Stone 9th Anniversary Ale

Hop heaven, with just enough wheat -- almost (but not quite) too sweet, with a great balance of hoppy bitterness. They say it isn’t "yeasty", but I taste the yeast. Fortunately, that’s something I like. Brilliant, if you like what Stone usually do.

So, I decided to open this for myself. It pours to a huge milky off-white head atop a light hazy golden amber body, nice lacing. The aroma is quite hoppy, oranges, and irises. It has some wheat characteristics in it too. It’s the first competition I’ve seen versus FFF’s Gumballhead. Both are quite different, but the concept is similar. Anyway, I’ve read notalush’s rating. I think this brew is nothing like ruination or the regular IPA... The flavor is sweet with wheat and irises (if they taste similar to the aroma). There’s also some hops in here. The hops produce a bitter quality but aren’t the main focus. (At least, that’s my opinion). The palate is simple. It goes down smooth and has a light lingering in the back of the mouth of hop oils. A nice brew.

Bomber. You know, I really need to stop <a href=/beer/victory-golden-monkey/630/15099/>rating beer during UConn-WVU football games. <a href=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/AllStories/MFootball/2005/11/02/20051102.html>Nothing good ever comes from it. Anyway, looks great in the glass, but that’s to be expected from Stone. Funny aroma. Lot going on, but it’s not really in good harmony. Flavor and mouthfeel sit somewhere between an IIPA, Barley Wine and APA. I guess that would make it an American Strong ... or whatever. Malt, floral hops, oak and alcohol in the mouthfeel. A little disappointing for Stone, and maybe a little hot at this time.

Pours a hazy golden amber with an average light lacing off white head that went away rather quickly. Aroma is sweet citrus (mostly orange) caramel, some floral hops, very nice. Almost like a IIPA aroma. Flavor is grapefruit with a slight hop bitterness in the tail. Very similar to the other Stone IPA’s. Great hops with a nice malt backbone, very enjoyable.

wheat? yes, it’s got the wheat beer look, but any wheat feel is totally supressed by hops. a stone beer, enough said.

Hazy orange pour with a good offwhite head. Smells of orange and spice. Tastes bitter with a nice hoppy flavor. Good summer wheat style beer.

Bought this bottle at BevMo in San Diego, CA. Foggy orange pour with a decent white lacing head. Caramel, citrusy hops, and a somewhat zingy aroma. Nice, hoppy flavor. One of the better Stone Beers I’ve had.

Sampled at Mr Owenby’s halloween party. He liked it perhaps a geek in the making. The aroma is full of pine, bananas, lemons, and gensing. The flavor is more bent toward a pale ale than a hefe IMO. Some lemons and banana show up with a piney orange taste as well. I enjoyed it.