NxS IPA
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Collab with: Sierra Nevada Brewing CompanyIPA - Imperial / Double Special Out of Production
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Score
7.69
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A California collaboration blend of dry-hopped IPA and barrel-aged IPA
Collaborators: Mitch Steele, Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co. / Ken Grossman, Founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has been an inspiration for us at Stone for many, many years, so we were thrilled to be able to collaboratively develop this beer. We wanted to combine elements of both breweries in the recipe, which is an IPA that includes partial barrel aging and classic hopping, including some of both breweries’ favorite hops: Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo and Mosaic. We brewed some of this beer in early summer and then transferred it to our barrel warehouse, where it was aged in a combination of gin-infused bourbon barrels and rye whiskey barrels for about three months before we blended it with the beer we brewed in October. The result is a hoppy IPA with the added elements of wood and spirits. The blend is a beauty.
Collaborators: Mitch Steele, Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co. / Ken Grossman, Founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has been an inspiration for us at Stone for many, many years, so we were thrilled to be able to collaboratively develop this beer. We wanted to combine elements of both breweries in the recipe, which is an IPA that includes partial barrel aging and classic hopping, including some of both breweries’ favorite hops: Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo and Mosaic. We brewed some of this beer in early summer and then transferred it to our barrel warehouse, where it was aged in a combination of gin-infused bourbon barrels and rye whiskey barrels for about three months before we blended it with the beer we brewed in October. The result is a hoppy IPA with the added elements of wood and spirits. The blend is a beauty.
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7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Pours a clear golden yellow with good-sized, lasting head. Aroma is very floral, with fruit and grass predominating. Flavor is very bitter up-front, with a ton of pine-hop bite. Some citrus and other fruitiness is evident, but the hops really take center stage on this one.
Tried
on 08 Jan 2016
at 16:11
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Clear amber, large foamy tan head, good retention. Aroma of piney, floral hops, pale malt, gin. The taste is piney, resin hops, wood, grapefruit, gin. Medium bodied, well balanced.
Tried
on 07 Jan 2016
at 22:39
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 11/22/2015. Pours fairly crystal clear orange/amber color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, berry, juniper, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pepper, pine, oak, spicy rye, honey, light caramel/vanilla, bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, apricot, mango, melon, berry, juniper, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pepper, pine, oak, spicy rye, honey, light caramel/vanilla, bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Large amount of pine/citrus rind/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, apricot, mango, berry, lemon/orange rind, pepper, pine, spicy rye, honey, bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Very dry finish from bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, sticky/resinous, and slightly creamy/silky mouthfeel that is awesome. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding barrel aged DIPA style. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of bright citrus/tropical/pine hops, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2016
at 22:06
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle from Candia Rd Crystal clear deep golden color with a good sized frothy white head that persists. Earthy resinous spicy with bits of bready caramel maltiness. The flavor follows the aroma but adds a bit more woody and light gin notes. interesting beer with some odd flavors and it does work well. I question whether the barrel aging was necessary as it barely comes through as any more than a woody note.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2016
at 21:26
7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
22 oz. bottle. Forgot to look for a date code. Mostly clear orange color, thin lasting head. Aroma is light tropical fruit with a hearty amount of pine.
The flavor starts with a solid amount of fruit and it turns to the signature Stone West Coast pine in the finish. Light floral tones. The bitterness comes from the pine. Pretty easy to drink.
The flavor starts with a solid amount of fruit and it turns to the signature Stone West Coast pine in the finish. Light floral tones. The bitterness comes from the pine. Pretty easy to drink.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2016
at 20:12
9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 10
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Shared bomber. Tulip/snifter. Bottled 6 weeks ago. Crisp, clean orange/amber. Small, but very active head. Fantastic nose: citrus fruit, pine, juniper, and more. Smooth, mild, complex palate. Just a great beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jan 2016
at 16:18
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bomber from my buddy, Grant. golden orange, no head. Smells nice. juicy, tropical, a little pine cone. not bad mouthfeel. man, classic west coast IPA. I haven’t had a stone IPA in a while. up front orange juice clementine that fades to a pine bomb and lingers with bitterness.
Tried
on 31 Dec 2015
at 19:34
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
From a 22 oz bottle shared on Christmas Eve. Pours a clear copper with an off white head. Juicy citrus nose. Flavors of orange, grapefruit and pine. Fresh and yummy.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Dec 2015
at 15:03
7.3/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle. Dank, boozy nose of lemon, orange, gin. Glowing orange color. FLavors of biscuits, orange, gin. Very boozy. Crisp and hoppy with solid bitterness. Weird and boozy with too much gin. Decent enough, but I can’t figure out why the hype.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Dec 2015
at 19:20
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Pours a clear golden orange with a white head that lasts throughout the beer and laces slightly. Aroma combinrs grassy and citrus hops with a bit of bourbon and gin botanicals supporting. Flavor has a good amount of resinous pine and bitter citrus with touches of gin botanicals and a hint of barrel underlying.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Dec 2015
at 15:41