Stone IPA

Stone has been brewing their eponymous IPA for longer than most of us were brave enough to tackle the subject of the ultra hoppy, high alcohol beer style. Started over 20 years ago by a couple of friends in San Diego, California, Stone has always prided themselves on putting flavor before trends and their stunning take on the West Coast IPA plays right along with that concept. While it's hard to trace the roots of the current IPA rage, starting with Stone's version isn't a bad place to begin the research. They were most certainly one of the first breweries to begin brewing this extra crisp, extra hoppy, extra in your face beer.

We'd be remiss if we told you to drink this out of the bottle, though you certainly won't fall down in a fit of pain if you don't have a glass with you. The folks at Stone want you to experience their beer in the biggest way possible and that starts with a proper pour into your favorite drinking vessel. The beer flows out of the bottle in a clear, copper color, bubbling to perfection, creating a wonderful white head atop. The nose is instantly hit with the aromas of the hop oils, and this is why you want to drink it from a glass. Let those babies breathe! Pink grapefruits and resin straight out of redwoods on the John Muir trail. The flavor comes along on the same trek. Citrus, pine, tropical fruits. The hops really shine through, reminding us why we all love IPAs in the first place.

Stone IPA is the perfect brew for a backyard bbq, a camping trip, a poolside shindig, or a seat in front of the big game. Pair it with all of your favorite gameday treats, but always note that a hoppy beer will bring out the spiciness of those buffalo wings, so perhaps better reserved for some teriyaki chicken skewers and a bit of grilled pineapple.