It’s a common problem for the craft beer lover: the heart-wrenching experience of visiting to a local brewery only to find that your favorite beer is no longer being brewed. Typically, the only solution is to seek out those rare souls in the beer groups and forums who not only possess an extra bottle or two, but also are willing to part with one. Happily, Stone fans who have longed for this or that long-lost favorite quaff may be in luck, thanks to the brewery’s 2022 Throwback Special Releases.
The six beers chosen to be resurrected over the course of the year were selected by fan vote. Jeremy Moynier, Stone’s Senior Manager of Innovation, explains, “When we announce new beers on our social channels, fans always write in the comments, ‘Bring back SSR (Sublimely Self-Righteous),’ or, ‘Bring back Stone Green Tea IPA!’ With so much innovation happening around here, we think it’s really meaningful to give into nostalgia from time to time, too.” Sublimely Self-Righteous, an 8.7% Black IPA which was originally brewed for Stone’s 11th Anniversary, is now on tap and available in cans. Featuring Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops, the beer is medium-bodied with a dark hue and a dry finish providing notes of chocolate, coffee, orange, and pine.
Later this month, Stone will release the second brew of its Throwback series: Japanese Green Tea IPA, which was first released in 2011 as a collaboration with Baird Brewing Company in Japan and Ishii Brewing Company in Guam. The brew comes in at 9.2% and is double dry-hopped — first with Crystal, Pacifica, and Aramis, then with Japanese Sorachi Ace hops and Sencha green tea. The tea offers an aroma and flavor that distinguishes the IPA from traditional West Coast IPAs without completely overpowering the citrus notes of the hops.
Moynier makes it clear that while bringing back old favorites is fun for the fans and brewers, it isn’t always as easy as it may seem. “We hadn’t done the Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA in a while, so we had to dust off that recipe (which is always a challenge), and then the key ingredient, Japanese Sencha Green Tea, takes some planning to procure, especially in the amount we want. Then there’s the fact that we are in difficult supply chain times in the world, leading to longer lead times, shipping, etc.”
Following the Green Tea IPA, Stone plans on releasing RuinTen Triple IPA in late April, Peak Conditions Double Hazy in June, Stone 25th+1 Anniversary Triple IPA in August, and Stone Imperial Russian Stout in October.
Beer aficionados who for some reason aren’t feeling the nostalgia and so remain search of something new can seek out Stone’s One Batch Dispatch, a series of limited edition beers destined to be brewed only once, with a new ale released every four weeks. The latest iteration, released on February 2 at local Stone locations, is Pineapple Dunn Upside Down Wee Heavy, a 9.5% Scotch Ale brewed with pineapple and featuring a bold caramelized, malty character. The ale was brewed by Stone’s latest Homebrew Competition winner, Jason Dunn, who also serves as the president of Inland Empire Brewers homebrew club.
It’s a common problem for the craft beer lover: the heart-wrenching experience of visiting to a local brewery only to find that your favorite beer is no longer being brewed. Typically, the only solution is to seek out those rare souls in the beer groups and forums who not only possess an extra bottle or two, but also are willing to part with one. Happily, Stone fans who have longed for this or that long-lost favorite quaff may be in luck, thanks to the brewery’s 2022 Throwback Special Releases.
The six beers chosen to be resurrected over the course of the year were selected by fan vote. Jeremy Moynier, Stone’s Senior Manager of Innovation, explains, “When we announce new beers on our social channels, fans always write in the comments, ‘Bring back SSR (Sublimely Self-Righteous),’ or, ‘Bring back Stone Green Tea IPA!’ With so much innovation happening around here, we think it’s really meaningful to give into nostalgia from time to time, too.” Sublimely Self-Righteous, an 8.7% Black IPA which was originally brewed for Stone’s 11th Anniversary, is now on tap and available in cans. Featuring Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops, the beer is medium-bodied with a dark hue and a dry finish providing notes of chocolate, coffee, orange, and pine.
Later this month, Stone will release the second brew of its Throwback series: Japanese Green Tea IPA, which was first released in 2011 as a collaboration with Baird Brewing Company in Japan and Ishii Brewing Company in Guam. The brew comes in at 9.2% and is double dry-hopped — first with Crystal, Pacifica, and Aramis, then with Japanese Sorachi Ace hops and Sencha green tea. The tea offers an aroma and flavor that distinguishes the IPA from traditional West Coast IPAs without completely overpowering the citrus notes of the hops.
Moynier makes it clear that while bringing back old favorites is fun for the fans and brewers, it isn’t always as easy as it may seem. “We hadn’t done the Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA in a while, so we had to dust off that recipe (which is always a challenge), and then the key ingredient, Japanese Sencha Green Tea, takes some planning to procure, especially in the amount we want. Then there’s the fact that we are in difficult supply chain times in the world, leading to longer lead times, shipping, etc.”
Following the Green Tea IPA, Stone plans on releasing RuinTen Triple IPA in late April, Peak Conditions Double Hazy in June, Stone 25th+1 Anniversary Triple IPA in August, and Stone Imperial Russian Stout in October.
Beer aficionados who for some reason aren’t feeling the nostalgia and so remain search of something new can seek out Stone’s One Batch Dispatch, a series of limited edition beers destined to be brewed only once, with a new ale released every four weeks. The latest iteration, released on February 2 at local Stone locations, is Pineapple Dunn Upside Down Wee Heavy, a 9.5% Scotch Ale brewed with pineapple and featuring a bold caramelized, malty character. The ale was brewed by Stone’s latest Homebrew Competition winner, Jason Dunn, who also serves as the president of Inland Empire Brewers homebrew club.
Comments