Every new batch of Stone Brewing Co. beer that arrives in Malaysia is greeted with either joy or in many cases, relief. "Ah... finally. It's back!" There's a simple reason for this... they don't produce a bad beer.
The second reason is that all of them are great beers. There isn't one I would be disappointed to drink. Don't get me wrong, they have other styles, especially a great line in Imperial Stouts and their iconic Arrogant Bastard ale, but since their inception in California in 1996 they have become very good at IPAs, so why hide the fact?
But, having said I wouldn't turn down any of those core beers, I do have a favourite. (Shhh... don't tell the other children).
Stone Ruination or, to give it its full name, Stone Ruination Double India Pale Ale 2.0.
That 2.0 is in reference to an earlier incarnation of Ruination, itself a worthy beer, but as the craft brewing industry grew and established new processes and better methods, Stone realised there was an opportunity to revisit what was already one of their best beers and make it even better. The result is a fantastic DIPA.
Ruination pours a deep golden hue with a pale head and at 8.5% is easy to drink but has an attitude that will live up to its name the next morning if not respected. The initial deep citrus notes are less floral and more fruity than in some double IPAs. While the pine resin finish is sharp and bitter and less biscuity and malty than might be expected, producing a big beer that is more refreshing than chewy.
Stone beers have become staples of the craft bars in Malaysia, so shouldn't be too difficult to find.
If you like Ruination, why not take a look at some of the other Double IPAs we've reviewed.
Some companies have a full range of beer encompassing every type and style of ale known to man and quite a few they've just made up themselves. But there will often be one or two amongst the list that either don't sit well with you or perhaps will be overlooked in favour of a different beer that in your mind you'd prefer to drink.
With Stone that choice is more difficult for two reasons. Firstly, their core range, the beers we get most often over here, are almost all variations of one style. If you look at their website the six "year-round" beers listed are made up of four IPAs, one double IPA and a pale ale which, let's face it, is just the "Father of IPAs"
With Stone that choice is more difficult for two reasons. Firstly, their core range, the beers we get most often over here, are almost all variations of one style. If you look at their website the six "year-round" beers listed are made up of four IPAs, one double IPA and a pale ale which, let's face it, is just the "Father of IPAs"
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The second reason is that all of them are great beers. There isn't one I would be disappointed to drink. Don't get me wrong, they have other styles, especially a great line in Imperial Stouts and their iconic Arrogant Bastard ale, but since their inception in California in 1996 they have become very good at IPAs, so why hide the fact?
But, having said I wouldn't turn down any of those core beers, I do have a favourite. (Shhh... don't tell the other children).
 |
Stone Ruination or, to give it its full name, Stone Ruination Double India Pale Ale 2.0.
That 2.0 is in reference to an earlier incarnation of Ruination, itself a worthy beer, but as the craft brewing industry grew and established new processes and better methods, Stone realised there was an opportunity to revisit what was already one of their best beers and make it even better. The result is a fantastic DIPA.
Ruination pours a deep golden hue with a pale head and at 8.5% is easy to drink but has an attitude that will live up to its name the next morning if not respected. The initial deep citrus notes are less floral and more fruity than in some double IPAs. While the pine resin finish is sharp and bitter and less biscuity and malty than might be expected, producing a big beer that is more refreshing than chewy.
Stone beers have become staples of the craft bars in Malaysia, so shouldn't be too difficult to find.
If you like Ruination, why not take a look at some of the other Double IPAs we've reviewed.
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