Stone Brewing Goes Crisp With New Chill Villain IPA
Stone Brewing is wrapping up its 2026 seasonal series with a new IPA that brings a little bit of a different approach to the brewery’s familiar West Coast style.
Chill Villain was originally developed at the small-batch innovation brewery inside Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station in San Diego.
For the hops, Stone Senior Manager of Brewing & Innovation Kris Ketcham brought together Simcoe and Citra, two varieties that should be pretty familiar to IPA drinkers, before adding a touch of Strata Quantum Bright Hop Extract. That addition is designed to push some of the fruit character forward while also bringing out some of the dank qualities underneath.
But the part that really catches my attention is the fermentation.
Rather than using a traditional ale yeast, Stone fermented Chill Villain with its house lager yeast. The idea was to create a cleaner, crisper finish while still delivering the hop character people expect from a West Coast IPA.
That puts this beer in an interesting spot. We’ve seen more breweries playing around with IPA and lager techniques in recent years, whether we're talking about Cold IPAs, India Pale Lagers or simply using lager yeast to clean up the overall profile. Chill Villain looks to take some of that same thinking and apply it to Stone’s longtime West Coast IPA approach.
Ketcham describes the beer as a more relaxed extension of beers such as Stone IPA and Stone Delicious IPA, although at 7% ABV, there should still be enough punch behind it.
As far as the actual flavor profile, Stone says to expect aromas of lime, pine, pineapple, floral notes, herbs and white raspberry.
On the taste, ruby grapefruit, mango and lime lead the way alongside some of that familiar IPA dankness. There’s also a touch of malt sweetness before everything finishes light, crisp and dry, with some lingering sweetness and bitterness.
Appearance-wise, the beer pours clear and light yellow with a thin white head, which fits with the lighter and more refreshing direction Stone seems to be taking here.
Chill Villain is also the final beer in Stone’s three-part 2026 seasonal innovation series.
The brewery started the series earlier this year with Stone Green Buds IPA, followed by Stone Live Current IPA, and Chill Villain closes things out as Stone continues experimenting with new approaches coming out of its Liberty Station innovation brewery.
Stone Chill Villain IPA Quick Look
ABV: 7%
IBU: 43
Hops: Simcoe, Citra and Strata Quantum Bright Hop Extract
Availability: Southern California
Release Window: July through December 2026
Packaging: 16-ounce six-packs using PakTech carriers and draft
For now, this is a Southern California-only release, so availability is going to be limited for anyone outside the region. Stone says Chill Villain will remain available through the end of 2026 at participating retailers, bars and Stone locations.
What I find most interesting here isn't necessarily another Stone IPA hitting the market. It's the continued blending of traditional West Coast IPA characteristics with techniques designed to make these beers cleaner and easier drinking.
Stone built a large part of its reputation on aggressive, hop-forward beers. Chill Villain seems to ask what happens when you keep that personality but dial up the crispness.
For IPA drinkers in Southern California, this could be one worth tracking down—especially if you enjoy the hop character of a West Coast IPA but prefer something with a cleaner, lighter finish.
The bigger question: Are IPAs brewed with lager yeast something you'd like to see more breweries explore, or do you prefer your West Coast IPA kept more traditional?
Get your beer on. 🍻
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