Stone 5th Anniversary IPA

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

Tasted as part of a vertical including the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Anniversary beer (big thanks to egadzis!). Poured a medium amber color with a small off white head. Kind of a musty/earthy aroma with some citrus. A little buttery as well. Tastes of citrus, caramel, sugar and a touch of honey. Still some hop presence after the years. I enjoyed the tastes more than the aroma. Past its prime, but I enjoyed the tastes and was glad I had a chance to try this beer.

Cleveland Locals Gathering Feb 05. Thanks to Zekenhoe (Mike) for breaking this out of his vast cellar!! Orange body and a white, rocky head. Funky, woody, dusty aroma, yet still retaining an overall hoppy presence. Malty flavors that have a slight honey-like sweetness. Woody, dry finish with hints of spicey hops. I think this might have been pretty rippin’ a few years ago, but by the time I got to sample this, it’s time may have passed.

Cleveland locals 2-26-05. Golden orange color with a dusty hop nose. Bottle was a few years old. Lost some of the bitterness but still tasty. Thanks Zekenhoe.

Slightly acidic. some mild sweetness and white grape notes from the malt. Big resinous hop profile, High alpha bitterness. Clean and spicy with an oily mouthfeel. Bitter and resinous slightly sweet finish.

Simply delicious. Balanced. Flavorful. Clean and refreshing. One of the best beers I’ve ever tasted. I want more.

3 Liter bottle HUGE thanks to Mike (NE Stone Rep) for bustin this bad boy out after the Extreme Beer Fest. Rich amber-orange color, typical of Stone’s IPAs and barleywine. Light amount of sediment and haze with a small white head. What a funny coincidence that we were drinking this side by side with Old Guardian 2004. This tastes very nearly the same, though perhaps a touch less of the malt and more earthy hops, due to the age of it. But it’s held up remarkably well, probably due to it being in a 3 liter. Smells earthy, with some old overripe fruits (mangoes, bananas, ruby red grapefruit) and some light hints of caramunich malt. Flavor shows the hops have indeed melded well with the malt, and it is a very rounded, sweet and herbal like flavor. Soily hops flavors abound. Still a good amount of bitterness left, though this is much more palateable than a new OG. I’d like to pretend that this was far and away superior/different to the OG 2004, but it really wasn’t. A bit more fruit flavors, maybe a bit creamier texture. Medium-full body with only a hint of oxidation. Not so hopeful for the 22oz I have in my basement.

A slight barnyard and citrus notes w/ flowers on the nose... citrus and flowers w/ fermented fruit in the mouth... Gold yellow w/ thin head and slight lacing. Minor effervescence and light body.

It was nice to able to try this beer, considering it is a retired and very rare beer. A special thanks to Chris for a sample of the brew. I also tried the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Anniversary beers last night but those had gone far south, so I didn’t rate them. It was nice to try those beers as well though. Thanks again Chris. I found the 5th anniversary to be a pretty lovely beer overall. Light golden. The aroma had a pleasant buttery, sugary, caramel like malt scent with hints of subdued hops (peach). A nice melded malt flavor has taken shape that gives notes of honey, butter, dough and caramel along with a light hop flavor. Old but still pretty great.