I received a sample bottle of this from Stone a week or so ago, took zero notes, then picked up another couple bottles at BeerCraft. This collaborative Double IPA brings together Beachwood, Heretic, and Stone, and showcases four newly developed American hops: HBC 342, Hopsteiner 06300, Azzaca, and Belma.
 
We’ve hung out with Beachwood and Julian before.
 
Heretic has been doing some great work, headed by Jamil Zainasheff.
 
And there's a decent chance you’ve heard of Stone.

 

 

Behind a barricade of pith, aromatics hit hard here on tangerine and fresh berries, the latter likely from that Belma. There’s creamsicle, the coconut/orange angle of Hopsteiner 06300. Light garlic. Fresh-cut flowers. PITH. A warm current of alcohol.
 
Certainly not shy.
 
In the words of the great argo0, this smells better than it tastes. But that's mostly because the aromatics are pretty nicely developed throughout, offering up more of those less-familiar hop qualities. They come through in the taste as well, but that alcoholic push and heady pith tend to play a larger role there. The toasty, biscuit-malt core keeps to the background, accompanied by hints of caramelized sugar.

Still, there's a nice spread of less-familiar hop qualities throughout: coconut, stone fruit (peaches and apricots, esp.), tart tangerines, grape jam. If you’re looking for new and quirky hop varieties to explore, there’s some scenic terrain past the pith.


Pick up a bottle as well? Let us know what you think.


–Ken Weaver

 


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