I've been excited to try this beer ever since it was announced. You guys all know I'm a bit of a hop head. I love them all, east coast, west coast, English style, Belgian style, dry hopped, wet hopped, black IPAs, white IPAs, wheat IPAs, double IPAs, triple IPAs, barrel aged IPAs, even coffee IPAs, but never in my entire life have I had a German style IPA. As we all know the IPA originates out of English brewing tradition. It has become widely accepted by American brewers and has become one of the most popular beer styles in the world. But leave it to those devious bastards at Stone to take the IPA in a direction heretofore unknown to me. A beer brewed entirely with German pilsner malt and a host of German hops that checks in at 9.5% ABV and a beastly 102 IBUs. I can't wait. To the beer!
Götterdämmerung pours a rather beautiful shade of vibrant honey gold. It honestly looks almost lager like, but there's a richness to the color of this crystal clear brew that I can't quite put my finger on. The beer is topped by a tall, creamy, incredibly sturdy layer of bright white foam that leaves spotty lacing.
On the nose resiny, grassy, herbal hops come out in a big way alongside a beady malt notes of toasted biscuit. Just to remind you that there is a little of the IPA that you're familiar with in here there are some bright citrusy undertones hidden behind the intense German hop aromas.
The bitterness is present here from the word go. From the moment the beer hits your tongue to long after the sip has finished Götterdämmerung is bitter, very bitter. I dig it. Intense floral, earthy, grassy hop flavors lead into a creamy fullness that comes in mid-palate with subtle fruity flavors of lemon, tangerine, and just a bit of pear. Before the finish a toasty malty sweetness before that intense bitterness comes back and lingers long through the finish.
This beer is wild. Stone has truly done something that I have never seen before with an IPA. Earthy, grassy, complex, delicious, and really bitter. Almost silly bitterness here. Seriously, If you aren't one for the bitter beers your time and dollars are probably better spent elsewhere. If you're like me though, you will love Götterdämmerung. I sure did. Here's to 17 more, Stone!
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