Stone 8th Anniversary Ale

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

dark golden color,tan head. light smoky malt aroma. flavor is interesting balance of smoky malt, wood, and mild hop.

Aroma is one of slight bourbon and vanilla. Flavor brings with it some lovely overtones of smoke along with roasted malts. Wish I could of had more but this beer went quick.

Dark reddish-brown colour. Dull, no head. aroma of chocolate, nuts, woody/earthy hops. The palate is smooth - a little oily even - with nuts, chocolate and hints of smoke, too. The finish is peanutty and sweet. It has some okay elements, but the package simply is not compelling. Heavy on the Stone yeast, too, also not so compelling (for me, anyway).

Dark ruby-chestnut colour with a small tan head. Dark, complex aroma - toasted malt, oak, coffee, smoke. Flavour starts sweet and nutty, with brown sugar & caramel notes, a bit of cocoa, and a great woody & resinous hop finish.

Poured a darker mahogany color with a smaller white head. Aromas and tastes of roasted malts, coffee and smoke. Lightly nutty and fruity. Should be interesting to taste this one after it has aged a little.

Dark brown beer with ruby highlights and a thin white head. Sweet dark malty aroma. Molasses, biscuit and cookie dough maltiness. A slight touch of chocolate character. Flavour is malty, slightly salty with a plummy fruitiness, a bit of wine flavour. There is a bit of resinous hop character in here as well. Bitterness is just enough to balance out the sweet malts.

22 oz. bomber. Pours a deep mahogany with a minimal white frothy head. Has a roasted nutty aroma. Very malty. Very subtle hop flavor allows the heavy alcohol taste to come through. Not the best from Stone, but certainly not bad by any means!

01.12.05 Bomber thanks to my beer benevolent aunt on my birthday, and thanks to ’Mike’ at the Foodery who helps pick out good stuff for her to give me!
Fiery red-burgundy pour with ample tan head; it’s beautiful and glowing even as it fades. Strong aromas of bourbon, sundried tomato, dried herbes de provence, caramel, brown sugar, buttered burnt bread. Huh. Flavor is a toasty and dark buffet with a lingering roasty bitterness. Lightly acidic, it’s like a brown ale aged in wood with a hint of bourbony stout that ends up almost doppel-like. An unusual beer, but very nice. Fascinating side note: I had never read the description before these notes and so many of my questions are answered by the commercial description. Thanks Stone!