The Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
The Brew: R&R Coconut IPA
Availability: Draft, 22 oz bottles (limited, brewed once)
ABV: 7.7%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center
The Story? R&R Coconut IPA the result of a winning recipe at Stone’s AHA-sanctioned Spring 2013 Homebrew Competition. The innovative beer is brewed with 280 pounds of coconut and an unusual blend of hop varieties and is "guaranteed to taste like no IPA that's gone before". Let's find out!
The Beer? R&R pours out as bubbly, translucent butterscotch with almost no head, even with a firm pour. The nose is sweet and dank with hops, like the coconut has taken the hop wallop and smoothed it over. Notes of magno and citrus are there as well.
The tasted is dense with bitter hops, but there's a crispness in the finish akin to coconut water along with a slight nuttiness and something else... a hint of tea, perhaps, amongst the resin. Additionally, R&R is far more well-carbonated than most Imperial IPAs, which further aids the crispness.
Some posts have lambasted this brew for not having enough coconut flavor. While it's true, you wont think someone accidentally dumped a piña colada in your beer, it doesn't necessarily mean the coconut wasn't effective. When I order good curry, I'm not thinking - "I love ordering curry because I'm in love with coconut milk". No I ordered it because I love curry. I also love IPAs.
The coconut has provided a richness and crispness and seems to bring out some nut, tea, and fruit notes that would otherwise be buried. I couldn't help but continually turn to my glass, stating "This is really good." The coconut debate will rage on and we may never know exactly what Robert and Ryan were aiming for but, as far as the question - "Is it a good beer and worth it?" - absolutely.
