Drink of the Week: Stone HiFi+LoFi Mixtape

Part of the brewery’s experimental Stochasticity Project, Stone Brewing Co.’s HiFi+LoFi Mixtape is the kind of beer that defies expectations, making it a prime candidate for this week’s Drink of the Week. The concept for the latest release was inspired by brewmaster Mitch Steele’s discovery of the 18th-century British custom of blending stock ales with fresh ales to balance out the flavors.

To make the final brew, a base stong ale made with 100 percent English hops and malts is left to rest for four months in first-use California red wine French and Hungarian oak foudres (a larger wooden cask typically used for aging wine). Once the batch has reached peak maturity, it’s blended with a fresh version of the same beer that’s been brewed at a lower proof. The final blend hits a round 8.8 percent ABV, and boasts all the woody depth and mellowness of a good barrel-aged strong ale, but with bright, surprising pops of mildly herbal hops and fruity esters. The body is full and round, with toffee and light berry elements and a medium-bitter finish.

It’s a one-time limited release, so find one soon and drink it fresh for best results. Check out the video above to hear more about the background of the beer from brewmaster Mitch Steele.