Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, California) recently announced that they are wrapping up their 20th Anniversary Encore Series with the re-release of Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA this month.

First brewed and released in 2010, the inspiration for Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA was found after Stone Brewing President & co-founder Steve Wagner took a research trip to England in 2009.  While there, Wagner familiarized himself with the “confusing and often contradictory history of IPAs” and returned with the idea of putting this newfound knowledge to work in the brewery’s upcoming anniversary beer.

To start, Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA was brewed using only British malts, hops and yeast.  In an attempt to further pay respect to the birthplace of the IPA, “even the water was adjusted with mineral salts to more accurately reflect the renowned brewing water chemistry of Burton-on-Trent.” With all of that said, Stone Brewing – being who they are – could not contain themselves and finished the recipe off with a little San Diego flair by adding an “aggressive dose of hops.”  All of this culminates in a beer that is “powerfully spicy with an earthy aroma” and has a “malt sweetness and a light biscuit flavor making a brief appearance before a long, complex and decisively bitter finish.” With this level of attention to detail and craftsmanship, it is no surprise that the initial release was incredibly well regarded by fans of the brewery and that made it an easy decision for Stone Brewing to re-release Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA to close out the 20th Anniversary Encore Series.

“That trip to England was inspiring to say the least,” said Stone Brewing President & co-founder, Steve Wagner. “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.”

20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA is available now as a limited release offering.  You can find this beer in 22 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer establishments in Alabama, Florida and throughout Stone Brewing’s national distribution footprint.  This is your last opportunity to raise a glass of a 20th Anniversary Encore Series offering in celebration of Stone Brewing Co.’s two decades of unwavering dedication and unmeasurable contribution to craft brewing, so be sure to grab yourself a bottle of 20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA on your next beer run.  Prost!

Vital Information for 20th Anniversary Encore Series: Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA from Stone Brewing Co.

Release – Limited, 20th Anniversary Encore Series; official release date of October 17
Style – Double India Pale Ale
ABV – 8.9%
IBUs – 100
Hops –  UK Target, Boadicea & East Kent Golding
Availability – 22 oz. bottles & draft
Distribution – AL, FL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI and Puerto Rico
Official Hashtag – #StoneEncore 
Beer Finder – https://find.stonebrewing.com