Stone Brewing Co – RuinTen (2014)
A stage dive into a mosh pit of hops.
Beer Name: RuinTen (2014)
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
Beer Style: Double IPA
ABV: 10.8%
IBUs: 110
Size: 22 oz. bottle
Beer Advocate: 96
RateBeer: 100
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION:
We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, since we’re now unleashing this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public on an annual basis. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.
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I have had every release of this beer since it was introduced in 2012 (originally called Ruination 10th Anniversary and supposed to be a single release). And every year this beer reminds me why I feel in love with IPAs and DIPAs. Seriously, Ruination was one of the first strong IPAs I had ever tried, ever. I dove right into the bitter, resinous deliciousness that is IPAs and DIPAs with a Ruination, so when I found out they were releasing this every year–this has become one of my favorite beers to look forward to.
APPEARANCE:
Dark orange pour, with really nice pale head on the top.
AROMA:
My wife would tell me this smells like nail polish remover, but I think it’s one of the sexiest smells in the world. Seriously, I would bathe in this if I could. I don’t know what it is about it, it’s a resinous, earthy, fruity and piney smell. It touches all the gammits of what an IPA is. …
Dear Stone Brewing co, please make a cologne based off of RuinTen or Enjoy By!
TASTE:
Okay, once again, this could be a biased review, but frankly I don’t give a damn. This beer is fucking fantastic. Seriously, this beer is a punch in the tongue and throat. It starts off sweet for about .01 second, then it is just a bitter hop-bomb. The resinous hops sit on your tongue and throat. I remember reading on Ruination that this was going to ruin my tongue–well honestly, it did. I don’t have the patience for sub-par IPAs anymore because of how well balanced Ruination (and RuinTen) are.
OVERALL:
I eargerly await this beer every year, so do yourself a favor and just go buy this. Stop reading and go find this sucker. And if you can’t wait for the next Stone Enjoy By to come through, because that is the only beer that allows me to wait a year between releases of RuinTen. Hopheads unite, this is a phenomenal beer that you will be talking about for quite some time. Yes, it’s overbearing and powerful, but would you expect anything less from Stone?
RATING:
5 out of 5
Until the next beer:
Beer God
