NxS IPA
Stone Brewing
Story by:
Chris Guest
Barrel-Aged IPA
Collaboration
California
United States
Judges Ratings 87
Aroma: 20 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20
Description
For many, California is considered an epicenter for brewing innovation, particularly where hoppy IPAs are concerned. We teamed up with longtime craft compatriots and mutual hop admirers Sierra Nevada to create a truly one-of-a-kind IPA. This special-edition beer conveys the true character of collaboration with touches of inventiveness and creativity. Two batches of an IPA were brewed and expertly blended to craft this multilayered beer. The first batch was split down the middle, with 50% being aged in gin-infused bourbon barrels and the remaining half aged in rye whiskey barrels. These beers were blended with the fresh second batch of IPA, which was generously dry-hopped to impart rich aromas to accompany the citrusy, piney, woody, herbaceous flavors achieved from this truly one-of-a-kind collaboration.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 8.20%
IBUs: 70
Served at: ()
Hops: Magnum, Amarillo, Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic
Malts:
Judges Review
By Richard Wong
Judges Ratings 87
Aroma: 20 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20 / 20
This beer had a really nice, clear copper color and a large, foamy head. My first sniff of the beer exposed a nice malty sweetness and not much hop presence – something that I was expecting from a Double IPA. Upon the first sip, the beer again had a nice malt sweetness and a very nice caramel/toffee-like finish in the aftertaste. Again, this being a Double IPA, I found the hop bitterness lacking for this beer. The beer had a medium body and mouthfeel and was well-carbonated. The malt sweetness made this exceedingly smooth and cloyed the alcohol strength a bit. The very nice caramel/toffee-like flavors in the aftertaste made it very appealing and deceiving to drink with its higher-than-average alcohol strength.
*Editor’s Note – This beer was judged simply as a Double IPA, and our judge picked up no discernible barrel characteristics throughout his sampling either.
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