Stone Stochasticity Project Grapefruit Slam, Quadro Triticale, Hibiscusicity and Master of Disguise

Stone Stochasticity Project GRAPEFRUIT SLAM IPA - Ale with grapefruit peel added (2014)

Check out the making of this beer series HERE.

22 fl. oz. / $9.99 USD / 8.2% ABV

About: "India pale ales harness the inherent flavor characteristics of hops to bring forward familiar flavors of pine, resin, spice, and citrus. In some cases, those botanicals are so potent, they exactly mirror specific edibles. Such is the case with Centennial hops, which hail from the Great Northwest and come across on the palate like a mouthful of citrus fruit. That sensation is amplified with this, the first beer introduced via the Stochasticity Project - a double IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook and Magnum hops as well as an immense dosing of fresh grapefruit peel. The result is over-the-top bittersweet grapefruit intensity that is at once refreshing and bracing in its citrusy bitterness. MALTS: North American Pale, Light Crystal / HOPS: Centennial, Chinook, Magnum, Centennial (Dry Hopped) / SPECIALTY: Grapefruit Peel." 

Thoughts: Bottled 1/23/14. Drank 2/23/14. Don't know what the hell this is or where it came from, but it looks like a Stone bottle and was alongside all the Stone beers so I figured what the hell. Slam poured an extremely clear golden yellow color with some mild carbonation and a one inch fluffed out ultra white head on top. It's been a while since I've seen a beer this clear, should I be worried? The scent is really good. There is a ton of grapefruit in there just as advertised. Seemingly nice balance. Not too bitter, not too sweet... the hops aren't too strong and neither are the malts, but they're both flowing in unison here and it's a mildly sweet brew. It's nicely bright and citrusy, and smells inviting.

There's a ton of hops up front on this one and they're all great. We've got soft grass, tons of pine, a heavy dose of resin and massive amounts of grapefruit. All of them are intermingling and yet, they all pop up one at a time to say hello, which is nice. It's a very bittersweet beer that has a very welcome sweetness to go along with the heavy "slams" of bitter that are thrown at the tongue. It's got a very bitter characteristic to it, though it's not overly bitter at the same time. It's borderline perfectly balanced and has a certain strength to it, though it's not all that heavy. There's a ton of that grapefruit zest all over this one and it's nicely done. Mouth feel is a little oily, slick and somewhat foamy. This is a very enjoyable beer. If you're into Double IPAs with citrus sensations that are quite bitter but have a palate saving sweet side to them, then give this one a chance.

Stone Stochasticity Project QUADRO TRITICALE - a Belgain style quad ale brewed with triticale grain (2014)
22 fl. oz. / $ 8.89 USD / 9.3% ABV

About: "Trappist ales as we know them have a proud lineage dating back nearly a century. Rather than follow the footsteps of the monks who forged the quadrupel - the warmest and darkest of monastery offerings - we aimed to test its inherent makeup. In doing so, we added triticale, a hybrid grain combining the pleasant flavor of wheat with the elemental durability and spice of rye, to breathe new life into the malt bill. Because of this, this reimagined brew comes across differently than its classic Belgian predecessors, and beautifully so. Lower in sweetness, but rich with flavors mirroring dried fruit, it’s a modern interpretation of one of the most historically sacred styles on earth. MALTS: Pilsner, Flaked Triticale / YEAST: Belgian Ardennes Strain / SPECIALTY: Dark Candi Sugar."

Thoughts: Bottled on: ??? (Sometime in May or June). Drank: 6/15/14. I cracked the bottle and got a whiff of this pungent shit from a foot away. Poured it into the glass and it looks like a light raspberry juice. There's hardly any carbonation at all and the beer looks somewhat cloudy. The head was barely there and when it had settled, left what looks like a huge spiderweb clinging to the corners all around the glass rim. It's pretty cool looking. Smells of strong Belgian yeast, and it's kinda dirty and raw. The wheat/rye hybrid that they've used in this is heavy hitting and just fuckin' in your face. The first whiff I got was nearly off putting, but once I gave it a little time it started smelling more and more drinkable.

