Beachwood/Heretic/Stone Unapologetic IPA – Tasting Notes
From Stone Brewing Co. – When you get three hopheads together to collaborate on a beer, it’s only natural to expect some hopped up liquid incarnation of their lupulin lust to spring forth from such a session. Maybe it seems passé to some—three masters of hoppy beer once again exploring the familiar territory of the India pale ale. After all, who needs yet another IPA, double or otherwise, right? It’s all been done. To those who feel this way, this trio’s reply is: “So what?” In birthing a double IPA made bitter and fruity care of a mélange of new and experimental hops (Azacca, Belma, and yet-to-be-named varieties from Washington’s Yakima Valley), they aren’t staying in a comfort zone—they’re hitting a sweet spot in the name of all that is good, delicious, hoppy and forward-thinking to create an IPA that’s both like and unlike anything they, or you, have ever tasted. Rife with essence of pine, resin, and fruits both citrus and tropical, there’s no need for apologies with this beer. All that’s necessary is a yearning for hops, a sturdy constitution and an empty glass.
Stone Brewing Co. – Beachwood/Heretic/Stone Unapologetic IPA – 22 oz. bottle poured into a goblet. 8.8% abv.
Appearance: Pours a clear bright amber gold with an impressive sudsy white head.
Aroma: Fresh cut grapefruit and tangerine, pine essence, sweer pineapple, minerals. Pretty much a juicy citrus explosion.
Taste: Piney bitter hops, grapefruit, orange pith, mostly dry pale malt with a hint of sweetness, clean yeast. Earthy resinous Bitterness lingers.
Mouthfeel: Full bodied. Prickly. Dry. Snappy for the style.
Overall: I was immediately drawn to this beer. I felt like between the three collaborating brewers, I was in good hands and would not be let down. My assumption was completely correct. It still tasted very much like a Stone beer, it had enough differences from Enjoy By and Ruination to be considered unique.
