Nick Carr on March 18, 2018 0 Comments Photo Credit: Stone Brewing Quick Characteristics Brewery Stone Brewing Location Escondido, CA Style American IPA ABV 7.5% IBU 76 Hops Mosaic, Loral, Mandarina Bavaria Malts ? Shelf Life Enjoy within 2 to 3 months Suggested Glass IPA Glass Serving Temp 46-50°F Availability Year Round Food Pairings Chicken Tacos w/ Lime & Mango Salsa, Mongolian Beef, Blue Cheese, Frozen Yogurt (Brewer’s Suggestions) Scorpion Bowl IPA is already Stone’s third new release for this year. But, it has the special privilege of being the only addition to their year-round lineup for the year. It actually isn’t totally new, being brewed for the first time as part of their pilot series in 2017. Obviously, it did well enough that Stone decided to give it a permanent place. The name Scorpion Bowl comes from the alcoholic concoction of the same name, which usually includes several types of fruit juice along with several alcoholic spirits including rum and vodka… or whatever is available, I suppose. I’d never heard of this, but then, I’m pretty ignorant where mixed drinks are concerned. Sounds pretty good though. The beer is apparently Stone’s response to the popularity of fruit IPAs in the last couple years. All you need do is a quick Google search for “Fruit IPAs,” and you’ll get inundated with lists “Top (enter # here) Fruit IPAs,” “Fruit IPA Guides,” “Must-Try Fruit IPAs” and so on, and so on. I have to admit this whole craze (still ongoing, but toned down) washed over me and out of my system pretty darn quick. Just not that enthused with it, I guess. Well, Stone touts Scorpion Bowl IPA as full of tropical and fruity flavors; “a real fruit punch to the palate”, but with no fruit added… it’s all hops here, baby. This… now, this is something I can get behind. I always love being surprised by the depth and breadth of flavor and nuance hops can bring. In my review of Loral & Dr. Rudi’s Inevitable Adventure, I made a point of noting I was a little less than enamored with the story on the bottle. Not to say there was anything wrong with it. But, being a writer, I really enjoy the tongue-in-cheek, haughty stuff they write, plus I probably had Arrogant Bastard and Ruination on my mind…. All this to say, Scorpion Bowl IPA makes up for it. Here it is just in case you want a bit of a laugh: A Punch To The Stinger: “For this ale to have landed in your hands it has survived a rather exotic journey. It began, as these things do, far, far away in an untamed land where desert isles and seafaring traders’ caravans alike evoke dreams of purple sand and mysterious flora, swallowed and hidden by fathom upon fathom of never-ending sea. And so it was there, where the ancient ritual drums could be heard past the tropic sands and deep in the jungle, that we found this recipe sealed with a Scorpion’s kiss. Midnight poetry whispered on the breeze of this mystical libation “may moon and may sun, my fairest one, a liquid dream of delight to awaken in the night.” It is also warned, however, that between the ripples of the Scorpion Bowl, mingled midway on the waves, one can hear the wailing of a lamenting lover, lost to the ancestral voices, measureless to mankind. And here you stand, seeking Kismet, answering love’s command. You’ve gotten this far, and find yourself wondering if scorpions indeed do kiss. “As true as the stars and the moon, yes, yes they do, with bittersweet tropical poetry, they kiss just for you.” Wow, if all this translated into this drinking experience I’ll be thoroughly impressed. THE TASTING Below are the tasting notes I took while drinking Scorpion Bowl IPA. If you tasted this beer or have a pint sitting in front of you as you read this review, please share your own tasting notes with everyone down in the comments below. The Pour: Scorpion Bowl hits the glass a deep golden color. Clarity is superb. Head stacks up to a finger and a half of white tightly knit foam. Retention is good; dropping to about a finger and leaving a bit of lace here and there. The Aroma: Aroma is all fruit. It lets off a complex cloud of strawberry, mango, papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, and light sweet citrus. Very light earthiness. The Mouthfeel: Body is a light-medium running smooth across the palate. Noticeable herbal astringency. Lightly drying on the finish. The Taste: At the front I get some nice notes of strawberry, sweet citrus, and a punch of muddled tropical fruits. Get a little less fruit than in the aroma. Taste brings out more of the earthy and herbal side. Bitterness rises toward the back. Low fruit backdrop in the otherwise crisp finish. Aftertaste is slightly dank with a subtle tropical fruit vibe. FINISHING THOUGHTS Well, what can I say, I’m impressed. This may be one of the first beer’s that if I didn’t already know, after taking a sip, I’d be inclined to think there was fruit within. It’s a great IPA; all fruit and floral in the aroma, but then expanding somewhat in the flavor to include more earthy and herbal tones. If this is what a scorpion’s kiss is like… I think I’ll have another.
