Stony Creek’s new Crankenstein India Pale Ale series seeks to evolve New England Style IPA “into something so much more,” says Andy Schwartz, brewmaster.
New England Style IPAs are marked by a cloudy appearance, low bitterness, smooth creamy mouthfeel, and lush often “juicy” hop flavor and aromas.
“We took the New England style and added a little West Coast attitude to it,” says Lead Brewer Gordon Whelpley. “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% ABV IPA brewed with Simpsons Golden Promise Malt for an incredible mouthfeel, Pilsner malt for a crisp and clean finish and copious amounts of Simcoe and Citra hops for huge notes of passionfruit, and tropical citrus. Every two months a new Hatchling will emerge with a different combination of exciting hops.
Branford, Conn., based Stony Creek’s products are distributed in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.