Stone Baird Ishii Collaboration Japanese Green Tea IPA

Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, a collaboration by Baird Brewing Co. in Japan, Ishii Brewing Co. in Guam, and Stone Brewing, poured a hazy orange hue, topped with a strong off-white head and invigorated by medium carbonation.  The nose was an unpleasant mix of green tea, light citrus, and pepper.

Stone Brewing Japanese Green Tea IPA opened with dry, dusty tea notes offset by an herb and citrus hop profile before the biscuit malt center settled in.  The green tea flavors fought with both the hops and the malt, worsened by the bitterness that came through in the close. 

Stone Brewing Japanese Green Tea IPA isn’t a terrible beer, but it’s the worst offering I have tasted from Stone and really merited a more thoughtful recipe formulation than the ale infers.  “Hey, let’s throw green tea in an IPA” is the start of a good idea, but there was clearly little effort put in the follow-through to make this special.  At least it’s for charity…

Stone Brewing IPA India Pale Ale

Stone IPA, Stone Brewing's India Pale Ale offering, poured a deep golden hue into the glass, with moderate carbonation feeding a frothy cream head.  The nose was bursting with hops, led by classic notes of grapefruit and pine followed by significant floral notes.  


Stone Brewing IPA opened bright and hoppy, with the citrus, pine, and floral hop flavors playing off each other through the carbonation.  Sweet malts quickly joined in the background, but never took hold over the hops and a slight, peppery spice came through as the ale faded and bittered up just a bit.Publish Post


Although often overshadowed by Arrogant Bastard and some of Stone's bigger beer offerings, Stone Brewing IPA, for my money, may be the best representation of what a Northwest IPA (yes, I know Stone is in San Diego) is all about.  That isn't to say it is the "best", or that it is completely unique... quite the opposite; it hits every style requirement on the nose and doesn't push the character of the style at all.  It is, simply put, the poster child for what a PNW IPA should be.