Stone 7th Anniversary Ale

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

I’m usually Stone bias. I love their beers but this one didn’t do much for me. Poured an orange copper with a creamy white head. The lacing was poor and crawled back into the head. The lace fell apart each time, at this point my heart fell apart. The aroma was full of grapefruit. Grapefruit was huge along with some other citrus flavors., sweet malts and caramel. The taste was full of tropical fruits. Grapefruits mostly and some oranges as well. Nice hop flavor with some sweet malts that leads to a nice caramel flavor on the finish. Alcohol is very well hidden. Pretty tasty but poor for stone.

A HUGE thanks to belgianhomebrew for this one. First of all, I consider this to be an Imperial IPA. The pour was turbid copper/orange, with a big, creamy white head and more lace than Oprah in lingerie. Exquisite aroma which included hops, fruit, spice, and citrus. Tastes very hoppy, with a solid malt presence, and some frutiness and finishing spiciness. The palate was medium, firm, bold. This one, to me, seemed like 3 parts I2PA + 1 part barleywine. I no longer want a Harley. I want a vertical tasting of the Stone Anniversaries.

Appearance: dusky, hazy, yet bold orange hue, graced with a slim, cream-toned head of foam. Aroma: big, fresh, abundant fruit, (peach, apricot, some citrus), lovely, sweet and rosey. Taste: great, initial bitterness greets the tongue, then backs away pronto, leaving it all mild and mellow. Tasty, tasty, tasty, a pale ale that never quits with the flavor...I had some conception that this was supposed to be an IPA, but it’s not, though it is a thoroughly outsized pale ale. Somewhat candyish in the flavor, with hints of toffee, perhaps from the malt. Full-bodied, full-flavored, excellently balanced. Hop bite never quits, either. Very, very nice, Stone, looking forward to the 8th anniversary!

On Draught @ Stuffed Sandwich Glad to see this beer is finally starting to balance with age. Pours amber-orange with a small white foamy head that diminishes rapidly. Aroma is fruity, piney, honey, lemon grass and slighty sweet. The flavor is hoppy with notes of pine and grapefruit. Malts are nutty and sweet. Much more balanced and full bodied than when it was fresh. Has improved drastically with age.

Clear orange. No head. Peanuts and caramel in the nose- yummy. Not very assertive except for the alcohol. Still some peanuts in the flavor with a bit of chocolate. malt keeps kicking away the hops like a yippy little poodle.

Orange/golden color, hazy, mostly opaque at first then clearing; little head. Mint tea aroma, with some caramel. Moderate hopping. Curiously watery. Thanks Nuffield for sharing! (oh wait, that’s me.)

Orange body with a light tan head. Lots of lacing.
Nice aroma of hops and a sweet, malty backbone. Sweetness is a big part of the aroma.
The hops have lost some of their punch over the year but still balanced. Nice malt flavors, grainy with a little breadiness..
A beer that has become very carbonated over the past year but is still quite smooth to drink.

Bottle. A reddish amber color with a laced tan head. A strong fruity malt aroma, and a nice strong hop filled toasted malt flavor. Warming, crisp, and full bodied. On the eve of the release of the 8th anniversary, this one has improved with age.