Stone 4th Anniversary IPA

Thanks to EDA for sharing at the RNH Charity california beer event. This was like a mix between 2 and 3. Not quite as held up as the 2, and not quite as funky or lame as the 3. Cheesey cheddar, hops, garden spice, green grassy, metallic stale hops and a dull crackery malt. Flavor is more stale hops, green, grassy , chlorophyl astringency, light metal, some cheese, leather and earth with a decent bitterness in the end.

Bottle at RnH Drink for Charity. Thanks to everyone who brought great beer to this. Pale orange with small head. Old oranges in cardboard boxes aroma. Sweet oraqnge cardboardy flavors. Still carbonated. Drinkable.

Bottle shared by eyedrinkale at "Drink for Charity" event at Rattle N Hum. Hazy golden beer. Thin head. Aroma is more honeyed and sweet than the 3rd anniversary. The bitterness is still present, but there is a touch of apricot fruitiness with a bit of Belgiany, oxidized, sherryish notes.

Bottle shared by EDA as part of a complete vertical. This was a touch better than the 3rd anny, but not better than the 2nd. Sweet, dark bread dough aroma, caramelly sweet hop, sweet watery hop flavor. Pissy and dank, the flavor is still kind of there but still old tasting. A bit milky and lactic.

Bottle at the “Drink for Charity” event at Rattle & Hum thanks to Mike who brought a vertical from 2nd to 12th. Looks and smells a lot like the 2nd and 3rd, with dark plum and barley wine like notes. Nice light carbonation. Finished with a light bitterness. Better than the 3rd.

Bottle Shared By EDA, thank you Mike. Pours a orange hazy body with a thin lacing. Oxidation, metallic notes, dry and some tobacco and caramel.

Bottle enjoyed at the 2008 Stone Winter Storm Appearance is a cloudy orange hue, minimal head dissipates quickly, and no lacing of note Smell is big piney hops, some slight citrus and honey sweetness, nice malt background Taste is smooth chewy hops, followed by sugary sweetness and subtle pale malts, very slight oxidation and alcohol presence in the finish, the hops are amazingly solid and flavorful after 7 years Mouthfeel is full-bodied, oily and thick texture, and ample carbonation Drinkability is high, this is a very well-aged IPA/DIPA (8.5%) with a great hop profile that has stood up well over time, the alcohol is well-masked and the flavors are unique and refreshing, it was interesting to compare this to the 4th on tap which was sweeter and less hoppy, absolutely one of the top Stone beers of the day

From the tap at the Stone Winter Storm 2008. I had ordered this beer along with a Sawyer’s Triple and both were served in a small glass of an estimated six ounces. I was a little upset though since the waitress had confused the two beers with each other and I had to do the math myself and figured out on my own which was which. Anyways, This was a crystal clear golden brass/blonde ale with a decent layer of foam and no sign of any sediment or dust. The aroma was a bold and lively serving of hops and citrus. The flavor was strong and held a fresh juicy grapefruit taste and tons of hops considering the few mouthfuls I consumed. I’d really like to see this and all of their rare anniversary ales re-brewed and bottled to let everyone experience what delicious beer recipes Stone has in their archive.