IN A GALAXY NOT TOO FAR AWAY (A time not too long ago) – The seemingly sinister Stone Enjoy By 05.04.16 Black IPA by Stone Brewing has risen from sources of dark malted barley. Brewed specifically NOT to last, this immensely hopped black IPA refuses to rest until it makes the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs to hopheads in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at select retailers nationwide.
With the balanced support of pleasingly smooth malts, Vic Secret, Ella and (of course!) Galaxy lead the massive hop addition in this predominately Oz system hop profile. When combined and added, the hops produce nuances of dankness and tropical fruit qualities that are evident in the aroma, with a taste that is distinctively hoppy. This devastatingly dark force is out to restore freshness and appreciation to the black IPA subsect in cantinas and lairs across select parts of the known universe.
“Keeping in mind the words of an immensely wise philosopher—‘Do. Or do not. There is no try’—we created a recipe that featured the exact traits we wanted our fans to experience from a black IPA,” said Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “The recipe we landed on really showcases the aromas and flavors of Australian hop varietals, which are balanced beautifully with the delicate back notes of roast and dark malts.”
A groundbreaking mission, the Stone Enjoy By IPA series facilitated a paradigm shift in how Stone and its distribution partners work together to deliver the most devastatingly fresh IPAs on the planet to craft beer enthusiasts. Just as on its light-side counterpart, the “Enjoy By” date sends an overt message to its fresh-seeking fans on the bottle, indicating precisely the date by which the black IPA must be consumed to enjoy maximum freshness. In the unlikely event that any Stone Enjoy By 05.04.16 Black IPA remains on the shelves on May 5, the Revenge of the Fifth will strike in the form of empty shelves and draft lines.
Hopheads only have 37 days to get their hands on this black IPA before its whereabouts are completely unknown…
For those social media savvy imbibers, Stone has a dedicated Web page, enjoyby.stonebrewing.com, that captures fans’ experiences with the Stone Enjoy By IPA series and all of its variations. Fans are encouraged to share posts using the hashtag #EnjoyBy on Twitter and Instagram or by checking in on Untappd. Tweets, photos and check-ins are then posted on the page’s live social feed.
“uughguughhhghghghhhgh wrrhw huuguughghg aarrragghuuhw,” said Chewbacca. “hnnnhrrhhh uughguughhhghghghhhgh raaaaaahhgh aguhwwgggghhh Stone Enjoy By 05.04.16 Black IPA awwgggghhh aarrragghuuhw uggguh uughghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh raaaaaahhgh.”
May the Fourth be with you. Always.
Name: Stone Enjoy By 05.04.16 Black IPA URL: enjoyby.stonebrewing.com Stats: 9.4% ABV, 80 IBUs Availability: Limited 22-ounce bottles and draft, beginning March 28 Hops Bill: Amarillo, Super Galena, Cascade, Centennial, Ella, Galaxy, Vic Secret Distribution: AZ, AK, CA, CT, DE, IA, IN, KS, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA and WA
Tasting notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele Appearance: Deep black with a light mocha head Aroma: A beautiful blend of tropical, stone fruit, berry and dank hop aromas with an interesting nutty and spicy note and hints of coffee and roasted malt. Taste: Fruity and dank, with lots of peach and mango upfront, some spice and berry in the middle, and a bit of a citrusy hop zing in the finish. It is bitter, dry and incredibly complex, to the point where you want to keep tasting it to see what else you’ll pick up. Palate: Medium bodied, dry and bitter Overall: This beer took six prototypes to develop and none of them ever quite nailed exactly what we were shooting for. After tasting those prototypes, we continued to refine the recipe each time. Once we finally nailed the recipe development dance between the hoppy aromas and flavors and the delicate back notes of roast, we graduated the recipe to our big brewery here in Escondido so we could bring it to you!
Suggested pairings, provided by “Dr.” Bill Sysak Appetizers: Hummus, bacon-wrapped figs, blue cheese-stuffed mushrooms, carnitas tacos, breaded and baked Parmesan spinach balls Soups and salads: Cheddar soup, black bean chili, arugula salad, Waldorf salad Entrées: Prime rib, flank steak with chimichurri, roasted lamb shoulder, shiitake risotto, vegetable lasagna with arrabbiata sauce, vegetarian bibimbap Cheeses: Wisconsin cheddar, Grana Padano, aged Gouda, Rogue Smokey Blue Desserts: Mississippi mud cake, pecan pie, peanut butter cookies, tiramisu, Cigars: Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill, Arturo Fuente OpusX, Cabaiguan Guapos
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