This is my first proper Stone Brewing beer if I don’t count the collaboration with Thornbridge Brewery for West Side Glory. The United States based brewery is a well known and beloved brewery which aimed to provide an alternative to the light beers that are drunk there. If you are a frequent reader of my reviews you will know that I often drink a hazy to test the waters of a new brewery.This is no exception.
During the course of this review I will discuss the history of Stone Brewing, the history of this beer, along with what to expect from the pour. I will also delve into the tastes and aroma along with my verdict at the very end. Sit back and relax whilst you explore the origins of this famous brewery.
Born to offer something different
Stone Brewing was born to due to frustration at the mainstream USA beers. Personally I don’t blame them, there are some terrible types. In 1996, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner aimed to provide bold, flavourful beers to offer something different to the US market. Founded in San Marcos, California, they moved base in 2005 to Escondido, California which is a large operation that also contains a packaging hall. This is responsible for exports and also serves the west coast of the US. In 2016, they opened a large brewery in Richmond, Virginia to serve the East Coast more efficiently.
The philosophy of and style of Stone is hop forward beers, which are particularly high in alcohol content and were fundamental in the rise of the West Coast IPA beer style. They are also uncompromising on flavour as shown in beers such as the Stone IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale. They opt for intense, full flavoured beers which push against the status quo. In terms of brewing style, they prioritise freshness, quality and sustainability.
Stone Brewing is famous for its use of a gargoyle as its mascot. The idea is that the gargoyle stands against ‘cheap ingredients, chemical additives and mediocrity’. However in 2022, Stone Brewing was acquired by Sapporo Breweries for $165 million which was a significant shift on ownership but they continue to operate under its brand and original infrastructure.
Moving onto Stone Brewing Hazy IPA, this beer is part of the brand called Delicious which was first brewed in 2015 with its IPA. This was a gluten reduced beer which utilised Lemondrop and El Dorado hops to create a more citrus flavour. Over time the Delicious lineup expanded such as Citrus IPA and Double IPA. Finally in January 2024, Delicious Hazy IPA was officially released. It follows the same mantra as the other Delicious beers with it being gluten reduced.
Delicious Hazy IPA packs a punch with a 7.2% ABV and it uses hops such as Sabro, El Dorado and Azacca. This was part of Stone’s aim to expand its Delicious lineup on the other hand it also illustrates the demand for haze and juicy flavours which are demanded in modern craft brewing.
Lively and Hazy
As soon as you pour an open a can of Delicious Hazy IPA, it presents a golden orange haze which is not quite opaque. A white foamy head formed which left a small amount of lacing and it did retain the more you drank. The drink was quite lively with bubbles that consistently travelled up the glass. A lovely looking beer.
A beer packed with flavour
To start, when it comes to aroma I would expect a tropical and citrus scents along with a hoppy and earthy element. This ticks all of the boxes with notes of peach and tangerine being observed, along with an earthy herbal aroma. Something else I noticed was a hint of vanilla and malts which gave it a sweet backbone. Overall, this did everything I would expect from a hazy ale.
Moving onto to the taste, to start I noticed an elaborate amount of tropical and citrus zests mainly comprising of orange, pineapple and mango. Mid palate, I observed a more creamy and juicy taste which I thought was peach. Immediately this was followed by the bitterness you would expect from the hops which gave it an earthy feel. The finish was quite dry and clean which balanced the whole experience out. Overall, I very refreshing and clean drink.
Time for my verdict
Overall, my introduction to Stone Brewing was a positive one. This Hazy IPA really did what it literally said on the tin… Delicious. The overall depth of flavour was very impressive especially with hints of tropical, citrus and stone fruits. Along with hops, vanilla this was well balanced. I think the only criticism I had was that I wish this was smoother in terms of mouthfeel as this is was a lively beer. However, the flavours alone earn this a solid 4 out of 5.
Where did I purchase this beer from?
I purchased this beer from the legends at Lowcostbeer.com. Please check them out as they offer extremely reasonably priced beers along with top class customer service.
Cheers for reading, if you enjoyed this please don’t hesitate to check out my other reviews. Cheers
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