Stone 13th Anniversary Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Bomber. The pour yields a dark and cloudy garnet colored body with a thick, lasting, mocha tinted head. Sticky, splotchy ribbons of jagged lacing cling hard to the glass, coating it well. Monstrously hoppy, the nose attacks with resinous pine and spruce, sharp grapefruit lending a citrus note, all over a a bed of deeply toasted toffee and glazed biscuit. Strikingly bitter, and again loaded with pine resin, the flavor follows the nose, displaying sufficient balance with its toasty-sweet toffee malts, biscuit, and caramel. Though I don’t believe it to be oak aged (and the massive IBU backs that up), it does have some woody, boozy characteristics, particularly that of aged, toasted oak. Nearly full on the palate and initially creamy, this well carbonated brew moves towards strikingly bitter and dry on the back end. It will certainly drop off fast, but when fresh, this is as good an imperial red ale as I can recall. A piny hop lovers dream.

22oz bottle. Pours dark red brown with a light brown head and a decent amount of lace. Smells dark and sweet malty with big, bitter, red fruit hop scents. Tastes malty sweet and hoppy red fruit bitter. Tons o booze. Good yet unrefined. Full body, good carbonation.

dirty, high alpha, very strong, lots of malt and defnitely hops. Bottle at Whole Foods, Miami Beach. strong like cognac, wood, alcohol, very thick, complex. fills mouith. not sweet.

This beer has a sweet initial taste. The finish is mellow and dry. The color is dark and smoky.

Pours an extremely dark red brown with a beige one finger head. Aroma is lightly malty with strong fruity aromas that remind me of canned lichee and mandarin oranges. The flavor is far more hoppy than the aroma lets on, with lots of pine.

Savannah, Ga. - Habersham Beverage Warehouse - 22 oz bomber. Malty aroma with hints of caramel, fruit salad, brandy. Full bodied flavor with robust toffee, raisins, dates, chocolate and a touch of brandy. Mouthfeel is full and warming. Very enjoyable.

Aroma: notes of caramel and eclectic mixes of toffee and assorted treats; Appearance: gorgeous deep amber color with a very full and tan head; Flavor: hoppy beginning with embodied malt in the middle, as well as a citrus finish; Palate: crisp with a retention of solidity and warmth; Overall: bold, robust flavor that endures.

Aroma - bold maltiness, caramel, toffee, floral notes; Appearance - deep dark amber, almost opaque, fluffy cream head, excellent lacing; Flavor - hop filled front, balancing malt back, finish has a slight citrus tang; Palate - somewhat crisp, great body, mild alcohol warmth; Overall - very powerful flavor, straightforward, not too complex for the style, enjoyable though.