1001 Beers

Beer No: 9/1001
Page No: 500
Category: Blond

So today was an interesting day.  I had planned out the exact beer I was going to sample with my leftover lunch from Hollingshead's Deli, but then I got the call.  My crazy cousin needed help as she is completely renovating her new home.  After I skipped out on her on Tuesday due to my slight illness, she knew I couldn't say no, plus - what else would I have done today?  Yeah, nothing.

So I head over there, paint the closet, clean up a few messes in other rooms and I'm about to leave when she says, why don't we just have a beer and then you can take off.  And what are the chances that one of the 1001 beers would be in her fridge?  I'd say 0.01%...it's usually full of water bottles and Heineken.  But there it was, a single Stone Ruination IPA hiding in the back.  Calling my name.  Drink me!  Drink me hoppy head.  So I did, and it was IBU overload and hoppiness to the extreme, but it's a wonderful beer.

It was the perfect beer after a long day of manual labor - well, maybe not the perfect beer - I'm sure some people wouldn't like the shock of hops after working a long day, but for me, awesomeness.  The Ruination IPA came from their 5th anniversary beer after the people at Stone started with an IPA for their 1st anniversary, a double IPA for their 2nd, and so on, getting hoppier for each release.  For the 6th anniversary, they went with a smoked porter, and thus, their 5th anniversary, and hoppiest beer to date, became their new Ruination IPA.

So, given the circumstances, I didn't have proper glassware, I didn't take a picture, and I had no tasting notes, however, the taste of Ruination is so unique and distinctive that rating while drinking isn't necessary.  But, truth be told, I rated this back in December of '09, so there won't be an update to this one.  So, without further ado...

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Stone Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Aroma: 9/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 9/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 17/20

Rating: 4.3 / 5.0

Easily among my favorite IPAs. This Stone Brew holds nothing back and hits you again and again with hop flavors. Pours a beautiful golden color with slight lacing and good carbonation, the first and last thing you’ll smell is the wonderfully floral aroma of hops. There really is nothing better with a good steak or on a hot day than a beer as full of flavor and hops as this masterpiece from Stone Brewing.