Ecliptic/Wicked Weed/Stone Points Unknown IPA

It seemed no single beer could adequately convey the collective talents of Portland, Oregon brewing legend and Ecliptic Brewing founder John Harris; Luke and Walt Dickinson, the brewmaster duo behind North Carolina’s Wicked Weed Brewing; and Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. So, this veritable triad of power opted to brew TWO beers. The first was a traditional Belgian-style tripel aged four months in oak barrels that originally housed red wine, then tequila. It was then blended at a one-fourth to three-fourths ratio with a freshly brewed West Coast double IPA to create this beer. A variety of diverse flavors coalesce into something more unique than any one beer our trio could have conceived.

 

Tasting Suggestions

by Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele

 

Appearance

Deep gold with a tinted red hue.

Aroma

Very interesting blend of peach and banana from the hops and yeast, plus toasted malts, hints of wood and a touch of alcohol heat.

Taste

Fruity, with lots of banana and berry components followed by peach and vanilla. Hints of wood, and a pronounced Belgian yeast component that is more banana than clove.

Palate

There’s a slight tannic presence in the finish from the portion aged in tequila barrels that is very pleasant and blends well with the beer’s substantial bitterness.

Overall

This beer is very complex. The idea of creating a beer blend that’s 25% traditional Belgian tripel (half of which was aged in red wine barrels that had been most recently used for aging tequila) and 75% modern double IPA was inspired by all three brewers’ love of traditional beer styles and pushing the envelope with new beers. The resulting beer drinks like a cross between a double IPA, a barrel-aged barley wine and a Belgian tripel. There are elements of all three and perceptions of the beer change as it warms.

 

 

Source: Stone Brewing Co.

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