Stone Ruination IPA

Beer: Stone Ruination IPA

Brewer: Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA USA

ABV: 7.7%

Type: American IPA

Bottle: 1 Pt. 6 Fl oz. bottle / Bomber

IBUs: 100+

Served in: Tulip Glass

Place of Purchase: Beverages and More (BevMo)

Price: $5.99

Just in time for Halloween, Mugsy and Jugsy bring you… Ruination! At a staggering 100+ IBUs [International Bitterness Units], this brew is not for the faint at heart. And, there’s no getting around the menacing demon staring down at you from the bottle, just daring you to take it all in!

The bottle is as interesting to look at as it is to read. (Stone Brewing Co. rarely disappoints in this regard!) Ruination IPA warns: “If you are not already a confirmed hophead … this is NOT the place to start.”

Mugsy? Check.

Jugsy? Check.

Let’s begin!

In every proper review, we will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Stone Ruination IPA

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Reddish brown, almost copper colored with average size heat that dissipates fairly quickly. Can see fair amount of carbonation.

Jugsy: Golden / red, copper color with medium head which dissipates quickly, light enough in color to see carbonation bubbles rising.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Strong, biting hops attack the nose instantly. Hidden in the background are faint scents of honey & fruit – possibly pineapple. Very slight bit of yeasty funkiness becomes discernible later on.

Jugsy: Sweet, fragrance of flowery hops with very mild yeast undertones. Fruity pineapple and apricot scent, almost smells like sweet bread!

TASTE:

Mugsy: Extremely hoppy and bitter as the 100+ IBU rating would imply. These are not floral hops. Tastes as if it is dry-hopped, perhaps. Aftertaste is hoppy as well; almost soapy.

Jugsy: Immediate taste is bitter and soapy; flowery hops. Mid-notes include a sweet and lightly funky yeast flavor alongside the full-bodied hops. Leaves a distinctly bitter yet pleasant aftertaste.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Fair bit of carbonation present, but not overwhelming. Feel is surprisingly light for such a strong taste. Not heavy at all. Goes down like a Pilsener more than an Ale.

Jugsy: Smooth and creamy with a perfect amount of carbonation.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: The extreme hoppiness is fantastic, but by the same token, does not lend itself to being a session beer. Would go well with spicy or rich foods, like curry.

Jugsy: At a 7.7% ABV, this isn’t the type of brew one can throw back in mass quantities. However, even at 100+ IBU, Stone Ruination IPA is light and bursting with hoppy flavor. This is a beer which deserves to be savored.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Great IPA, but not very complex. Not that an IPA should be overly complex, but maybe just a little more than bitter. However, if you love hops, this is for you -- as the bottle states, this IPA is all about the “Glorious Hops.”

Jugsy: From the moment I smelled its alluring, hoppy aroma, I was dying to taste the Ruination. It certainly did not disappoint! This is one of the finest IPA’s I have ever sampled. The balance of aroma and flavors sets this IPA apart from the competition.

SCORE:

Mugsy: 7.0

Jugsy: 9.0