[gmac]

I'm in downtown St Louis, just beside the arch and I thought I'd give a few of the American IPAs a try. Had my first Bell's Two Hearted Ale which was good but they also had Ruination on tap so I had a couple.
7.7 ABV, 100 IBU, slight copper colour and a touch cloudy but very attractive appearance. Incredible head retention and nice lacing. Strong presence of US hops with a tonne of hop flavour and aroma. This isn't my preferred style of beer but it was pretty good and I will order it again. If you are a fan of the Two Hearted Ale I mentioned, you'll probably really enjoy this too.

[bluesman]

It's been a while since I've had this beer but from my recollection, I thought the beer fit the mold for a DIPA. Lots of intense hop aroma and flavor, and very bitter. I also thought there was a fairly supportive malt presence. Overall a very good DIPA but not what I was expecting. I will be trying this beer again next week when I go to NHC in San Diego. Maybe my opinion will change when I taste a fresh one.

[maxieboy]

When fresh, it's one of my all time favorite commercial beers. Enough malt presence to compliment the a$$ton of hops. I like 'em bitter and hoppy. Gonna give a clone recipe a run very soon. If and when I get it down, it will go into regular rotation.

[blatz]

When fresh, it's one of my all time favorite commercial beers. Enough malt presence to compliment the a$$ton of hops. I like 'em bitter and hoppy. Gonna give a clone recipe a run very soon. If and when I get it down, it will go into regular rotation.

+1 - I had recently given up on Ruination after a few lackluster bottles over the past 2 years, but a month back on friday happy hour, my favorite fish joint had it on tap and on special, so I gave it a whirl for old time's sake - incredible - Pliny still holds the top slot for me, but this moved back up the rankings!

maxie - ryan6458 has a pretty good clone of ruination over on NB if you need it.

[maxieboy]

Cool! I'll look it up. Thanks for the lookout.

[stlaleman]

As long as you are in St Louis, try Schlafley's American IPA, recently came out, very good this year.

[gmac]

I will try to find it. Had a bunch of the pale ale last night and a "Big Bison Ale" but can't recall the maker. It was good but had an interesting caramel or molasses flavor that I can't quite place. They've got Schafly's Hefeweizen and Summer Lager. May have to go out on the town to find the IPA.

[gmac]

Couldn't find it. Had a Cathedral Square "Belgian Style" IPA. Pretty good. Bitter but less hop aroma.

[cheba420]

Ruination fresh from the source (Stone Brewing in Diego) is hard to beat. Its a big one but oh sooooo good when you get it fresh from the brewery. Love me some Bells 2 Hearted as well. You got two awesome American treats on that visit, my friend.

[bluesman]

Ruination fresh from the source (Stone Brewing in Diego) is hard to beat.

That's what I'm putting my money on next week. 

[EHall]

From the brewer at Stone:

Stone Ruination IPA
2-row pale malt
C-15 crystal malt
Magnum and Centennial hops
Finishing ABV=7.7%; IBU’s=105

He also suggests using WLP002...