Stone 7th Anniversary Ale

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

Thanks Jason! The beer pours to a hazy orange caramel body with a creamy off-white head. The aroma is quite malty. Caramel, sweet malty goodness. Smells like a barleywine. Light orange peel. The flavor is pretty malty like a barleywine. Very well balanced and malty. Some lingering hops. The palate is medium-full bodied. Nice texture. A pleasure to try this.

Bottle shared by Jason. Hazy red-amber body. Sweet plummy aroma with strong (but subdued) hop spicing. Great well-blended sweet flavor. Chewy plum/caramel malting with a now-camled-down leafy, spicy hopping. It’s also dried out a bit by some toasty malt. A very enjoyable aged beer.

22 oz. bottle dated 08/04/2003. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to try this at the time of its initial release, so I can’t truly judge what 3 years of age has done to this. An ever so slightly hazy pour producing a rather large yellowish head with excellent durability and good lace. There is a caramel sweetness in the aroma, complemented by some earthiness, alcohol, and just a hint of floral, spicy hops. The mouthfeel of this is fantastic - rich, smooth, mellow, and just very light carbonation, rather surprising given the durable head. Sweet dried light fruit and caramel is nicely balanced by a persistant undercurrent of spicy bitterness, leaving the lengthy finish dry and satisfying. In looking back on the early reviews of this beer, I would have to say that it has aged well. It appears that the hops are not nearly as prominent, as one would expect. The best news is that I still have one bottle left!!

Pours gold with a white head. Smells of caramel and amazingly hints of hops are still present. Tastes of caramel, orangey and slightly earthy. Finishes with a light peppery note.

Thanks to Numenor for sharing this at the "2nd Richmond Gathering," and to CaptainCougar for sending this bottle out! Never thought I would have a chance to try this one. Medium orange, still quite a decent head. Big aroma of caramel and toffee. Flavor matched, with some slight notes of oxidation playing alongside strong hop bitterness. Hops were still a significant presence here, but have lost some of their flavor punch over time. Rich and tasty overall. I’m sure I would have gone bonkers over this one on its initial release. RERATE as part of the 2008 VRBT. Notes almost identical, aroma has lost 1 point. Past prime, but good.

Very thin off-white head, clear amber colour, rich musty toffee scent. Rich palate with fabulous flavour.

Rating #400 -- Sampled at the "2nd Richmond Gathering". Awesome aroma for a three year old American Strong Ale, almost barley wine like. Heavy caramel, some almost oak-like qualities, a muskiness to it. Beautiful golden-ruby body with no head. Great taste, mollasses, hops are still surprisingly present after three years. Some light oxidation is showing up, yet that is to be expected. Nice ending.

I have to give a huge thanks to CaptainCougar for sending me this beer. He’s a great trader and I’m very lucky to be able to have this.

Clear caramel color body with a thin white head. Aroma of caramel and toffee, some light hops. Sweet caramel flavor. Thanks to Numenor for his generous pour of this beer.