Shepherd Neame Stone Brewing California Double IPA

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Society Rooms, Maidstone, Kent

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		13 Apr 2008	Probably the best I had it over the 2 and a half weeks and a fitting tribute to say goodbye to the festival. I almost cried when I emptied my last mouthfull from the glass. The hops, the malts, the finish, the complete lack of any hint of alcohol. Perfect.
Ian		03 Apr 2008	So hoppy it makes me want to cry. The funny thing is the alcohol just isn't present in the drink until you try to stand up. Having learnt my lesson from last week, I took the first couple of pints easy, even though it is so drinkable. I then went home and finished the last of my rabbit stew that I made on Sunday and came back with my book and sat by one of the front windows and consumed some more pints of probably the best beer I will have this year in this pub.

The Saxon Shore, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	12 Apr 2008	Had a sip of Ian's. Drinkable ...just about.
Ian		12 Apr 2008	Not quite got the aroma, but just so drinkable. I love it.
Andrew		06 Apr 2008	Cointreau and BOLS Parfait Amour flavours domintated. Drinking this reminded me of the last time I hit the cocktail cabinet. Eventually I got used to the taste but as a beer it's madness in a glass.

The Shakespeare's Head, Holborn, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		08 Apr 2008	Not quite on form but it got better the more pints we had of it. Really came into condition. The simcoe hops are tremendous.

Horse & Guardsman (formerly Spoons under the water; The Lord Moon of the Mall), Whitehall, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		29 Mar 2008	Poured through a very tight sparkler. It tasted of Radox and I couldn't finish even 1/3rd of a pint.

The Last Judgment (formerly The Knights Templar), Chancery Lane, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		29 Mar 2008	Great condition, stunning dry hopped aroma.

The Samuel Peto, Folkestone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		27 Mar 2008	OK, so I was looking forward to this beer almost more than any other. Even the thought of it brought me out in a big smile. A 7% DIPA brewed in Kent at Sheps, a brewery I sometimes much deride. Stone Ruination is one of my favourite beers too so anything like that would be great. Then I got 2 pints of it and took it upstairs to the gallery of this converted former church (fitting really). The aroma is simply outstanding. The dry hopped hop, the simcoes screaming through and then this toffee malt. The beauty of cask conditioned beer. Earlier it was great on nose, sweetish toffee caramel in mouth, a touch thin even and fantastic hoppy finish. But just something missing. Now the condition is perfect. Still an aroma of leafy dry hops. Like rubbing a fresh hop flower between your fingers. Some hop resin. But the mouthfeel has got better, creamier, fuller. Still distinct caramel, but wider, fuller mouthfeel to when I first had it. Finish has lasting, oh man, lasting green, simcoe, dry hop flavour. Didn’t know it was going to be on, no idea, just the discovery, the worry about distribution, how much was made, would only specific Spoons get it. I went home after the first 4 pints and then did an 80 minute round trip to come back and have it again just in case I didn’t have it again or in this good a condition. I’ve never had a beer brewed in the UK like it. At no time did the alcohol come through until the next morning when I felt like death. Not as cold or as hard as some US IPAs I’ve had. One of the best UK brewed beers I’ve had.