opinion. And they make some amazing non IPA style beer too!

Eric

 

Been kind of indifferent to them ever since they stopped brewing their smoked porter. Loved that beer.