Stone 13th Anniversary Ale

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

Pours a cloudy amber color with a redish tint and some orange on the rim. there is a thick off white head initially but it fades rather quick, and leaves spots along the sides of the glass. The nose is robust and full of citrus hops and a malty finish. There is a lot going on in the flavor, it has a nice big bite to the tongue initially and as the beer slides down your throat the robust flavor does not fade at all. You can really taste the oak on the sides of your mouth. Overall it has great carbonation and a lot of hop flavor and the booze is well masked.

Dark Amber with creamy head and lacing. Malty, spice, citrus, aroma. Hops kick ur ass at first but then the maltiness takes hold. Over not bad, not bad at all!

Bottle 65cl. @ LCRBM09 - Low Countries RateBeer Meeting V, Kulminator, Antwerpen, Belgium.
Clear medium to dark amber color with a small, virtually none appearance, virtually none lacing, fully diminishing, beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, caramel, moderate to light heavy hoppy, citrus - orange. Flavor is light heavy sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft, finish feel is moderate alcoholic. [20090905]

Bottle - thanks to BuckeyeBoy. Amber pour with a nice beige head. Hoppy nose with citrus and florals. Some caramel. The first sip is a massive and rich punch of hoppiness. Caramel and florals. Lingering bitters. Syrupy, smooth, and full of flavor. More brute force than ballerina...

Sybaritic auburn ale lolls seductively underneath, boldly straddled by a wanton blonde foam mane. A harem of hops whirls from the glass… daring pine, graceful grapefruit, sassy citrus… followed by flirtatious caramel and buxom barley... plus provocative glimpses of darting dark fruits and dusky deepest chocolate. Naughty malt binds my tongue in silken flavor, and sealing the knot with a stewed fruit kiss, fondles my taste buds as an athletic hop dominatrix spanks me with vigorous relish. A creamy palate befits the hedonistic excesses, and provides a zaftig counterpoint to the vampish carnality of biting lupulin. I bask in the lingering bittersweet afterglow, a musky memory of earth and spice. An unabashedly brazen brew, tantalizing and masterful, a gratifying challenge of indulgence and prowess.

THOUGHTS: Nice, but not quite up to the standards of their last couple anniversary ales. In theory it was, but not in execution. Nice balance. Crazy blending of malt and hops. Like a mega amber ale. A little heavy on the resin, which I think smells a bit like Band-Aids. Hid alcohol very well. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, dark brownish amber that was bright ret in the light. Let’s just say it was blood red with a small, khaki head that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate to heavy molasses and caramel malts; moderate pine an citrus hops, heavier resinous hops; toffee, maple syrup. Resinous hops were the heaviest of the aromas. The initial flavor was rather sweet and bitter; while the finish was rather sweet and very bitter with a long duration. There was caramel, maple syrup, toffee, molasses, piney, resinous and a little citric hops; Nice balance. A total blending of the flavors. The blending of the hops and malt made a new flavor. The medium body was slightly sticky on the lips, fairly oily and slightly dry at the end. It had lightly fizzy carbonation with and ever so slightly metallic finish.

Grassy, almost barnyard type aroma. Deep reddish brown in the glass. Nice roasted malty flavors with ample bitterness from the hops.

The Dan Journal #287. Tasted 8/21/09. 22oz bomber. Deep and dark ruby hue. Clinging layer of bone white4 head. Malty nose but with a big, earthy grapefruit aroma. Rather full bodied with a dry and hoppy palate. Definite lingering bitterness. Very good!