#tipfortap

I am already tired of typing because the name of this beer is so long.

My parents came to visit this weekend, and since I grew up in San Diego and my parents are the best, they generally bring me some large format local brew-- for our wedding, it was the Enjoy By 9.20.14 (our wedding date. Full disclosure: we enjoyed it a week late and it was still awesome.) This time around, it was this collaboration between Stone, Baird Brewing, which is in Japan, and Ishii Brewing, which is in Guam (because, sure.) It's an IPA that packs a DIPA punch with its 10.1% ABV.

Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA (Second Edition)

Style: Like I mentioned, this is labelled an IPA, but packs a bit of an ABV wallop. It has that Stone IPA character, but it's not like any beer you have had before (because I know every beer you've ever had!!) 

Where: At our apartment, while forcing my parents to sit through a slideshow of photos from our trip to Thailand; I also saw it on tap at Top Hops in the East Village

5 words to describe it: Green tea, Grassy, Hoppy, Light, Smooth

Paired it with: Goat cheese and crackers

Should have paired it with: The obvious choice would be something Asian and a little fatty, but I would choose the flavor you want to bring out and highlight that-- maybe a coconut curry or shrimp to bring out the sweetness, or a wood plank grilled fish to bring out those super earthy and woody flavors from the green tea.

Score (1-100): 89

Drink it if you like: Stone IPAs, Green tea, peppery saisons

Step up from: Lagunitas IPA-- which is good and a beer I like! This one is just way more interesting and subtle, but still has that distinctive West Coast hop punch.