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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8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 9
On tap at ibu. Pours a clear copper color with a medium white head. A big sweet fruity tropical nose. The flavor is huge tropical fruit and caramel, resin, oranges, tea. Lovely.
Tried
from Draft
on 20 Dec 2015
at 19:03
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bomber. Aroma is woody, floral, pine, garlic. Pours clear copper with a one finger bone-white head with decent retention. Taste is fairly bitter with just the right amount of oak aged influence--more than just a hint of vanilla and coconut . Really unique and it tastes mighty fine.
Tried
on 20 Dec 2015
at 17:54
8.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
22 oz bottle from Hoboken Vine, 12/20/15. Smells very reminiscent of Tropical V8 Splash. Definitely first thing it made me think of. As it warms a bit of a floral component comes out too. Pours a clear, clean orange color with a small head and some nice drippy lace. The flavors is quite different than the aroma. Along with the tropical hops are some pine, gin, bourbon, and oak, a bit of floral flavors. Feels kind of sweet up front, but ends dry and woody. Medium bodied, with a soft carbonation. A bit of heat, but not a ton. Fairly unique and well made, and though I'm never sure barrel flavors make any IPAs taste better than they would have fresh and straight up, in this case it certainly produces a flavorful and enjoyable brew.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Dec 2015
at 17:28
7.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
On draft at Tap 25. It pours a very clear orange gold color with a creamy off white head. The aroma is nice with a solid combo of oak, pine, orange and subtle vanilla. Peach and other stone fruit in the background. Smells a bit creamy. The flavor is surprisingly smooth and well integrated with pine, orange, peach and dank oaky piney bitterness. No hot alcohol, but subtle pleasing barrel notes. It has a full, oily body, but finishes on a bitter/sweet note. I’m of the opinion that barrel aged IPA’s are not usually a good idea, but they nailed this one. Extra points for degree of difficulty.
Tried
from Draft
on 20 Dec 2015
at 13:11
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
On tap at bier thirty. pours out a crisp copper amber topped with a small head. Nose is big hop kick mostly pine and a nice caramel malty sweetness. Taste is more of the heavy hope malt combo and a nice pithy bitterness on the end.
Tried
from Draft
on 19 Dec 2015
at 15:52
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
22oz bomber pours up with a clear deep gold body that supports an off white head of semi tight / semi loose cobweb like foam. The aroma offers up the expected spicy oak infused gin booze as well as thin ribbons of mango, cantaloupe and citrus like hoppiness in the background. The taste is dominated by spicy oak and gin booze and then in the background is just a faint note of smooth sweet bourbon. To midway the hops struggle to be heard over the oak and gin but do create a pleasing murmur of cantaloupe, mango, tangerine, spicy onion and then some floral hop notes around the edges. I don’t think many barrel treatments can work with an IIPA but gin (and tequila to some extent) doesn’t hinder the experience. In the few cases where I’ve had this type of hoppy beer treatment I actually prefer it not barrel aged. I’m positive a fresh and un-barrel aged version of this would rate considerably higher (and hence would be more enjoyable). But this is a fun flavor ride.
Tried
from Can
on 15 Dec 2015
at 20:46
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Pours clear orangey gold into a tulip. White head quickly recedes to mottle surface. Juniper, pumpernickel, and pine aromas. Medium bodied with tropical fruit, resin and nuts upfront turning hot in the lasting bitter twigs and roots in the dry oak finish.
Tried
on 12 Dec 2015
at 16:38