The Brü Revü - Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0

When Stone announced they were retiring the original Ruination Double IPA it left many a hop head hanging. The Ruination for many was their introduction to heavy handed hop Heaven with its palate blistering hop overload that defined the style for years. With the ongoing development in the use of hops and the introduction of newer hop varieties Stone felt it was time to update its classic Double IPA to take advantage of new techniques such as hop bursting. The beer poured a deep golden amber with a full white head that left great lacing in its wake.  It was a great smelling beer with an aroma full of juicy tropical fruits and citrus with a little bit of dank thrown in that easily lean to the more modern takes on the style. The taste followed suit with loads of dank tropical fruits and citrus and a bit of pine that followed with the trademark aggressive hop punch that quickly took over my palate. It was great that the familiar mouth pummeling bitter hop overload was still present as that was what got all us hop heads hooked on the Ruination. The Ruination 2.0 definitely has a more updated hop profile while maintaining its trademark bracingly bitter and aggressive attitude.  A perfect update by Stone to classic beer. Having it in 6 packs is a huge plus as well as I will be picking this up on a regular basis.

Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0

The Brü Revü - Karbach Hop Delusion

Karbach’s Double IPA Hop Delusion has grown quite a reputation in it’s native Houston, and now it is available as a summer seasonal in 4 pack cans.  With their increase distribution that includes Austin I was easily able to pick up some of this legendary brew. Coming in at over 100 IBU’s and dry hopped with an insane amount of Mosaic and Simcoe hops, the Hop Delusion packs a hoppy punch. The beer poured a deep orange amber with a significant white head that left decent lacing.  The aroma was deep and dank that was full of an oily resinous tropical fruity wonderland.  The taste followed with an onslaught of hops that began with a bracingly bitter assault on my palate that quickly became a dank and tropical fruit hop paradise.  The juicy tropical fruit tone gave way to a slight piney bitterness that coated my palate.  I found the Hop Delusion was tantalizingly delicious that kept me coming back for more bitter hoppy punishment.  Thank you sir may I have another! I have long been a Karbach fan and have always looked forward to having a few on my frequent visits to Houston.  The Hop Delusion has become my favorite in their lineup and it is easily on par with the top Double IPA’s in the region. A great local Double IPA is always a good thing and I look forward to picking this up all summer long.

Karbach Hop Delusion

The Brü Revü – Oasis Texas Brewing Meta Modern Session IPA

Oasis Texas Brewing is a fairly recent addition to the beer scene in Austin that mainly focuses on Session Beers. They have had an excellent start with their initial line-up of beers and a few award winners to boot.  Their Meta Modern Session IPA is a new offering that may be following the Session IPA trend, but is easily the best version I have had.  The beer poured a slightly opaque straw yellow with a large white head that left generous lacing. The aroma stood out immediately with huge citrus and dank tropical fruit notes that hit your olfactories with a huge hop overload.  The taste followed suite with large doses of juicy citrus and fruity dank hops that leave a pleasantly bitter coating on your palate. While the beer may initially be a bit thin, which is to be expected with a Session IPA, I felt that the added hop notes gave it enough body to keep the beer from turning into a thin watery mess that turns me off of most Session IPAs.  Oasis use a technique called hop-bursting to use the Citra and Mosaic hops to their full effect and take this Session IPA to full IPA hop dosage.  The Meta Modern was a refreshing and drinkable beer that will easily slake the thirst on these hot Texas summer days with a large hop bite to keep you coming back for more.  I think I found my new go to summer beer.  Cheers!

Oasis Texas Brewing Meta Modern Session IPA

The Brü Revü – Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

Since Stone decided to retire this beer it seemed only right to give it a proper review.  The Sublimely Self-Righteous is a Black IPA as only Stone could do it.  Heavy on the hops with a solid dark and roasty background this was a truly Self-Righteous drinking experience.  The beer poured a deep brown with ruby highlights and a very large and robust tan head.  The hops hit me immediately with a very citrusy and floral aroma along with a bit of pine resin.  The dark malty backbone was lingering beneath the hops, but not as present in the nose.  The taste was a full on bitter hop assault with the citrus and pine hop notes that faded into a malty and burnt roasty porter that ended with a burnt and piney bitterness on my palate.  The beer was full and creamy which matched well to its appearance and left a pleasant bitter coating on my tongue between quaffs.  A really outstanding Black IPA and a shame it will be discontinued.  I am sure Stone has great plans up their sleeves and I hope another outstanding Black IPA is in their future.  Either way, grab a Sublimely Self-Righteous while you can and enjoy!

