Stone Ruination IPA

Well now, this one comes with a reputation. Some of it is self-proclaimed (ie, it calls itself a liquid poem to the glory of the hop, and threatens to destroy your sense for beer if you so much as look at it askance). But this has been backed up by critics across the board also. We approached this one with a giddy trepidation.

Pours a deep colour with a lovely strong white head. You can smell the hops from a distance, it's floral.

The taste? Well, it certainly does have hops in it. And a lingering bitterness that just might kill you if you're not a beery sort of person. But it's not the most floral beer I've had - Feral's Hop Hog for example tastes a bit like you're gargling the contents of a herb garden - this is more .. balanced in a way, despite the absurdity of the content.

I did not notice this was 7.7% alcohol until I'd finished the bottle. I'm not sure how many one could drink, but it certainly seems possible to get hooked on them. I'm pining for another right now.

In a word, impressive - and impressive not just as a sideshow joke piece for a laugh, but as a great example of a bold, brave, and balanced specimen showcasing some brilliant flavours and dare I say it, pushing the craft beer community forward. Any beer fan should try it. 9.0