Ah, the latest release of Stone's Enjoy By IPA. Note, this is our 3rd Stone Enjoy By (see previous reviews of Enjoy By 05.17.13 and Enjoy By 04.01.13).
This is the most widely released edition of this 9.4 %, 88 IBU beast, 24 different states. And we'd better hurry on this one. We've sat on this for a while and now there's only 8 days, 1 hour and 25 minutes to drink this, not intentionally, more of just a lot of life happenings going around.
But onto this stunning piece of master craftsmanship. This pours a gorgeous golden orange color with a small amount of off white head that fades quickly, much like my attention span when I'm typing about beer. You see, I get in this blissful state where I picture myself holding hands and dancing in a circle with a giant hop. After dancing in a circular motion, we fall down, back first, in a giant pile of hops, where we roll around. It's in this blissful state that I would like to stay, but at the same point, living in a fantasy world doesn't pay bills for most people. Oh... I can't really remember where I was. Hang on, let me scroll up.
Ok, so we covered color. Onto the heavenly aroma.As soon as I put my nose to the glass, I'm instantly swept away into the fantasy world again, where grapefruit, citrus and tropical notes lift you up with angelic-like grace. Wings surround the hops as they gently make you rise while their friend caramel waves at you from a distant cloud in the background. The winged hops drop you into a 100-foot free-fall as you plunge into the liquidy goodness that is this beer. Your mouth is instantly submersed and taken over by the sheer divine taste of this. HOPSUS BE PRAISED! Grapefruit, Pine, Lemon, Orange, and Mint grab you by the tongue and march down your throat. as they leave their resiny goodness all over the mouth.There are some slight tones of biscuit and caramel, but they are like a no-name farming high school playing against an undefeated Big Ten school in football. They make an appearance, but they game is clearly one sided. There is alcohol noticed, but it's more like a cheerleader for Biscuit and Caramel High.
I think I should let my partner in crime take over on this while I float off into my fantasy world of hops.
5/5 caps
-Nathan-
Witches be cray cray. While Nathan is off communing with Dionysus and shrugging off memories of Drive Your Tractor To School Day, I've been yearning to delve into this iteration of Stone's yummy goodness. Let's see if it is as equally delicious as the prior versions of this.
Well, before he delved into an orgy with hops and Austijia (Lithuanian goddess of hops), he described the color to a T. The nose on this is wonderful: grapefruit, pine, and a touch of caramel and biscuit. As I take a sip, I am taken aback. I don't recall it being quite this good. Damn, there are the cherubs shaped like hops shooting arrows full of hops down my throat. There's pine, grapefruit, more grapefruit, that hint of mint, and it's all rounded out by a solid malt base. And as he-with-boyparts mentioned, the biscuit and caramel are barely noticeable. The hops are definitely the star of this brew. The mouthfeel on this is well carbonated, lighter-to-medium-bodied, with a slight resinous stickiness.
It should be noted that, with the popularity of this brew, Stone has adopted this "enjoy by" approach to all of their IPAs, which, in my mind, is as it should be. They don't advertise that, but I learned this from a very reputable source. I love that... no more staled, faded hops. No more IPAs that leave you wondering where the hops are. No more disappointment in a great bottle of beer. Huh. Nathan left the last of his glass in the kitchen while he delved off into la-la-land to frolic with Hopsus. I wonder if he'll notice if I drink the rest?
I feel a bit fraudulent, as I'm wearing my Hopslam shirt. Oh well. This is at least periodically available throughout the year without the fight during January to obtain a $20 six-pack. This isn't as particular, requiring steady temperature maintenance and having a short shelf-life. Don't get me wrong, Hopslam is still tied for my favorite beer (hello, Oracle, how you doin'????). But this is simply fantastic.
Oh man, he noticed it was still there. Until next time, Stone.
5/5 caps
-Jennie
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