What is in a name? Well, a lot actually. While Stone IPA may have a very simple name it tells you all that you need to know about the beer: it is an IPA and it is from Stone Brewing Company, which means that it is going to be nice and strong and pack a punch

Stone IPA was one of the first few cases of craft beer that I ever bought, so I have been drinking it for a few years now. Every time I taste this beer it is like discovering it for the first time. For some reason, I always forget just how good it tastes and being reminded of that every time I drink it is awesome.

For the purpose of this review I used a bottle of Stone IPA poured into a standard (DC United) pint glass. The beer pours a dark golden color that isn’t quite transparent. It looks solid, but not hazy. The head that the Stone IPA pours is brilliantly fluffy. It almost looks like somebody melted marshmallows and plopped them on top of your beer.

The smell? Hops, lots of them, but under control somehow. The Stone IPA has great spice notes coming through as well balanced with some latent fruitiness. If this is your first IPA (I remember when I was young…) you may want to sit down for your first hit..eerr, I mean sip. The spicy hops hit you like a ton of bricks, but they are not too bitter. They are backed up by some fruitiness and sweetness coming through. This beer is also amazingly crisp, perfect for some spicy food (I recommend Thai).

For being Stone’s standard IPA this beer is a strong “grab you by the face” IPA. But that is what Stone does, they go above and beyond the norm. Another brewery’s extreme beer is Stone’s status-quo. The Stone IPA knocks it out of the park and is a strong, hoppy, yet balanced and crisp IPA.

Overall: 9/10