A Craft Beer Revolution? The Stochasticity Project Grapfruit Slam IPA

The announcement of the Stochasticity Project brings excitement and curiosity to those enveloped in the craft beer world (and beyond). The project dives in to the science of beer to create unique and strong (“Stone-like”) flavors in an innovative way. So you may be asking…what the hell is Stochasticity?

Stochasiticity is explained on the website as “a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredictable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.” Peruse the website further and you will soon realize that Stochasticity is Stone’s attempt at using science (like beer scientists) to engineer the perfect brew. The project highlights scientific equipment that is used to detect off-flavors, dissect the beer, and point out areas of flaws that will then be remedied. The PR promises a bold, flawless flavor.

And…Here’s how it tastes:

Appearance: Amber/golden color with white head — good head with great lacing.

Aroma: Citrus. More specifically, grapefruit. The scent is a clean grapefruit that reminds me of getting squirt in the eye with grapefruit juice.

Taste: Fresh grapefruit taste at the start, followed by the hoppy flavors of an IPA. Bitterness does not overpower the grapefruit, but instead balances the flavor. I would say the hops highlight the grapefruit flavor and definitely make the fruit the star. Finishes with…grapefruit flavor!

Mouthfeel: Crisp mouthfeel with a bit of warming as it goes down.

Overall: A pleasant surprise. The beer is well balanced and it really is hard to find a flaw in the brew. The carbonation is on point (not too much, but enough to last throughout the entire drink) and the taste matches the aroma very well. While the overall flavor is grapefruit, there is no forgetting that it is an IPA. Looking forward to the next release from the Stochasticity Project!