Stone 10th Anniversary IPA

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Escondido, California USA

Bottle courtesy of wetherel, pours attractive dark copper with a finger thick cream colored head. The flavor and nose are the same, with just a hint of hops because of the age, and some nice malt influence. Very nice beer.

Growler: Deep orange (marmelade) in color that poured a nice thick head of fine bubbles. There were aromas of marmelade, caramel, piney hops and light spice (cardamon?). In the mouth it is concentrated with good weight and dryness from the hops. There are still a bunch of hops that are balanced by malt in the midpalate but show themselves off in the dry finish.

Growler via the brewpub...lost the IIPA and has definitely ventured into the barley wine category. Lava colored brew (fiery orange) with little head and only a sprinkling of bubbles. Aroma is predominantly citrus but with a candied sugar presence that lingers in the background. Flavor is resinous and citrusy with a sweetness that has begun to slide forward. Visit stone if given a change...quite the experience!!!

bomber... thanks to TBC. pours a deep amber with a 1/4" head... which eventually is completely eliminated making a very nice thin clear lacing typically found in higher end barley wines. big strong alcohol aroma with some aged malts as well. the hops have subsided over time and the malts have come forward very well. I would have loved to try this one fresh... it would have been full of hops. Although, a year and some 9 months later... it is damn good in a different - more english barley wine type way. Medium body with a very even presence over the palate. there is a lot of caramel, aged malts and a bit of an alcohol burn on the finish. Excellent beer from Stone - I’m glad I had the opportunity to have one.

My brother and I had both held onto a Magnum bottle apiece and decided to crack them open this last Saturday. My rating may not be completely honest because we finished both of them. I will say that this is probably the best beer I have had from them and hope they release another "special" brew with this recipe in the future. My only problem with this beer was the fact that it made me fall down while putting on my shoes, making my taxi wait a little longer.

Trade from Ross. One of the most beguilling brews I have ever had in front of me. On the outset, it looks and sounds just like a member of the barleywine clan. Ecru foam and a stately persimmon color. Stinky like a BW as well, with aeration this IPA shows a nice complexity of earthy, forest floor, and citrusy hops. Reminds me of my vocational days at a sawmill. Evergreen spice dances along with nutty caramel malt and what I can only describe as a breeze through the pines on a lunch break. Palate opens up to a bear hug of flavor. Dried apricot, stewed peaches, and a glorious hop spice coat the mouth and tempt with rolling hop bitterness that drips off the sides of your tongue. While this beer seduces you into portions of the mouthful, the sun has gone down in the hour it has taken me to finish. I wonder what the bitternes was like, was it resin, or just diesel in it’s tightly coiled youth? Fresh bread and herb continue. A spice in the finish that begins as the fruit begins to dry out has at least 3 hop voices and all are distinct. Glad I waited a while to drink this, sad that this is the only one. And no, that isn’t a banana in my pocket.

I don’t rate as much as the serious NERDS, but I felt compelled to speak up here: The beer is amazing. When it comes to medium-bodied ales, I want balance. BALANCE!!!! This delivered. The hoppiness is balanced between citrus and spice. The malt is the caramel that I find so savory and luscious. The nuttiness is the base. The finish hugs me. A harmonious brew.

Received in the Mystery Homebrew Swap, i forget who sent it though! Sorry! There’s definitely some noticable age to it. Malty, caramel malts, with some spicy hops in the nose. Pours amber with a thin white head. Very malty, some caramel, the hop flavor has diminished a little but its still pretty good, and it definitely doesn’t taste like 10%! The hops do leave it with a big spicy finish with traces of pine. Good but i’d love to have tried this very young!