Hound_Dog

Recipes 

Well I just popped the cap on my first Ruination from Stone about a half hour ago. I feel like I'm going to be chastised for saying this, seeing how many people here seem to worship the Stone brewery, but I'm not impressed. The aroma lacks any clear definition. The initial taste seems somewhat muddled, and malty for an IPA, and fades quickly into a soft bitterness with no lingering flavor. All that remains is a bitter taste that I can't define as hoppy bitter, just plain nothing there bitter. I will say that the light mouth feel was nice, and the head retention was fantastic, but I don't think that I'll be going back for more of this one.

tspilker

Recipes 

Yeah, based on the hype (a lot of it self-proclaimed) I was expecting a much bigger hop bomb from this beer. It doesn't claim to be a double/imperial IPA, but I think everyone classifies it as such. It is much weaker than I hoped. Ive even heard rumors that the IBU level doesn't meet its 100+ marking amount in actual practice, but that's just a rumor I heard.

I thought it was tasty, but maybe not worth the $6 or whatever it cost over the "standard" bomber price. I really enjoy their standard IPA though.

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The t stands for Tyler

Primary1, 2, 3: Empty
Secondary Fermenter: Empty
Kegged: Nothing
Bottled: Ironmaster Porter, EdWort's Haus Pale Ale, EdWort's Apfelwein, Tyler's IPA (Triple Cs IPA)
Future Plans: DC Raspberry Stout, EdWort's Robust Porter

snazzy

Recipes 

The older the bottle the less the hops jump out at ya. I have had old bottles that sat on the shelf forever and seemed like that.

You get a fresh bottle and IMO it stands up to its hype.

KingBrianI

Recipes 

My sentiments exactly. And I was chastised for saying so just recently. But your experience mirrors my own exactly. Not much hop aroma or flavor, medium bitterness and completely underwhelming when compared to the hype. I may have had an old bottle, but I don't feel there's as much going for this beer as the folks on the bandwagon like to make out.

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I'm too lazy and have too many beers going to keep updating this!

JoeMama

Recipes 

I loves me some Ruination, but at the costly cost of the bottle, I think that Ill stick with their regular IPA and still maintain an ear to ear grin.
I think the Ruination is a special times kind of beer for me. (Although I need to brew a clone or something)
-Me

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Ergo Bibo Sum - I drink, therefore I am.

Eggo Bibo Sum - I drink, therefore I waffle.

HellenicHomeBrewer

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I'm by far what they call a seasoned verteran of the beer world, but I was more unimpressed than impressed with Ruination

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Primary #1: Vanilla Cream Stout
Primary #2: All Citra IIPA
Secondary #1:
Secondary #2:
Bottled: Victory HopDevil Clone, Fat Tire Clone, Abbey Leffe Blonde
Keg: TBA

Hound_Dog

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To be honest I hadn't actually heard anything about this beer before I tried it. I didn't even read the bottle before I was halfway through it. The only thing that I knew was that a lot of people here love Stone beers.

Danek

Recipes 

I tried some Ruination, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, and Stone IPA recently. I thought the OAB had one of the most wonderful aromas I've ever come across in a beer, and the Stone IPA was a very, very good IPA. But yeah, I too thought the Ruination was a little bit meh. It could have been that the bottle I had was old, and perhaps my expectations were too high based on their other two beers. It certainly wasn't unpleasant at all, but I think I'd rather have their standard IPA.

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Bottle conditioning: Pliny the Elder clone; Tramp's Overcoat Barley Wine
Next up: Vanilla Porter

bruin_ale

Recipes 

Hhmmm.. I haven't had it in a while, but when I did - all I could say was holy HOPS Batman! I guess I'll try it again and see if I still think that, but the OP's description doesn't sound like the same beer I tasted.

MikeG

Recipes 

My take is that I bought another 6er yesterday, even when I don't need it.