For today's review I have done a comparison between Green Flash Palate Wrecker and Stone Ruination IPA. These two beers do just what the name implies, and that they "wreck" or "ruin" the palate. They are incredibly hoppy and bitter beers with IBUs over 100 each, on the extreme end of the spectrum.



Here are the details for the two:



Green Flash Palate Wrecker. San Diego, CA. 9.5% ABV. 100 IBU. American Double/Imperial IPA



Stone Ruination IPA. Escondido, CA. 8.4% ABV. 105 IBU. American Double/Imperial IPA



For the test, I was made unaware which beer was in which glass. I referred to each as beer one and beer two and wrote a review on each. My goal was to figure out a favorite. I have had both several times before and typically buy palate wrecker more often, but Stone is my favorite brewery so I was curious if I would prefer Ruination in a taste-off.



Beer 1



Beer one has a lighter color- sort of a murky, orange hue. Sweet smelling with a bit of citrus. Heavily carbonated and a huge rush of hops that disappear quickly. There is no real aftertaste, but the rush of hops at the end leaves the palate feeling surprisingly dry.



Beer 2



Beer two is darker in color than the first. Like one, it is quite murky but has a more amber color with an orange tint. The smell is boozier than the first with hints of orange, caramel and citrus. Again very heavily carbonated with another large rush of hops and bitterness that appears at the end. Stays on the palate a bit longer with a bit of an aftertaste. Again, this beer leaves the mouth feeling dry. This one tastes of stronger alcohol.



I prefer beer two but both are excellent. Beers are the same style and from the same city.



1-94/100

2. 96/100



1. Stone Ruination

2. Green Flash Palate Wrecker



Overall two great beers from the San Diego area. They are solid, West Coast style DIPA/IIPAs that continue to take IBUs to the extreme. I would definitely recommend both!

Firestone Walker Double Jack DIPA. Paso Robles, CA 9.5% ABV.



Bottled April 21, 2014. Poured cold into a snifter. Pours a perfectly clear amber color with a bit of an orange hue. There is practically no head with only a thin, white lace. Smells of citrus, pine and grapefruit. Medium carbonation with a burst of hops. It is hard to believe that it's 9.5%.



Overall a gem from Firestone Walker. Very drinkable, very crisp and very refreshing. Definitely reinforces why double IPAs are my favorite style.



99/100

Green Flash Grand Cru. San Diego, CA Dark ale 9.1%.



12 oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours dark brown with almost no head. A very strong alcoholic smell is evident right from the pour. Notes of pipe tobacco, chaw and caramel. Smells of a good Belgian strong with a smokey hint. Heavily carbonated at first but leaves no aftertaste and the hop character is not too evident.



A very boozy dark ale. I would've guessed that it was stronger. As the bottle advertises definitely a mysterious dark ale. Once again West Coast fails to disappoint.



93/100

Wormtown Hopulence. Double IPA. Worcester, MA. 8.5%.



Bottled April 2014. Wormtown Hopulence ranks up there with my all time favorite beers. Bears a striking resemblance to The Alchemist's Heady Topper. Came in a 22 oz bomber and served in a brandy snifter.



Pours a murky amber color. This brew is extremely fresh, even though it was bottled 8 weeks ago. Aroma is strong, citrusy, piney, resiny. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a fresh taste to it. A blast of hops right from the start with a moderate bitterness.



Definitely one of the best DIPAs in the game, and a close second to Heady in my book. I will buy this every chance I get, and cannot wait for the day when Wormtown starts distribution in NYC.



100/100

Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5. American Black Ale. Ipswich, MA, 10% ABV.



My first beer from Clown Shoes, and a good one at that. Pours dark and nearly black with a thin tan head. Aroma is of coffee and chocolate. The taste is of heavy hops and malts with a lot of alcohol. Body isn't overwhelming but leaves a strong alcohol aftertaste. This would definitely be a sipping beer, and one that I would be interested in aging.



Overall a good beer from Clown Shoes. I am generally not a fan of black IPAs but this one on the stronger side made it seem almost more like a stout or porter. I would recommend and will be on the lookout for more Clown Shoes brews.



93/100

Be Hoppier-Wormtown Brewery. Worcester, MA. 7% ABV



This was another home run from Wormtown. Bottled in April 2014, this IPA was extremely fresh. Served chilled and poured very hazy into a brandy snifter. This beer is unfiltered and has significant yeast sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Notes of citrus and pine, smooth mouthfeel with a strong bitter taste. I still prefer Hopulence, but this is up there with some of the best IPAs.



Overall a great beer that I will certainly buy anytime I see it.



98/100

Jack's Abby Barrel-Aged Framinghammer. Bottled 01/16/14, 10% ABV.

An excellent choice for my first official review for A Beer a Day. Jack's Abby has yet to disappoint me.

Pours thick and very dark with a limited head. A heavy bourbon smell is evident right from the pour, yet is not overpowering. Aroma is of bourbon, chocolate and coffee. Taste is on the sweeter side, with a strong bourbon aftertaste.

Overall an excellent beer from Jack's Abby. Ranks up there with the bourbon aged stouts, even with the lower ABV. Definitely one to drink fresh but I will be going back to get one for the cellar.

97/100