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

The Brü Revü – Real Ale Full Moon Rye IPA

Real Ale has gone through a re-branding that seems long overdue.  One of the stalwarts and unsung heroes of the Texas craft beer scene they have been brewing world class beers in Blanco, TX will little fanfare or acclaim. They are loved and well known to those of us who have been in and around the Austin and Texas craft beer scene, and their re-branding has brought their lineup a sleeker and more consistent look. I for one love the change as it instantly recognizable and gives their brews a fresh look. Along with this re-branding, Real Ale decided to make a recipe change to their already outstanding Full Moon Rye Ale to make it a Rye IPA.  An added dose of hops and an increased abv have created a spicy rye IPA that will most likely have more appeal to the newer craft beer crowd that craves IPAs. The beer pours a deep orange amber with a nice and fluffy head.  The nose was a terrific hoppy blend of citrus and tropical fruit and immediately let me know that this was a different Full Moon.  The taste followed the nose with the citrus and tropical fruit hoppy bitterness that was riding the familiar spicy rye malt flavors.  The additional hops really took this already great beer to a whole new level.  A citrus and fruity IPA with a spicy rye malt backbone that was impeccable.  A great revision of a great beer just created a sublime IPA.

Real Ale Full Moon Rye IPA

The Brü Revü – Victory Hop Ranch

Victory’s Hop Ranch Double IPA is one of their winter seasonals, and what a great seasonal it is.  With all the spiced this and overdone that I prefer a straight up knock your socks off double IPA like the Hop Ranch.  The beer poured a crystal clear light straw with a decent white head that left good lacing.  The aroma was sweet and juicy tropical fruits with some grassy almost pilsner qualities.  The flavor is where the Hop Ranch takes over your palate.  Bursting with big beautiful tropical fruits on the front end thanks to the Mosaic hops this is a beast out of the gate.  The flavor slowly evolves into a floral earthy sharpness that mimics a Pilsner on the back end and coats your tongue with a wonderful bitterness. The tropical fruitiness of this brew made it for me and while I was quickly downing my glass I realized how well the abv was hidden.  A great beer from top to bottom, the Victory Hop Ranch is one Winter seasonal I will seek every year.

Victory Hop Ranch

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, December

This will be the last of my many Greenhouse IPA reviews as Hops & Grain has announced that they will begin to release the Greenhouse IPA on a regular basis rather than the monthly release.  They will continue to experiment with the dry hop dosage each time which will keep all us hop heads satiated.  This is great news in my mind as it can be a long dry few weeks between releases, and the continued experimentation will allow each batch to remain unique.  On to #12 (December) Greenhouse IPA which is a celebration of the past year of hop overload and experimentation. Twelve different dynamic hops went into the hop bill with Cascade, Centennial, NZ Wakatu, Chinook, Meridian, Mosaic, Nugget, Amarillo and Hersbrucker.  As you can imagine the hop profile is all over the place but in a good way. As typical the beer pours and looks identical every month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma was juicy with load of citrus and tropical fruits and a bit of oily dankness to boot.  The taste has it all.  It starts big with loads of juicy citrus and tropical fruits that ends with a piney earthy bitterness.  The whole rides an oily, dank hop profile that made my hop tastebuds tingle with delight.  This celebration to a year of hoppy love was a big, bold and bright IPA that was a pleasure to consume.  The past twelve months has been a fun ride and I look forward to the future of more regular releases and experimentation.  Great work H&G!

