Points Unknown IPA
Stone Brewing
Story by:
Pint Break
Mixed-Style Beer
Collaboration
California
United States
Judges Ratings 89
Aroma: 21 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20
Description
It seemed no single beer could adequately convey the collective talents of Portland, Oregon brewing legend and Ecliptic Brewing founder John Harris; Luke and Walt Dickinson, the brewmaster duo behind North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing; and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. So, this veritable triad of power opted to brew TWO beers. The first was a traditional Belgian-style tripel aged four months in oak barrels that originally housed red wine, then tequila. It was then blended at a one-fourth to three-fourths ratio with a freshly brewed West Coast double IPA to create this beer. A variety of diverse flavors coalesce into something more unique than any one beer our trio could have conceived.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 9.50%
IBUs: 72
Served at: ()
Hops: Magnum, Styrian Celeia; Amarillo, Calypso, Jarrylo
Malts:
Judges Review
By Randy Scorby
Judges Ratings 89
Aroma: 21 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20 / 20
The beer pours a very inviting deep orange-amber color with a long-lasting tan head. The aroma is quite complex and consists of citrusy hops, tropical fruit, pineapple, light black pepper and grainy, bready maltiness. The aroma evolves over time, favoring both IPA and Belgian Tripel characteristics. The flavor has a grassy dry hop character that seems to linger just a bit too long. High hop bitterness is smooth and works well with the blend. As with the aroma, the balance between the two styles changes as it warms and rests in the glass, but eventually the IPA character moves to the forefront while the Tripel plays a supporting role, adding nuances of spice and fruit. A very well done marriage of these two distinctly different beer styles.
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