This review is the one I’ve been waiting for. It’s hard to figure out where my love for beer comes from, but I think the fact that I watched Stone Cold Steve Austin absolutely demolish his opponents, take ass-kicking to a new level, revolutionize pro-wrestling, all while completely pounding beer after beer during my formative years has definitely factored in. Watching this every Monday night as a kid really sets you up to know just how good beer actually is, as well as how much your boss is going to suck.
So it’s no surprise that nowadays the beer chugging bad-ass Austin 3:16 has his own beer. Brewed by El Segundo Brewing Company outta California, the beer is named after Stone Colds own ranch, located in Texas and owned by the Texas Rattlesnake himself, The Broken Skull Ranch. Can we just acknowledge how awesome that name is?
It’s an IPA, which I will be the first to say I am not usually a fan of. I feel like IPA’s are like wine, just like all reds and whites taste the same, so do IPA’s. Just pure hops and dry anger at yourself for wasting money on yet another “craft” beer IPA. Yet, and this is 100% not because of my love for professional wrestling and Stone Cold (in fact, I’m an HBK guy), I actually enjoy this beer.
Starting with the can, it comes in a 4 pack for roughly $15. Not the best, not the worst. A bit pricey but at 6.7% ABV a can and 16 ounces each, it’s worth the price to me. The awesome Stone Cold skull on the bottom right along with the barbed wire and “dirty” yellowish tint of the can make this very appealing. You know off the bat you’re getting a pint of badass. Stone Colds name being associated most definitely adds to this factor.
I usually discuss the pour and critique the color, yet I don’t think that should account for too much of this beers overall rating. Like Stone Cold himself, this beer needs to be drank out of a can, relentlessly drowning yourself in it’s never-ending foam flow. For sake of fairness though, I’ll give a pour into a shot glass just to give you an idea of its color.
As you can see, it’s not as dark as an IPA usually is. It’s much lighter and closer to that of your typical light beer or lagers. This isn’t a bad thing here, though I’ve made it clear the perfect beer color is a dark brown, this one makes up for it in other ways. Once you take a sip, you’re not met with the usual over-hoppiness (hoppyness?) of an IPA. While the hops are there, the beer itself also has a somewhat creamy hint to, almost like a vanilla bourbon ale does, and it’s delicious. The after taste as well isn’t the usual IPA of dry hops where your tongue is begging for water, or at the very least a bud light. Instead it keeps a good flavor to it’s finish throughout the entire beer. It’s one I will most definitely drink again and again.
Overall, I am a big fan of this beer. It’s not one I would have ever tried had I not seen a giant cardboard cutout of Stone Cold advertising it, but I am glad he did. It’s got a great taste and the ABV is right in line with what you’d expect Stone Cold to be pounding after he delivers a stunner.
Presentation: 1- Stone Colds name and the skull, along with the rest of the can in a beautiful 4 pack make this a beer your immediately going to notice and want to try.
Taste: 2.8- It’s not your typical IPA, so don’t be turned off if you’re not an IPA guy. It has a very good heavy lager taste to it. The hops are there, but they don’t overpower it like a typical IPA. This is one you’ll find yourself actually enjoying and wanting to keep drinking. In fact you’ll be counting down the time til you can have your next one.
Color: 0.7- the only real issue, it has that piss color to it that you often find in the beers you drink cases of on Sundays. You know what though? That’s the kinda beer Stone Cold drank in the ring, and it fits with the overall personality of the beer.
Redrinkability: 1.7- I find myself reaching for these often when they’re available. It’s quickly becoming one of my go-to beers. I enjoy it by itself while rewatching old Monday Night Raws, yet it also goes great with a burger or steak.
Chugability: 1.1- While it tastes great and has the color of a lighter beer, it is still an IPA. However adding Stone Colds name to it means you’re going to want to have one of these thrown to you and proceed to drench yourself in it, letting it completely engulf your face in it’s Stone Cold glory.
Price- 1- Yes, it is a bit pricey, but when you’re getting 4 pints at a high ABV for $15, its not awful. It’s less than $4 a beer, and these don’t let you down, you’d probably be paying upwards of $8 for a glass at the bar.
External Factors: 0.9- Stone Colds name on the can gives it instant credibility. The man literally shaped the drinking habits, livers, and overuse of the middle finger for many a teenager back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. No way you can take a sip of this and not have his theme song banging in your head, thinking of yourself smashing two cans together and pounding another.
Overall: 9.2- I’ll drink this all day everyday. I want to roll up in an El Segundo truck and drain a firehose of this beer on my enemies, I want to have them thrown at me while I’m celebrating on the top rope. Mostly, I just want to watch some Stone Cold Steve Austin and drink a Broken Skull.
The Brew Pound 