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, November

The #11 (November) Greenhouse IPA is a big juicy & resinous hoppy monster.  Dry hopping with Meridian, Liberty and Nugget hops, Hops & Grain delivered a divine IPA.   As usual the beer pours and looks almost identical each month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma was hugely fruity with a resinous pine note that was perfect right before the Holidays. The taste exploded with juicy tropical fruit tones that hit the Juicy Fruit description right on the head.  Underneath was a piney resinous hop body that revealed itself after the initial fruity onslaught.   This months iteration was a delicious IPA and beautiful beer all around. The Greenhouse IPA's are always easy to drink but this one was so smooth and drinkable I couldn’t put it down. Another great Greenhouse IPA and one of the best yet.  I don’t see these lasting long in my beer fridge.

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, October

The October (#10) Greenhouse IPA is definitely one of the more unique versions of  the series.  Hops & Grain used a blend of Crystal, Centennial, Bullion and Horizon hops to truly experiment with the flavor profile of this iteration.  As usual the beer pours and looks almost identical each month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma was very earthy and oily and while that may seem odd in a beer it worked very well in this case. The taste was where this IPA stood on it’s own as this was not your standard IPA but something bold and different.  It started with an earthy grassy punch in the face that quickly yielded to a melon and citrus smoothness with oily hop undertones throughout.  My first reaction was a bit of a shock as the aroma and flavor profile were a departure from the status quo IPAs, but as I continued to quaff I slowly began to love it. I will thoroughly enjoy every can of deliciousness, and anxiously await what is to come next month.  I love what H&G dreams up with each batch and how it is expanding my hop knowledge.  Kudos and keep it up!

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA

The Brü Revü – Community Mosaic IPA

A business trip to Dallas allowed me to pick up this Community Mosaic IPA gem.  I was able to have it on tap as well and it was an outstanding beer drinking experience. The beer poured a slightly hazy amber with a full and fluffy white head that left generous lacing. The aroma was that perfect Mosaic hop of big tropical and citrus fruit with some sweetness holding it all together.  The taste followed with the same fresh, big and bright tropical fruits and orange citrus with a subtle sweetness carrying all the fruity bitter hops.  The flavor left a slick and bitter resinous coating on my palate that made this an incredible IPA.  This was my second single hop Mosaic IPA and the Mosaic hop really hits the perfect IPA tones for me. A phenomenal all around IPA and a wonderful beer from Community in Dallas. Start sending this to Austin!

Community Mosaic IPA

The Brü Revü - Stone Ruination IPA

I had this monster of a beer back when I was just getting into craft beer and was not into IPA’s.  You can imagine the shock to my palate the Stone Ruination gave me.  All these years later when I revisit this classic Double IPA from the masters of the IPA I can now appreciate and thoroughly enjoy this masterpiece.  The beer poured a crystal clear golden amber with a decent white head.  The aroma was of grapefruit and citrus with a hint of tropical fruit and a sweet malt underneath.  The taste is aggressively hop forward and takes your palate on a hop journey from beginning to end.  After you get over the initial hop overload you get loads of citrus and grapefruit rind that peaks with a malt sweetness and ends with an intense pine palate coating.  The Ruination has a nice malty sweetness that helps balance the heavy hops and dry finish.  This is a top tier palate numbing hop bomb of a Double IPA.  Just because its readily available don’t overlook this excellent brew.  As always drink it fresh to truly achieve hop nirvana.

Stone Ruination IPA

The Brü Revü – Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA, September

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9… According to the Greenhouse IPA site, Hops & Grain used a blend of Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo, German Hersbrucker and a hint of Meridian for good measure for their Greenhouse IPA #9 for September.  As usual the beer pours and looks almost identical each month with a deep golden amber and fluffy white head. The aroma had earthy floral hops with some resinous notes, but more on the floral side.  The taste started with floral tropical fruit and citrus but quickly changed gears to a sharp earthy and pine bitterness that left a nice resinous aftertaste on my tongue.  As with every Greenhouse IPA the wonderful hops are riding a nice sweet malt body that makes these brews easy to drink.  This version is definitely a more earthy and floral IPA and keeps the creative hoppy iterations of these Greenhouse IPAs on a high level.  So far Hops and Grain can do no wrong with these IPAs

Hops and Grain Greenhouse IPA