First gulp and I'll tell you I expected to have some sort of overpowering blast of craziness, but was instead met with gentle, soothing, sweet and malty niceness. It's soft, very very clean tasting, smooth and has a really low level crisp aftertaste. Surprising to say the least. I thought for sure I was going to be smacked upside the head with rye and then across the face with that wheat... but it's all just so gentle and blended together seamlessly. The alcohol in this is not even noticeable at all. It's just sweet and soft and pleasant and actually pretty good. Still, there is a rawness to this that is pretty damn thick. It starts off sweet and sultry, then gets down and dirty, but it never goes too far in either direction. All in all, it's pretty nice.

Stone Stochasticity Project HIBISCUSICITY - Belgain-Style ale brewed with hibiscus flower and orange peel (2014)
22 fl. oz. / $8.29 USD / 7.4% ABV

About: "In pushing the beer envelope, we aim to advance imbibers options for something far beyond run of the mill with this immensely thirst-quenching alternative. As original as the tongue-twisting name we coined for it, this robust Belgian-style ale is brewed with wheat, hibiscus and orange peel, bringing forth floral and citrus notes against a brilliant pink hue. MALTS: Pale, Wheat / HOPS: Magnum, Sterling / SPECIALTY: Orange Peel."

Thoughts: What in the hell is a hibiscus flower and why do I suddenly want it inside of me!? That is tonight's question, and the answer... is beer! Well apparently there are a million species of this flower, so yeah, that's pretty cool I guess. Wow. This is one bright pink beer! Looks like they might have used the red or pink ones. The smell is very floral, who would have thought!? It's not the heaviest of scents... there's mostly wheat and citrus peel. A seemingly nice balance of pale malt and herbal hops.

First gulp and man, there is something really cool going on in this beer. These flowers and orange peel take a solid balanced brew to a fun and interesting level. Slightly tart, sweet enough to cover any bitterness or heavy citrus, a little plain... but man it is floral and that's what matters in this one, because you can really taste the pedals, the stems, the leaves. I'm totally serious. Those three things resonate within this beer, as if you've been chewing on edible flowers. It's cool. It's slightly spicy, but it's a real mild one, and there's no real kick anywhere once the initial floral shock wears off. Overall this one is nice and mild, tasty and just a little bit lovely. It doesn't get too perfumy at all which is totally awesome, because if it did that would cloud the mouth. This one falls back aproprialtely and leaves a clean comfortable aftertaste. Nicely done.

Stone Stochasticity Project MASTER OF DISGUISE - imperial golden stout brewed with cocoa and coffee beans (2014)
22 fl. oz. / $8.29 USD / 9.7% ABV

About: "Some illusions and misnomers lead to life's most delightful surprises. Case in point - this beer, the yang to the yin that is the Black India Pale Ale. Once revolutionary for its onyx appearance, it is now an accepted and beloved member of the India pale ale family. Thus we took the spirit of a dark beer - the time-honored stout - and applied a similar science of thought, brewing it to be golden-hued. Cocoa and coffee beans impart roastiness sans darkening to this brew, while flaked oats provide an enveloping mouthfeel. The result is a stout that looks more like a blonde, but is a raven beauty at heart. MALTS: Carapils, English Amber, Pale, Flaked Oats / HOPS: Liberty, Nugget / SPECIALTY: Cocoa, Coffee Beans."

Thoughts: Looks like quite the deceptive beer we've got on our hands here. The back of this bottle makes reference to the Black IPA, and describes that as the Yin to this beers Yang. Interesting. This golden beer is incredibly clear, features a short frothy white head on top and smells just like freshly ground coffee at the supermarket. Hints of cocoa lay underneath it all, as does a quick burst of nuttiness.

