Stone Ruination

On Thursday myself and a group of like minded individuals retired to Bodega, a local pub known for its beer range, after a busy beer festival. The new American brewer at Christchurch micro Wigram Brewing Co was there and had recently returned from the states with some treats in his suitcase. Frasier, the landlord, kindly included us in tasting one of the prized bottles.

Stone Brewing are known in the states for bullish over the top marketing, "it is quite doubtful you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this depth" is the slogan that adorns their Arrogant Bastard Ale. The beer we were lucky enough to try was their double IPA ,Ruination. Surprisingly my over all impression of the supposedly 100 ibu+ beer was that it was very balanced and not nearly as over the top as some American IPA's I have tried in the past. Last year Full Sail Sunspot was entered for competition and that is a seriously bitter beer.

Stone Ruination 7.7%abv
Pours a light gold with a wispy white head (one might have expected it to have a green tint) a mineraly aroma with a big citris character, hints of American biscuity malt character resulting in a sweet interplay between resiny hop and the malt. On the palate the biscuity malt character is continued with loads of resiny US hop flavour, ends in a smooth bitterness. My Overall impression is of a very balanced beer, not nearly as hop monstrous as is boasted.

100 ibu's ? is it possible? many would argue not.