Stone NxS IPA

Stone NxS IPA is an American Double/Imperial IPA, 8.2% ABV. This collaboration with Sierra Nevada has a fairly complex process, but I think this snippet from the bottle describes it as simply as possible… Two batches of an IPA were brewed and expertly blended to craft this multilayered beer. The first batch was split down the middle, with 50% being aged in gin-infused bourbon barrels and the remaining half aged in rye whiskey barrels. These beers were blended with the fresh second batch of IPA, which was generously dry-hopped…

This beer pours crystal clear and beautiful with a rich golden color and slightly off white head. I’m not getting any barrel at all on the aroma, but this is one nice smelling IPA that is loaded with some strong pine on the nose. I haven’t had anything aged quite like this one has, but it is one unique tasting IPA! The base IPA comes out first with a sweeter caramel malt that is being slightly bullied by some aggressive pine hops. The out of the ordinary barrel treatment is quite wonderful. The gin infusion hits, and mixes, with the pine hops in the middle of the taste. This is followed by a more typical sweet/vanilla/boozy flavor form the bourbon barrel. The finish is dry and a little spicy, adding yet another layer thanks to the rye whiskey barrels. (The second, and much warmer, pour from the 22oz bottle revealed more citrus on the nose and a more intensely dry woody finish)

This might not be the best barrel aged IPA I’ve ever had… but there is something about the 100% uniqueness of this beer that is very exciting.