Stone 13th Anniversary Ale

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

Deep ruby with a beige head. Bitter aroma of pine, herbs, and citrus. Also plenty of sweet malts and candy like aromas. Flavor is full of the bitter hops but has a distinct roasted malt flavor as well. Not like a Black IPA that is all the rage now, but a more relaxed roast and hop flavor making this a bit more drinkable. The pine and citrus hops come on first until they overtaken by the roasted malts. An interestingly complex flavor on this one. Full bodied. Might fine.

Bottle: Poured a deep dark amber color ale with a medium foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of citrus hops with a grassy feel and deep caramel malt also noticeable. Taste is also a mix between some grassy earthy hops with some deep caramel malt and a light toffee aftertaste. Body is a bit thin for the style with good carbonation and no signs of alcohol. Well done though maybe a tad too one-dimensional.

Bottle, 65cl - Clear amber red brown beer with a large beige head. Aroma is malty with notes of cascade, caramel and hay. Flavor is malty with woody notes of caramel, grapefruit and pine. Dry american strong ale, and very tasteful.

Bottle. Deep reddish brown with a rather large tan head that stays around for quite long time. Refreshing aroma of pineapple, floral, earth and some perfume. First sip was heavily bitter, grape, raisins, hops, grass. Aftertaste was bitter with some licorice and caramel. Body was medium, not so much carbon dioxide. Nicely balansed. A very nice beer.

Smells like the skin of a freshly shaved orange. The complexion is a rich brown, with the color of coffee grinds. The taste is of caramelized sugar peppered with flakes of cinnamon - maybe even some toast qualities. A surefire winter beer with a spicy and nuanced aftertaste. Not Stone’s best beer, but pretty damn good.

Bomber. Deep amber body. Tall, light brown, frothy head, long lasting. Hoppy aroma of grapefruit and resin which forces other scents to the background. Hints of caramel, toasted grain and unsweetened strong black tea. The flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic and moderately bitter. It finishes lightly to moderately sweet, moderately to heavily bitter and moderately acidic. Medium to full body, velvety texture that turns sticky in the finish, lively carbonation. A heavily hopped version of so many beers in this non-style — bitter grapefruit on top of thick, unrefined malts. Lots of alcohol in the finish along with some astringency.

A red beer with a white head. Plenty of hops flavor and bitterness with the malt flavors allowed to come through.

Toasty and nutty aroma. Dark light brown color with a medium off white head. Bitter beginning that fades slowly in the finish and gets mildly sweet.