First gulp and I'm hit with an unbelievably strong blast of coffee, followed by mild chocolate and then a quick explosion of oily and resinous hops. It's pretty cool. This was bottled on 11/4/14, and I'm drinking it 12/6/14, just thought I'd throw that out there. This series of beers so far has been pretty cool, I wasn't sure of it at first since I did't realize just until now what the spectrum Stone was going for was going to be. But as of now I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

It's some pretty smooth drinking. Not weighed down at all. It's not too light, but it is crisp and airy. It's so smooth though, even with that burst of bubbles at the beginning of each gulp. It slides right down the gullet and like I've said before, I'm not really one for coffee ground flavors all up in my shit... so for me to say that I recommend this means something. It's very balanced overall and comes off pretty slick.

Trappist Westvleteren 12

Trappist Westvleteren 12 (2013)
Yearly Brew (Limited Supply).

11.2 fl. oz. / $23.63 USD / 10.2% ABV

About: "Yellow cap (Formally Abt). Ingredients: Water, Westmalle yeast, malt, local hops, sugar."

Thoughts: Westy 12 poured a dark brown color with some raspberry tones around the edges and a kahki colored head that build up quick and faded just as fast. Sediment flakes float throughout the bottom of the beer, but it's a lot harder to see here than on the Abt 12 since this beer is slightly darker.

This beer smells rich and creamy. There's a lot of plum and raisin in the forefront, it's got a rum cake vibe to it and it seems to be rather chocolaty. Dark fruits and grapes dominate before a fresh cut apple scent flows in, and then when the alcohol hits it's almost like chocolate and vanilla soft serve with berries. Very interesting. It's really sweet and indulgent smelling, with that Westmalle yeast laying low in the background. Swirling the glass, a huge aroma of Marciano cherries in a freshly opened jar floods the nose. Cool.

First gulp and an explosion of soft pepper, grain and yeast floods the mouth. It's got an immediate sting to it too. Plums and figs dance around on the tongue, while caramel spills all over the place and toasted apples heat up in the far off distance. It's almost like a cobbler, drowned in rum. Raw bready dough puffs up while a rolling thunder of booze flows by. There's a brilliant sweetness to this beer that kind of hits the tongue like spiked brass knuckles. It's weird because I can actually feel it like that. Whereas the Abt 12 hit with one huge upward spike, this one seems to pound downward with four spikes across the tongue. Then again, I'm moderately insane! The bitterness in Westy 12 is fairly strong and brings a harmonious balance to the beer. The sweetness levels rain down like blistering cold coals, but are extinguished abruptly by a smooth, warm and soothing bitterness that levels the platform. Tons of spices smothered in a gentle pepper flood the senses after every gulp, spiraling around and tickling the gum line. 

Mouth feel is soft, wavy, and in a strange way, cleansing. It slightly dries the mouth, but refreshes at the same time which is odd. Perhaps this is magic beer? Aftertaste is low droning, pleasant, and rides out slowly. After a while a minute amount of rawness is felt, like a leafy hop breeze while breathing in. Drinking the remainder of the glass while the beer has warmed and a sensation of raw figs come through, followed by grainy water. The beer finishes clean, even with these occurrences. Everything apparently has its place within this beer, and knows when to make an appropriate retreat. Nicely done.

St. Bernardus Abt 12

St. Bernardus Abt 12 (2013)
Year Round Brew.

11.2 fl. oz. / $5.99 USD / 10% ABV

About: "Shortly after the Second World War, the Trappist Monastery St.Sixtus in Westvleteren was looking for somebody to commercialize their beer because they did not want to do that themselves anymore. They gave a license to the cheese factory, and Brewery St.Bernard was founded. The brew master from Westvleteren, Mathieu Szafranski (from Polish origin) became a partner in the brewery and brought along the recipes, the know-how and the St.Sixtus yeast strain. We started selling the Trappist beers under the brand names Trappist Westvleteren, St.Sixtus or even later Sixtus. During a period of 46 years we brewed and commercialized the beers while the monks continued to brew for themselves and for sales to 3 pubs in the neighborhood, amongst which In De Vrede, just next to the monastery. In 1992 the license came to an end and since then we are brewing the same beers, with the same recipes, but under a different brand name: St.Bernardus."

