Stone Brewing "Enjoy By" 3.14.15

Beer Name: Enjoy By 3.14.15
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
ABV: 9.4%
How sold: 22 oz. (650.618 mL)
Where bought: Belmont Station (Portland, OR)
Price: $8.31

Bottled on Date: February 6, 2015.
Date Purchased: February 17, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: February 18, 2015.

What's on the Label: "You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. Freshness is a key component of many beers -- especially big, hoppy IPAs -- but we've taken it further, a lot further, with this one. We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last. We've gone to extensive lengths to ensure you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we've sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA!"

When brewed? One-time batch. Stone Brewing makes fresh batches of a different "Enjoy By" beer for various special dates. Look for more information here.

Where distributed: Stone Brewing ships this beer to 25 states, two Canadian provinces (BC and Alberta), and Puerto Rico.

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured into a room-temperature pint glass. Stunning clear, golden-orange color. Some carbonation, but no head. 4.75/5

Smell (25%): Inviting grapefruit aroma with a bit of lovely orange-tropical notes. Some hoppy characteristics. For 9.4%, this is one heck of a treat. 5/5

Taste (40%): A mellow combination of pine, grapefruit, and hoppy notes. Some sweetness and again incredibly dangerous. Much like I said about Pliny the Elder, this is a beer that drinks way smoother and tastes more refreshing than what its alcoholic content states. No alcohol flavor until I got halfway through the pint glass. It is worth noting that, when I finished the bottle the next day (yes, I wanted to save some), the alcohol was much more noticeable. Not much of an aftertaste, but if anything, it is malty grapefruit. Not bitter at all the first day, more bitterness on the second day. Highly recommended to drink in one sitting -- and enjoy this with a friend, because the quality does go down the next day. Still would drink all day and twice on Sunday. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Refreshing and easy to drink. Probably medium body, malty presence. I get some lingering bitterness from the grapefruit. Excellent overall. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): Another world-class beer. Stone's "Enjoy By" series is one I have been keeping tabs on for a while, and after reading many rave reviews about this, I wanted to review their latest batch to ensure I got a fresh product and conduct my own fair assessment. The aroma alone sold me; that refreshing citrus blast is addicting to the point where I keep sniffing the beer before taking the next sip. This beer may be 9.4% ABV, but mostly drinks like 6.5%. The alcohol eventually hits, but I want to keep drinking. The great flavors and aromas make me throw caution to the wind. Stone hit a grand slam with this series. 5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.838/5