Stone Brewing celebrates 20th anniversary with new brew

Company launches commemorative four-pack

Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif., announced that it is commemorating its 20^th anniversary by crafting a new celebratory double IPA: Stone 20^th Anniversary Citracado IPA, brewed with avocado flower honey and Citra hops, the company says. Beginning this week, the craft beer company will release the new IPA in 22-ounce bottles and on-draft to retailers nationwide where Stone Beers are sold, it says.

While brainstorming ways to honor the occasion, the Stone brewing team wanted to craft a hop-forward recipe that would incorporate unconventional and local ingredients, the company says. As suggested by the name “Citracado,” Citra hops were used for the dry hop and “cado” refers to the use of native avocado flower honey, it adds.

A tribute to the citrus and avocado agricultural history of the region, the unique combination was inspired by, and pays homage to, the street on which the flagship brewery is located — Citracado Parkway., it says. The beer also showcases dominant orange and floral aromatics that transcend into the overall flavor and are balanced by the avocado flower honey and a strong malt backbone, resulting in a complex double IPA with intense sweet, citrusy hop character and lingering honey qualities in the background, it adds.

“Thanks to the incredible support from our fans, we have been able to do what we do for the last 20 years while upholding our rugged independence and core company philosophies,” Stone Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Greg Koch said in a statement. “We’re excited to close in on two full decades of high-quality brewing, and Stone 20^th Anniversary Citracado IPA is our special way of saying thank you to all craft beer supporters. Cheers to what the future holds for true craft.”

To further thank its fans, Stone Brewing also is releasing some of its milestone Stone Anniversary Ales, including Stone 5^th Anniversary IPA, Stone 10^th Anniversary IPA and Stone 15^th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA. Consumers who might have missed the brews the first time around now have another opportunity to enjoy these beers alongside the company’s 20^th Anniversary Citracado IPA. Each of the throwback anniversary IPAs will be exclusively available in the Stone Anniversary IPA Collection four-pack, which will start rolling out in select markets nationwide beginning the week of Sept. 12, the company says.

“Our 5^th, 10^th and 15^th anniversaries were significant achievements for Stone Brewing, and each year was celebrated with a bold, flavorful IPA that was groundbreaking for that time,” Koch said. “Fans will be able to relive a bit of Stone history with some of our most beloved Stone Anniversary Ales, featured only in the Stone Anniversary IPA Collection. This is the first time we’ve rebrewed these IPAs since their debut. We’re thrilled to provide this very unique opportunity for our fans to relive the past with us. It’s the perfect way to reminisce.”

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