Enjoy By.. tomorrow?

Heard of "best by" dates.. shelf life?  Yeah, so have I.  But here's the thing, most people thing they apply to food and don't consider the fact that beer falls under these as well.  Just getting into beer.. well you probably haven't had the chance to have a nice cellared beer that once was great but may taste muted, or forgot about that nice hoppy spring beer only to discover it in November and suddenly it's not as hoppy anymore.  Well, beer goes bad too.  Now, it shouldn't go bad unless there's an issue with the actual batch or the cap/seal..but the beer can change.. can skunk if not stored right.. can lose flavor.

And Stone actually banked on that with their most recent special offering -

Enjoy By.  Stone means that.  Apparently the way they formulated this recipe, the flavors WILL mute after the date listed apparently.  Probably slightly gimmicky such that hop heads and beer geeks alike will rush out to get this - small batches, noted expiration - but will it live up to the hype?

The batch to hit MA (and other states, as well) is dubbed Enjoy By 12.21.12 and is a 9.4% ABV and 88 IBU Double IPA.  Even more fitting that the MA batch is "bad" by the day that the Mayan apocalypse is supposed to kill us all!  I was lucky enough to get a taste when it first hit the stores - which, by the way, it was bottled on 11.16.12 and stores in MA got it on 11.19.12... HOLY SHIT!!! - as well as snagging a small little glass at the Vertical Epic fest last week.  It was utterly amazing those times.  Let's see how it is on the eve of it's life span - 12.20.12.

Gorgeous sunshine straw pour and an average, but dense head that left great lacing as you drink.  And the nose..  literally, as soon as the cap is cracked this beer fills the immediate area with with the most glorious hop aroma you've ever laid nostril to.  It's citrusy, it's grassy, it's grapefruity, it's piney, it's thick, resiny and bright.. it's pure heaven for hop lovers.  There's the faintest underlying caramel and biscuit malts.. both in the nose and taste, but all that quickly gives way to the hops.  This could easily be marketed as pure hop extract it's THAT hoppy.  WOW.  Just take one little sip and the sticky bitterness lingers for 5+ minutes.. I'm not even kidding.  It's drying, it's harsh, it's sticky and sweet, but sweet baby Jesus you want more!  I often found myself cupping the mouth of the glass just to breathe it in.  It was huge and bold, just smooth and drinkable with amazing complexity coming from basically one ingredient (but multiple kinds).  For a double IPA, hell even a normal IPA, I'd say this is as close to perfect as it gets.  Heady Topper edges it out on the malt front just a touch and, even though it as well is supposed to be enjoyed fresh, this is fresher and this is meant to be all out hopalicious!

If I could, I'd give it 10 hops, for sure, this is the closest to perfection I've had, ever.  The slightest touch more malt would make it a perfectly rounded double IPA..  so 9+ hops ( I added the little extra beneath! )