Stone Brewing
Stone IPA
A defining West Coast IPA, and one of the beers that made assertive bitterness a selling point rather than an apology.
- Strength
- 6.9% ABV
- Style
- West Coast IPA
- Brewery
- Stone Brewing
Also called Stone India Pale Ale.
Stone IPA is the West Coast reading of the style at its clearest: pine and grapefruit hop character, a very dry finish, and a bitterness that does not soften as you drink. There is deliberately little malt sweetness to hide behind.
It matters historically because of when it appeared. American drinkers were being asked to move from adjunct lager to something ten times more bitter, and Stone chose to advertise the bitterness rather than downplay it.
What it tastes like
Inherited from West Coast IPA, because this beer sits within the normal range for it. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried as a reference example of its style |
|---|---|
| Strength | 6.9% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Stable — this product has changed little and is not expected to. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- Very dry, with little residual sweetness to cushion the bitterness
- One of the beers that established assertive bitterness as a positive selling point in American craft brewing
If you like Stone IPA
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
American IPA — try Sierra Nevada Torpedo or BrewDog Punk IPA
A close structural match for Stone IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly more bread & biscuit (none–trace → low).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A close structural match for Stone IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly more roast (none–trace → low–moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A close structural match for Stone IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less bitterness (very high → high).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
Double IPA — try Pliny the Elder or Heady Topper
Keeps most of what Stone IPA does and shifts sweetness.
Different: slightly more sweetness (trace → low).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Session IPA — try Beavertown Neck Oil or Founders All Day IPA
Keeps most of what Stone IPA does and shifts resin & pine.
Different: noticeably less resin & pine (high–very high → low).
May not suit: Noticeably less resin & pine than Stone IPA.
American pale ale — try Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Little Creatures Pale Ale
Keeps most of what Stone IPA does and shifts sweetness.
Different: slightly more sweetness (trace → low).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
India pale lager — try Jack’s Abby Hoponius Union
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Stone IPA.
Different: slightly less bitterness (very high → high).
May not suit: Very close to Stone IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
British golden ale — try Oakham Citra or St Austell Tribute
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Stone IPA.
Different: much less resin & pine (high–very high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less resin & pine than Stone IPA.
German Pils — try Rothaus Tannenzäpfle or Jever Pilsener
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Stone IPA.
Different: much less citrus (high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less citrus than Stone IPA.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from West Coast IPA. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Aubergine
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Cornish pasty
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Dim sum
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Empanadas
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Keeping it
West Coast IPA shows best within 1–3 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from West Coast IPA. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.