The brewers at Stone Brewing can easily be described as pioneers of the craft beer movement. The pioneers from the west coast of the USA were already brewing craft beer in the 90s and alienated one or the other conventional beer drinker with their hopped creations. India Pale Ales were not yet part of the list of well-known beer styles and hops were still used in moderate, barely noticeable amounts. Stone Brewing puts a tasteful end to this quiet hustle and bustle.
Today, avant-garde brewers are juggling more hops than ever, and their intense brews only offend traditionalists. Everyone else enjoys the hop fireworks, the strong bitterness and the diverse taste nuances that the hopheads elicit from the cones.
One of their absolute masterpieces is a wonderful beer with the simple name Hazy IPA: The full cloudy beer has a tame 6.7% alcohol content, is a little milder than its crispy bitter colleagues and is brewed with the hop varieties Sabro, Azacca and El Dorado. Although not a single piece of fruit made its way into the cauldron, Stones Hazy IPA tastes like a cocktail made of it: a tidal wave of juicy, sun-kissed orange meets zesty lemon, ripe melon, golden mango and exotic pineapple. The fruity tsunami washes over the palate with a creamy texture and a soft, restrained bitterness.
Stone Brewing USAWater, barley malt, wheat, oats, hops, yeast
