Branford, Conn.-based Stony Creek Brewery announced the introduction of its Crankenstein India pale ale (IPA) series, a rotating selection of hybrid IPAs that merge West Coast- and New England-style influences. This concept is set to be released Jan. 15. Each version is numbered and makes its appearance every other month, the company says. The 16-ounce cans will be sold in limited amounts of four-packs throughout all markets where Stony Creek Beer is available.

Crankenstein is an unorthodox brewing experiment resulting in a seamlessly stitched together evolution of the style, the company says. The heart of this IPA is pure West Coast, described as clean, dry and bright, with a balancing bitterness. Crankenstein's soul, however, is thoroughly New England with an exceptional mouthfeel and lush hop aromas, it says. 

"We're making a stand with this beer," Stony Creek's Brewmaster Andy Schwartz said in a statement. "We love the New England-style IPA, but we think it can, and should, evolve into something so much more. With the right brewing process and a bit of courage, we can create something that just might challenge people to consider a new path in NEIPAs."

New England-style IPAs are popular right now and are marked by a cloudy appearance, low bitterness, smooth creamy mouthfeel, and lush often "juicy" hop flavor and aromas, the company says.

"We took the New England style and added a little West Coast attitude to it," Lead Brewer Gordon Whelpley said. "We increased the bitterness ever so slightly, dried out the finish a touch and filtered the beer bright. This still leaves the same smooth body and huge juicy hop flavor and aromas, just balanced a bit better by the dryness and clean bright finish. It really is the best of both worlds."

The series will launch with Hatchling 001, a 7.2 percent alcohol-by-volume IPA brewed with Simpsons Golden Promise Malt for its mouthfeel, Pilsner malt for a crisp and clean finish, and copious amounts of Simcoe and Citra hops for notes of passionfruit and tropical citrus. Every two months, a new Hatchling will emerge with a different combination of hops, the company says.

Stony Creek Brewery’s beers are distributed in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.