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Stone Brewing Company Enjoy By 02.14.15 – American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.4% ABV

Stone Brewing Company Enjoy By 02.14.15 American Double / Imperial IPA at  9.4% ABV ($10.49 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 650 ml, best before 14-Feb-2015 )

Pours clear pale gold with two fingers of white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim and spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is mango, pine resin, grapefruit, pale and caramel malt. (5/5) Taste is moderate sweet and moderate to strong bitter. (5/5) Medium body and decent sustained carbonation, with an off-dry building bitter finish and a gentle warming. (5/5)

Don’t tell me how to live my life, bottle! Even though this is ten days past the best by date, this is probably the the best Enjoy By I’ve tried so far. This is pretty much the perfect DIPA – the flavours are a wonderfully balanced combination of all the best hop characteristics, with just enough sweetness to balance out the huge bitterness that comes out on the finish. And like prior vintages, the high ABV is hidden to a truly impressive degree. Literally the only thing in this brew that could be improved is the head retention and lacing, which is a pretty minor aesthetic consideration. (19/20)

10/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com