Stone 6th Anniversary Porter

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Escondido, California USA

A bit too unbalanced for my tastes as it is now, but should get better with aging. Had a cloying sweetness in the nose and finish, with a subtle smoke aroma. Not enough hop aroma and bitterness to counteract the rich, viscous body and sweet, malty flavors. Also had strong alcoholic aroma and flavor, which became more pronounced as it warmed. The alcohol overpowers other elements, namely the roastiness and smokiness. I’d prefer it much more with less residual sugars (i.e. drier) and with sharper hop bitterness. If you’re gonna boost the malt over-the -top, make sure to boost the hops accordingly! Re-rate 12/23/02: Different bottle from a different batch. This was much more balanced. Smokiness much more apparent, alcohol much more subdued, better attenuated (drier), and more noticeable bitterness. This bottle and others I’ve tried more recently are much more balanced. They taste like they’ve been aged/conditioned longer.

I’m sure glad i made a trade for this stuff the best porter i’ve had so far.Nice dark color with a malty aroma and it definately is kickin in the malt flavor with some faint but ever present smokiness that really rounds out this brew and makes it perfect the finish was good with some smokiness again.one phrase say’s it for me and thats "Damn thats good stuff"

Re-Rate:adjusting the numbers after a second bottle.Didn’t know what to expect from this one.Almost black color.Head is frothy and mocha colored.Aroma is dominated by hops but has some roastiness,alcohol,peat,wood,and a hint of smoke.Fresh and clean aroma.Palate is full and silky.Those who think it is watery,your beer is too cold,fool!This beer has a chocolate flavor that tastes like a end piece of chocolate cake.The wood is more noticable in flavor than smoke.Vinous,chocolate are followed by huge bitter,sweet,flavors.Finish is huge hoppiness,and a little alcohol.About 70 degrees right now and is perfect.Alcohol is very warming but not overpowering.A little hoppy for the style(whatever it may be),but I sure liked it.

Interesting beer. Not exactly what I was expecting from a ’porter’, but hell, let’s be free thinkers and enjoy (or not) the beer for what it is. Given the good ratings, I was kind of disappointed. Interesting, yes. Subtle, no. The beer is nearly opaque, with a nice nose of tannins, raspberries, hops, smoke/peat, and juniper, among other things. It has a beautiful, persistent, and fluffy head with nice legs. The flavor is overpowering; an intensely bitter, yeasty, smoky melange. More tannins, with the mouthfeel of an imperial stout. Finishes -- you guessed it -- bitter. Interesting beer but a little young and wild for this old man. It might age well.

Bottle. I enjoyed this on a camping trip in the redwoods. Black with a lush foamy brown head. Wonderfully robust roasted bitter chocolate flavor. A long smooth roasted aftertaste. Re-Rate 11/24/02: Black with a light brown (almost purple) creamy and laced head. The aroma has lots of smoke, wood, and at the height of the inhale the lushes sweet fruits come alive. The flavor has rich roasted malts on a creamy smooth body. It leaves a smokey aftertaste.

Enticing aroma with roasted malt, wood, leather, chocolate and a lightly floral, almost cologne-like component. Very dark reddish brown, almost black color with an uneven, fine-bubbled head and some delicate lacing. Flavor has some lightly toffeeish, treacly, sweet, roasty, lightly smoked malt mingling with sprucey, piney, floral, lightly citric hops, which become more apparent throughout the finish and aftertaste. Body is fairly thick, with an oily, effervescent palate. Good stuff.

8/10/02: well, take the regular smoked porter...add gollups of alcohol..throw tons and tons and..tons of hops..and tango with some roastedness and coffee flavors.. wahlah!...
A super hopped to hell...alcohol induced smoked porter which is pretty damn good.
compared to the regular smoked porter..the 6th aniversary porter is a hopped up, alcohol induced porter from hell..I bought a case at the 6th aniversary party..who wants some????
Re-Rate 8/22/02: uppin the points..aroma was like a roasted IPA..I actually discern more smokiness in the flavor than the first time..I’m drinking it at prolly 55º or 60º..More roasts too but still super super hopped out of it’s mind! I love it
Re-Rate 8/23/02: As I drink myself through my case I keep adding points because the more I drink of this the more I realize that this a really special brew!
Plus, I keep tasting peachy notes in there

Feel the burn baby! I’m still not sure about this one. First impression was too much alcohol burn, and way too hopped up for a Smoked Porter. Took me along time to even finish it. I love Stone’s brews, High ABV and Loads of Hops/malt so of course this would be a perfect combination I thought. Well - it just didn’t do it for me. 2nd and 3rd time trying it I enjoyed it a little more, but just not a well balanced, or very enjoyable brew overall as what I had come to expect from Stone. That being said, it is still a great beer that ranks high on my list however and will enjoy quite a few over the next few months, and years when maybe it will mellow abit