Delicious IPA - Stone Brewing Review
Stone Brewing makes some absolutely famous, hoppy, and over-the-top beers, often dealing with a lot of power behind the gargoyle on their labels. So naturally, we gravitate toward their beers, and the industry seems to follow their gravitational pull as well, considering they are one of the most iconic brewers out there.
Which is why we had to test their gluten-reduced Delicious IPA. Stone packs this baby full of Columbus, Calypso, Lemon Drop, and El Dorado hops. And while being gluten-reduced, Delicious still remains Stone strong at 7.7% ABV and 75 IBUs. They gave this beer its bold namesake for a reason, and Stone describes it as spicy and citrusy with notes of lemongrass.
Step up and pop a top with us as we dive into our first impressions.
First Impressions
On the Eyes--Delicious IPA is golden, clear, and topped with a white foamy head that diminishes quickly.
On the Nose--Powerful citrus with just a touch of caramel malt. Hoppy as can be, aromatic as can be. A floral spiciness comes through, reminiscent of that lemongrass addition Stone described.
On the Palate--The aroma doesn’t lie! And Stone certainly stays true to itself. The spicy floral and the bitter citrus are certainly the most prominent flavors, with the bitter citrus lingering through the dry finish as a tart grapefruit would. It has a bit of wild character to it, which also contributes to the lemongrass flavor. It is light- to medium-bodied with a mild caramel sweetness somehow coming through the powerful hop flavors, which is nice to taste in a gluten-reduced beer.
Verdict
Stone stands strong and true to itself with this Delicious IPA. The hops are powerful and aromatic, but the beer is not so oppressive that you can’t drink it. I was hoping for a bit more El Dorado fruity aroma and flavor, but it gets a little lost with the heavy citrus and spice hops. That being said, there is a touch of sweetness in this IPA that I have no doubt the El Dorado contributed to. Overall, the beer has a classic IPA taste that will please the heck out of any bitter-seeker. The punchy citrus sings and mixes nicely with the spiciness of the lemongrass flavor.
This beer is gluten-reduced, meaning that it was brewed with barley and then the gluten was extracted later. It’s a great IPA with a lot of umph for those gluten sensitive folks, and Stone also offers a Delicious Citrus and Double IPA to match their dedication to good beer while offering a gluten-reduced option. Our favorite is the Double IPA, but if you love a classic IPA flavor, check out the original Delicious IPA.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew