Lightly hazy with light head retention, smells of classic piney, herbal, and floral West Coast hops. The taste is crisp and bready with flavors of toasted biscuits, caramel, honey, and soft citrus on a smooth full body. The finish is long and moderately high in bitterness, featuring notes of grapefruit peel, lemon zest, pine needles, and dense spicy/herbal hops. Overall, it’s fantastic honestly, bold and aggressively hopped but balanced by equally assertive malts. This original rendition of Ruination is a beer I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get a chance to try (I’ve had Ruination 2.0, and even the ultra pretentiously named 2.0 sans filtre previously; I think this one may be a little less hoppy, and as a result a little more balanced). Ultimately this is what made Stone famous and for good reason, though I can’t help but wonder if they’ve lost their way a bit as this tastes and looks better than almost any of the newer beers I’ve had from them.
Bottled on: 9/20/22
