Stone Brewing Enjoy By 12.25.15

Beer Name: Enjoy By 12.25.15
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: $3.42 for 12 oz. single

Bottled on Date: November 17, 2015
Date Purchased: December 5, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: December 6, 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 has shipped this beer to 36 states, Puerto Rico, one Canadian province (Alberta), Japan, Singapore, and the UK.

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured clear golden into a pint glass. Good carbonation with just a bit of white head; sudsy surface. Some lacing on the glass. 4.25/5

Smell (25%): Wonderful hoppy tropical aroma, including grapefruit, mango, and pineapple. Also dank. 4.5/5

Taste (40%): Mostly dank experience upfront, with tropical flavors of mostly pineapple and mango. Slightly bitter (controlled) aftertaste with some alcohol detected. Refreshing and flavorful. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel (10%): A medium-full body and malty experience. Bitterness on the tongue from being a very hop-forward beer. 4/5

Overall (20%): A solid Double IPA. I felt this one packed a bit more punch than many of its predecessors and drank more like the 9.4% stated on the bottle. Still drinkable and worth it if you want the good stuff. 4/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.238/5