Stone Releasing Pale Ale 2.0 April 27th (Video)

Having witnessed the rise of lighter-bodied hoppy beers—extra pale ales and the like—Stone CEO and Co-founder Greg Koch decided it was time to reexamine Stone Pale Ale; quite a big deal considering it was the first beer Co-founder and original Brewmaster Steve Wagner released when Stone came into being back in 1996. The challenge of updating such a mainstay was a daunting one for Steele, but one he was up for. He and his team spent more than a year developing prototypes of the beer, dialing down the malt bill and experimenting with a variety of interesting hops. Early on, Steele and company became enamored with a newer cultivar, Mandarina Bavaria. Developed in Germany’s Bavaria region, these hops come on strong with citrus and stone fruit flavors and aromas. Because, rather than being a focal point, the malt bill heavy on European grains—Pilsner, Belgian Abbey and Cara-Munich—provides just enough counterpoint to support those hops, those hops burst straight to the forefront. But it’s not all about the hops. Steele also added a touch of rye to the recipe, lending a toasty spice to the beer’s finish, which lingers on the palate along with pleasing hop bitterness.

Of all our beers, the make-up and direction of Stone Pale Ale 2.0 most closely parallels the trajectory of our company. From the beginning, Stone has been about putting New World, decidedly Southern Californian spins on traditional European beer styles; paying tribute to beers hailing from the Old World while carving our own unique niche in the global craft brewing industry. The next chapter of our journey will see us opening Europe’s first American-owned and operated brewery…in Germany (Berlin to be exact). Revamping our original flagship beer and imparting it with a German-born hop allows us to tell the story of where we’re going in liquid form. We think our fans will agree, this story’s a real page-turner. Find out for yourself. Check out the Stone Beer Finder to see where Stone Pale Ale 2.0 is available on draft and in six-packs.

Tasting notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele

More than a year ago, Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele was presented with the challenge of reimagining this iconic recipe. Before deciding on the final formulation for Stone Pale Ale 2.0, Greg, Steve, Mitch and the brewing team evaluated a number of prototypes. It was ultimately decided that the new year-round release should feature a distinctive new hop variety known as Mandarina Bavaria and a radically different grain bill.  

“Revamping this recipe was a really big project for us, especially since our loyal fans, myself included, have an emotional attachment to Stone Pale Ale,” explains Wagner. “Mitch and the brewing team really stepped up to the challenge and created something we believe will satisfy people’s changing palates and growing desire for more unique hop varieties.”

Mandarina Bavaria, a relatively new hop varietal developed in Germany’s famed Bavaria region, offers a blend of earthy, citrusy, fruity aromatics. Magnum and Herkules hops provide bitterness that’s substantial, allowing for a unique pale ale that’s more hop-forward than its predecessor, without being overbearing. A touch of rye in the grain bill delivers hints of biscuity character and subtle spice on the palate, adding depth to this nicely balanced, eminently drinkable ale. 

Appearance: Beer pours a deep golden/light amber with a cream-colored head.
Aroma: A fruity hop blend comprising citrus and stone fruit aromas, along with a nice, spicy “continental” malt character.
Taste: The hop character stands out with spicy, fruity flavors. There’s a bit of herbaceous hop flavor, followed by substantial orange and peach fruit flavors. The malt character that follows has hints of biscuit with some spiciness from the rye malt.
Palate: The beer has a medium body and a substantial yet balanced bitter finish.
Overall: This is a unique and interesting take on the pale ale style. By using European malts and hops, the flavor profile is akin to several continental European styles yet has the bitter and hoppy elements of a classic craft-brewed pale ale. The hop character is focused on the Mandarina Bavaria hop, a new varietal from Germany that, while also having a nice European spice character, brings out huge fruit notes similar to orange and peach.