Stone Brewing Releases Final Encore in Anniversary Series

In 2009, Stone Brewing president & co-founder Steve Wagner made a research trip to England to learn more about the confusing and often contradictory history of IPAs.

That epic trip resulted in an epic ale that years later makes its encore reign – the last in the series of Stone’s 20th Anniversary celebratory re-brews. 20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA will begin arriving in bars and restaurants where Stone beers are sold this week.

“That trip to England was inspiring to say the least,” Wagner said. “At the time, we were researching IPAs and we poured over 150-year-old brewer’s logs handwritten in ink. We were inspired to come home and try our hand at the most authentic British IPA we could possibly brew in the US. To re-release this beer is a trip back in time to one of the most inspiring times in my brewing history.”

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20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA is a dry-bodied ale that’s powerfully spicy with an earthy aroma. On the palate, peppery hops assert themselves early and often, with malt sweetness and a light biscuit flavor making a brief appearance before a long, complex and decisively bitter finish.

There is one thing decidedly San Diego about this beer, and that’s its aggressive dose of hops. 20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA is brewed to enjoy fresh but true to its origin, ages especially well on a six-month long ocean voyage.

British brewers in the 1800s made their IPAs big and as light in color and as dry as possible. That became Stone’s inspiration for this royally Emperial IPA.

It’s brewed using all British malt, hops and yeast. Even the water was adjusted with mineral salts to more accurately reflect the renowned brewing water chemistry of Burton-on-Trent. The famed town of East Staffordshire, England, is known as the birthplace of the IPA. The water from the River Trent is fabled for its healing powers and, coincidentally, is known as the best brewing water in the world. It boasts the highest sulfate, calcium and magnesium contents of any other major brewing center in the world, and low levels of sodium and bicarbonate.

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