Thoughts: Abt 12 poured a chestnut brown, raspberry color with a huge beige head full of tiny bubbles. As I hold the beer up to the light I see an absolute ton of sediment flake floating like asteroids all throughout space. The head hasn't diminished in about two minutes so far and I don't think it ever will. 

The scent on this one is beautiful. There's intense plum like dark fruits, a sugary sweetness, peppery spices, a little bit of clove, and it smells a little like a rum cake. Just like the other St. Bernardus beers, that gorgeous yeast profile just flows forever through it. To sum up the smell on this one in a single word it would be candy. Swirl the glass and it erupts upward into the nostrils, delivering a minor sting of what's to come.

First sip and it's so rich, incredibly flavorful, and damn smooth. The alcohol immediately warms the insides, but is hidden extremely well inside the mouth. It tastes sweet like brown sugar and leaves a cold tickling haze like a clove cigarette. Tons of spice ravages the tongue and inner cheeks, and a swift kick at the end spirals through the bloodstream drilling into the brain. Man, this stuff is sweet. Those European hops are doing one hell of a job trying to hold it back too. Fruit like flavors bounce all over the place, showing up in random spots kinda like fireworks going off. There's caramel apple, fresh sliced pear covered in cinnamon and black pepper, grape must, ripped open raw fig, and even some nearly spoiled banana. While the sweetness here hits a high peak, spiking high above the spice and bitter departments at one point, all three of those things are blended superbly here.

Mouth feel is soft and fuzzy, and leaves a thick coating on the teeth. After a while the mixture of the alcohol strength, peppery yeast and grassy hops give way to a drying sensation and a grainy yet enjoyable aftertaste. Abt 12 has no doubt earned its spot in the back of my fridge.

Lost Abbey Judgment Day

Lost Abbey Judgment Day - Ale Brewed with Raisins (2012)

Year Round Beer.

25.4 fl. oz. / $8.59 USD / 10.5% ABV

About: "A massive beer in every sense of the word. A stronger and more contemplative version of our Lost and Found Ale. Judgment Day is the base beer for our Cuvee de Tomme. Many of the Trappist Breweries produce a version of beer which ages incredibly well for many years to come. And, since none of us knows when the end of the world is coming, we suggest you stock up with lots of Lost Abbey beers so that when the end of the world magically appears from no where, you’ll have a beer or two on hand for even the stingiest of angels.

Malts - Two Row, Wheat, Medium and Dark English Crystal, Special B and Chocolate Malt. / Hops - Challenger and East Kent Golding / Yeast - Proprietary Belgian Ale Strain / Adjuncts - Dextrose and Raisins."

Thoughts: JD poured a very dark amber shade that formed into an extremely deep purple that was near pitch black in the goblet, and was topped with a light and creamy multicolored, semi-foamy head.

I'm pondering why they named this one Judgment Day. It smells deceptive. Very fruity, yet dark Very powerful, yet constrained. I'm absolutely loving the raisins here. If the actual Judgment smell like this then I'd be happier than hell to welcome it even more than I do so now.

I got hit with some Belgian type yeast at first sip. There are strong and forceful dark fruit notes that come pummeling through, immediately followed by a beautiful and long lasting high-alcohol raisin smothering. The taste is similar to the smell, only it's a heightened version of it. It's not blindingly strong, but it's damn close. It's heavy handed, chewy and delightful. The fruity notes are all over the place and travel in circles throughout the mouth, ranging from black cherry to plum to raisin, all with burnt sugary spikes in between. There's a little molasses in the background, but I'm not focusing on that or the bready malts, as I can't help but enjoy the absurdly flavorful brazenness.

Feel is tingling, very bubbly and it leaves a slightly orgasmic burning haze after each gulp.

This is an awesome tasting and worthwhile ale. I'm really into these heavy raisin brews for some reason... which is weird because I haven't ever really enjoyed raisins as much as this and even somewhat disliked them as a kid. So what the fuck is going on with these ales brewed with a shitload of raisins that I love so much!? I haven't had many, but every single one I've tried I've loved. I guess it just comes down to... I want that purple stuff!

"That's the ingredients. Sugar. Water. And of course, Purple."