Stone 7th Anniversary Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Mmmm, Mmmm Good. This is one tasty beer. 22 oz bottle from Fine Wines & Cigars - Redmond, WA. Pours out light copper in color. The aroma is a bit on the mild side with citrus-fruity hops with a certain touch of spice. The taste is a nice mix of hop flavor, malt, hop bitterness and hint of some sort of un-knowable spice. Very nice, making this a refreshing and drinkable ale.

#100 rating. Pours a clear amber color with a nice medium off-white head. Aroma is citrus, mostly grapefruit, hops, and other fruits. Has mellowed just slightly in the last 3 years. Flavor starts out with grapefruit and a little hops and finishes with a bitter, hoppy finish. Not too strong but blends well with the other flavors. Too bad this is a once in a lifetime chance to drink this beer. Very delicious and will be surprised but very delighted to come across sometime soon.

(03.12.06) Stone 7th, 8th, and 9th anniversary vertical sampling at DiCarlo’s, special gift of Scott L. Brown 22 oz bomber bottle. 2003 Vintage (release date 08.04.03). 77 IBU. 7.7% ABV. Identified as pale ale version. Pours hazy orange with very light syrup-like consistency and yields an average sized white head. Good carbonation. Toasted malt aroma. Medium bodied pale ale that starts with moderate malt sweetness and rich toasted malt/hop flavors. Finishes with lingering bitterness and malt fade. Well-balanced malt and hop flavors with an edge towards hoppy flavor. Richly flavored beer with a smooth palette similar to a barleywine. Though the bottle was nearly 3 years old, the hop component held up remarkably well, probably due to excellent cellar storage conditions. Of the 7th, 8th, and 9th anniversary vertical sampling, the 7th anniversary version was the best of show. One outstanding giant beer. Thanks Scott!

Poures a nice red/golden color with a nice puffy off white head with nice lacing as well that lasts the whole brew though. Aroma is of citrus, grapefruit, hops and fruits. Flavor is delicious. Nice grapfruit and hops up front along with other citrus and fruit. The initial flavor is followed by a nice bitterness from the hops. Nt overly bitter, but a good amount that only leaves you wanting another sip. Mouth is crisp and refreshing. Im gonna miss this beer.

I hope I don’t need to list a vintage. Thought this 7th anniversary ale with 7.7% alcohol would be an appropriate choice for #700. Poured an effervescent light amber with a large frothy off-white head. Very attractive. Interesting alluring aroma of grapefruit and lemony citrus with burnt caramel with it. Flavor is sort of strange at first. Citrusy hops, with hints of grapefruit, lemon and even some orange come through. A bit of caramel shows through but not too much. Some vinous character to it, but definitely overshown by the hops. Slightly dry. Strangely creamy mouthfeel with a bit of carbonation biting the tongue. Much as I’ve come to expect from Stone anniversaries, it’s strange but well-pulled off. So what to give this 7th anniversary beer with 7.7% abv for my 700th rating? Hmm... how about a 3.7? Sounds fair.

Damn, this brewery is good ! An amazing deep orange American Imperial Pale Ale, but yet softer. Toasty, hoppy, with an indescribably firm malt foundation. Run out and see if there is any left. Superlative !

Courtesy of Tom at Monk’s Cafe. <P> Aroma is heavy on the caramel. The aroma conjures images of those caramel candies witht he creamy white center. Color is, interestingly enough, caramel with a dime thin slick of a white colored head. Fore is all caramel malt with a suprising minty flavor int he middle and the finish. tastes like a red and white swirl peppermint candy someone has sucked most of the flavor out of. Finish is both malty and peppermint spicy with a fat round candy sweetness. Allt he hops have longe since faded from this one, but it’s still a big beer with loads of flavor.

Nose is heavy on the caramel with a sweet sweet syrupy maltiness thing going on.Kind of reminds me of something with fresh peaches. Tastes very different,still good but not as complex as I was hoping for.Still some caramel but little else.