peachy keen

On the road it’s always nice to sample the local delicacies, and beer has definitely become one of those.  I kind of cheated though, since Stone Brewing is from California.  Not quite where I am, but close enough.  Being the festive season it is, a “tropically inspired” beer felt like just the thing.  It’s Stone Vengeful Spirit, an IPA that is supposed to include pineapple and mandarin.  The can is eyecatching at least, with the bright yellow sky behind the signature gargoyle.

It’s a golden yellow beer, with a lightly fruity scent.  The head is good, after several instances of weak heads.  Maybe it’s my refrigerator.  The beer is also a little cloudy, but it doesn’t look like there’s much left over at the bottom.  There’s a clear taste of mandarin, with a moderately bitter aftertaste.  It takes a while to sift out the pineapple, but after a few sips it can be identified.  The beer is sweet, but not overly so.  It keeps its character as an IPA, with a bitter base, but the lightness of the fruit makes it seem like a much softer drink.  The bitterness lessens over time, leaving a heavier sweetness, and since the beer is a hefty 7.3%, there is a slight danger of lightheadedness.