Stone 4th Anniversary IPA

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Escondido, California USA

The king of IPAs. Only true lovers of the hop should try this one, as only the true hophead could stand the pure intense rush of hops. The smell alone almost makes your eyes water, and the first sip is dazzlingly bitter. But there is also a HUGE malt background that somehow manages not to get swallowed up, at the same time bumping the ABV up to a knee-bending 8%. The 5th Anniversary is due out soon, and the brewery reports that it will be bottled regularly from then on - my prayers have been answered. One of the ten best beers on the planet.

I had wanted to try this for a while since Stone Brewery is regarded as one of the best breweries in the world. I wasnt dissapointed at all. Fruity with a moderately bitter finsih...love it.

One of the better beers I’ve ever had. This is a true Imperial IPA. For Hopheads only. Heavy hop smell, and a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. Coats the tongue and throat thoroughly. Perhaps too hoppy, but what do you expect from Stone?

Nicely bittered, wonderful floral aroma and the malty tones mmmmmm give me a keg!!!

Amazing beer, somehow the tons of hops are balanced with solid malt flavor, warming strength, excellent hop profile, clean bitter with pleasent aroma and flavored, beautiful amber hue with lots a hops!

Re-Rate 01/05/02:Well in the last two day’s, I’ve had the 4th and 5th anniversary IPA’s. Didn’t think it would be good to try them side by side, do to the ’Over The Top HOPS’. They are both are excellent IPA’s, but I like the 4th a bit better? Pours that beautiful deep amber, with a generous beige head and adequate lace. Large malt nose, the start semi sweet malts, the middle is medium, the finish is hop laden and has a long lasting after taste. These are not every one’s beers, nor would it be something I’d want every day. High ABV, warms the tummy, and surely will rank 2 and 3 behind ’Big Daddy’, but slightly ahead of ’Sweetwater IPA’, which I hope to re-sample shortly HINT HINT!.

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.

Sickboy hooked this up, gangsta style...with an amber orange pour and a surprisingly thick ass head, this monster put forth a brilliantly aged rumcake aroma with liqour drenched caramel overtones...flavors were wrapped in sweetness and drenched in alcohol...like alcoholic apricots just slightly spiced...still had an evident hoppy flair over the aged malt...the mouthfeel was extremely chewy. This one was meant for aging...This should have been the Vertical epic beer because this one kicks the 02’s ass. (Point deducted, as second bottle did not live up to the first)