You know how your coat, gloves, hands, hair, face, and living room smell after carrying your Christmas tree in from your car? If you ever want to enjoy that experience in a session-strength IPA, try Stone Go To IPA. The imposing aroma of pine cones billowed forth from the crystal-clear pale yellow beer the moment it hit the glass. The first and every subsequent taste burst with piney resin and chlorophyl. There’s a very faint whisper of honey and white grapes among the evergreens, but this is a hop beer. In fact, the guys at Stone have employed a technique called hop bursting, where bittering hops, usually added near the beginning of the boil, are eliminated or significantly reduced in exchange for a charge of flavor hops massive enough to contribute the necessary bitterness. In this example, the bitterness is surprisingly very subdued compared a typical offering from Stone. There’s a harshness in the bitterness that I associate with their beer, but given its moderate level, I’m not put off.
I’m going to say that I liked Enjoy By IPA. But barely. If you like beer from Stone, go for it. If you don’t, this one isn’t going to convert you. I am glad to see a beer of restrained strength from a brewery not know for holding back.