Stone Brewing "Enjoy By" 07.04.15

Beer Name: Enjoy By 07.04.15
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
ABV: 9.4%
How sold: Six-packs of 12 oz. bottles; 22 oz. bottles
Where bought: Belmont Station (Portland, OR)
Price: $3.29 for 12 oz. single

Bottled on Date: May 28, 2015
Date Purchased: June 6, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: June 7, 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 gets even more international in shipping this beer! It appeared in 39 states, two Canadian provinces (British Columbia and Alberta), Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured clear golden into a pint glass. Good carbonation with barely any head; went from fridge to glass in under a minute. Not a lot of lacing remained on the glass. 4/5

Smell (25%): Inviting aroma of hoppy grapefruit and other tropical notes. An aroma I would enjoy all day. 5/5

Taste (40%): Mostly a dank tropical experience at the start, which smooths to a pleasing citrus aftertaste. A controlled bitterness lingers. To me, this is every bit as impressive as the "Enjoy By 03.14.15." Helps to enjoy this a mere ten days from bottling. Another must-try if you're a Double IPA fan. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Like its "Enjoy By" predecessors, a medium-body, malty experience. The tongue enjoys every last ounce of citrus hop. Dry on the tongue at the end. Still refreshing. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): Outstanding Double IPA. For me, it's a beer that drank just as smooth as the 03.14.15 and not as dank as the 04.20.15. An impressive easy drink for 9.4% ABV, and it took me a while to detect the alcohol flavors. Stone hits yet another home run with the "Enjoy By 07.04.15"! 4.75/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.725/5