Stone 6th Anniversary Porter

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

[Sampled 2 and 2½ years old] A dark red-brown beer with a huge chocolate-brown head. The aroma is sweet and slightly acidic with notes of chocolate, coffee, malt, and alcohol - nice - but a little too much alcohol for my liking. The flavor is sweet with lots of roated malt combined notes of chocolate, and coffee, as well hints of alcohol - which is more present in the mouthfeel, where it burns the tongue. The end is pretty hoppy which together with the roasted malt and coffee gives it a bitter end, though with the alchol making a clear presence. Surprisingly this is a bit over the top giving it some sour hints - but still a solid brew.

Very dark burgundy. Aroma shows roast, coffee, hazelnuts, light smoke. Palate also has some subtle smoke, lots of dry hoppiness, good roast character. Light creaminess comes in late but there's another flurry of hops as well. A few less of those would do well. More of a foreign stout IMO.

Dark brown body with dense mocha head. Big chocolate aroma, hint of smoke. Taste is quite simply chocolate smoke, much smokier than their regular smoked porter. Very full-bodied -- stoutish. Alcohol burn in swallow. This is a very good beer. Nevertheless, maybe this one is too lurpy, perhaps too vulpine, but whatever the exact reason, I enjoy the regular smoked porter considerably more.

(Bottle) Pours a black color with a small off-white head. Has a smoky and caramel aroma. Has a moderate smoky flavor with hints of vanilla, coffee, and roasted malt.

Tasted as part of a vertical including the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Anniversary beer (big thanks to egadzis!). Poured a dark black with red tinges at the edges with a smaller tan head. Aromas of smoke, chocolate and roasted malts. Real nice smokey aroma. Tastes of chocolate and roasted malts.

Very dark brown pour. The head is light brown, quite thin. Rather complex nose, very malty that’s for sure yet with a more than healthy does of hops (orange, grapefruit, burnt wood, ashes, weed). This is all fighting side by side with mildly smoky chocolate malt, anise and wood(roots) reminiscent. Very dry palate, stone-like, the smoke hints from the aroma keep on through a harsh roastiness and dried pineapple still powerful hops. Not quite as good as the aroma fom my point of view. Full bodied, airy palate, probably too dry for what I want my porters to be, but they sure managed what they intended.

Bottle... This beer rocks!... Malty, smokey and floral nose. Vanilla, toffee and dark chocolate notes. Alcohol and coffee. Huge, rocky, khaki head with excellent lacing. Mostly lasting. The beer is as black as midnight, but when held up to a high power halogen bulb, it’s sparkling clear and a beautiful ruby color. Who cares, right? Someone, somewhere cares and that’s why I mentioned it. Not your average porter. Definitely a left coast porter. Hopped, baby. Hopped, I say. Lightly pungent and moderately bitter up front. Notes of espresso, dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla and a heavy helping of Hops, baby, and warm alcohol on the backside. Full-bodied. Light carbonation with an oily mouthfeel. Long, bitter, dry finish. Lot’s of alcohol, but balanced out nicely, ok, a bit overboard, with the hop addition. Can’t wait for Stone’s 7th Anniversary. Thanks go out to herbjones for this one!

5/12/2004: Still rich, roasty and sweet with the dark fruit complexity of an imperial stout. Hops have mellowed significantly, as has any hint of smoke. Smooth balanced and enjoyable, this has aged well, and should continue for years to come. 3/4/2003: Rich, deep opaque color with a sandstone head that laces well. Caramel chocolate malt aroma with western hop character. Flavor has good complexity, dark fruit, and a robust, viscous, somewhat silky body. Very drk and bitter for a porter, but this helps to mask the high alcohol. You could've fooled me that this was a smoke beer, because I didn't notice any smokiness whatsoever.