Stone Brewing - Enjoy By 4.20.2013

"You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - we've taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA."                                       -  Stone Brewing

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Beer name: Enjoy By 4.20.2013
Beer Style: IIPA
ABV: 9.4 % 

    Being a hop head and holding Stone Brews close to my heart- they were a huge part of my roots in craft beer- it is very difficult not to go gaga whenever they introduce a new beer, especially an IPA. But Stone's Enjoy By series are....AMAZING!! My first Enjoy by (12.21.2012) blew my palate away with its intense hoppiness and I have been hooked ever since. Extremely hoppy from the first aroma to the last bittering taste, this beer takes your palate to hop heaven.Not only are they hoppy, they are jam packed with delicious citrus/peachy flavors.  All the while assisting in your buzz with their 9.4% ABV. 

   
         At first glance, this beer is the Kate Upton of sports illustrated, the Jennifer Aniston of Friends, the Anna Kendrick of...any movie she is in. It looks scrumptious, as you can all see by the picture above. Great sized white head, frothy and fully lasting. It poured as if in a commercial of great craft beers. The golden sparkling body was very welcoming. The aroma delights with heavy doses of fresh peach and grapefruit hoppiness. This is definitely one of the smoothest double IPA's I've ever had, as the moderate initial bitterness is taken over by the almost sweet bitterness of the end. Its a beautiful beer from head to toe and just as divine on the pallet. The fresh hopped IPA style, used also in Russian River's Pliny the Elder, is truly marvelous. I know these didn't get distributed in San Diego but get your hands on the next batch if you can. 

Aroma: 10

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 9

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 28/30

Inject some Randomness in your mornings. KCCO

Mother Earth - Kismet

"Do you believe in fate, destiny, chance, will? Does it really matter? Something brought you to drink this beer. Oh wait, could it be a mad man of an IPA that reeks of NZ Nelson hops and leaves a lingering anesthetic bitterness that is sure to ruin any beer consumed after it? Columbus tends to do that. You forgot what we were talking about didn’t you? Did you care in the first place? That’s what we thought. Just relax and savor every sip, that is, if you can take your schnoz out of your glass "                      -   Mother Earth Brew Company

Brewery: Mother Earth
Beer name: Kismet
Beer Style: IPA
ABV: 7.2 %

    First off thank you to the people at Mother Earth Brew Company for their great beer and for being the first of many beers that I will be rating. The pleasure was all mine. I am a huge fan of the Nelson NZ hops which I was just recently turned on to. Karl Strauss Big Barrel IIPA & Alpine's Nelson are two of my favorite beers that use Nelson NZ hops. My wife was actually going to surprise me and get me a bottle of Nelson from Bine & Vine but they had ran out. She was then recommended to try Kismet.

   The beer flows smoothly from the bottle with a small and creamy head which quickly diminishes. The off white head is a great crown to the honey-brown/orange'ish color of the body. Kismet offers some of the most delicious aromas for an IPA as the abundance of grapefruit hit in a refreshing and lively way. A light sweetness crossed my palate as soon as the beer met my taste buds  followed by a moderate to heavy bitter finish. Just like an IPA should. All around a great IPA and a great recommendation from Bine and Vine.

Aroma: 8

Appearance: 3

Flavor: 6

Palate: 3
Style Rating: 8/10

Overall: 20/30

Life is short, have some fun. KCCO