Stone 8th Anniversary Ale

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

Bottle: Aroma is malty with a strong caramel presence. Definite roastiness. Lightly hoppy and the alcohol presence is noticeable as well. Pours a dark reddish-brown (very slight transparency) with a small tan head that diminished somewhat quickly. Strong caramel presence in the flavor. Slight chocolate is there but not a dominant flavor. Only slightly bitter finish with lots of roastiness. Alcohol isn’t noticeable whatsoeve at first, but as you drink flavors intensify including alcohol which just barely starts to peak thru as well as some coffee notes . Very well balanced. Slight caramel and roasty aftertaste. This is the 3rd American Strong Ale that I’ve had and I can’t say it resembles the other two (Avery 10 and Arrogant Bastard) all that much. Maybe a little like AB without the over the top hops, stronger coffee notes, and harsh aftertaste.

I enjoyed this brew, but as another poster mentioned, it gets better when it warms up a little, then its REALLY good. My next bottle, I might even try it warm!! It has a very nice oak flavor, and a bit of a roasty flavor, I liked this beer!

Very dark brown with ruby highlights. Very large light tan head. The aroma is brown sugar, cardboard and pepper. The taste starts out fairly sweet with light peaches. The mouthfeel is fairly thin. Has a spicy pepper finish with some hints of vanilla. The taste also has a little bit of oak and some roasted malts. A very nice and smooth ale.

This really came on as it warmed. Dark ruby pour with a fair head that faded in time, but left a ring of foam right to the end. The aroma carried lots of caramel, some hops and a characteristic Stone yeastyness. Malty at the start and bitter at the finish. I think this will get really nice after about a year in the cellar. Nice and warming.

Definitely a beer you want to drink at a moderately warm temperature as the flavor is MUCH better when warmer. Pours red with small head, mild carbonation. Lots and lots of roasted malt in the aroma, also a bit of alcohol in the nose. This is a nice belly warmer. Good to sip on, nice full body and round flavor. Flavor is of roasted malt (a bit acidic) and warm alcohol. Might not be a bad idea to put one of these away and bring it out around christmas season.

Bottle bought in Ft. Collins Colorado: What a wonderful strong brown ale! The alcy didn’t even makes it’s presence known to me cuz for me, it was all about the nutty maltinessin the early and mid stages and the soothing hoppines at the finish. Yum. Best regards, Bill

I was a bit leery of this one after reading the reviews and descriptions - it really didn’t sound like a style that I’d like. But whadduya know, it was really impressive. Really nice reddish brown with a sturdy tan head. Nice chestnut aroma, with hints of cinnamon and allspice. Really smooth palate, Nicely nutty, malty spicy flavor, with just enough hops to mitigate the sweetness and balance it out somewhat, and just a slight and unobtrusive alcohol burn. Very full bodied and satisfying.

This is a good American Strong Ale. Caramel, roasty malt, and coffee flavors. Finishes bitter sweet, clean, and smooth.