Stone 9th Anniversary Ale

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

Bottle from Crown #15 in Fishers, IN; shared with theisti. Pours a hazy, golden-orange with a creamy, off-white head. It has a sweet, malty, wheat nose with notes of citrus and pineapple. Medium-bodied with soft carbonation, a mildly bitter finish and a light hit of alcohol. The flavor is a solid, sweet wheat front with barley wine-like notes of big malt and fruit, only the fruits are the lighter notes present in the aroma. Very different, and a nice use of wheat malt in a bigger beer.

22oz. bomber: I found this in the back of the fridge, and was surprised that I hadn’t rated it yet. It pours an almost clear, darker golden color. Maybe a twinge of orange in it. The aroma is very good. A big shot of hops, like you would expect from Stone. Mainly grapefruit and pine, but also some grassy notes. The taste was solid. A fine malt body behind the beer, although perhaps a bit more delicate (for lack of a better description) than most of their other brews. Decent balance to the hops. I could drink a few more of these.

22oz. bottle. Enticing and distinctive aroma, fruity, sweet and malty with plenty of wheat and tropical, citric fruits including orange, pineapple, melon and faint banana alongside some light, sugary sweetness, piney, spicy, potent hops, all with a slight alcoholic tinge. Clear light-medium golden amber color with a fine, subsiding head and very wispy lacing. Flavor is hoppy to start, resinous, fresh and strong, turning maltier around midpoint, the sweetness and intriguing fruitiness melding before the bitter, citric, dry, bready and mildly warming finish. Lively and oily mouthfeel with a deceptively full body. I actually really liked this a lot and find the strong wheat concept a seemingly fun one for brewers to tinker with.

Grassy nose, hops and kinda sweetish at the same time. Gold color, tall foamy off-white head. Citrus nose, honey, sweet apricot end. Big hop bite in the finish. Complex hop mix that actually has a slight chemical feel to it. Big aggressive beer. No holds barred.

Hazy golden color with a thick and rocky off-white head. Thin and stringy lacing. Aroma of citrus, spice and hops. Light, zesty body with a crisp and peppery character. Grapefruit, hops and spice flavors dominate but there is a bit of sweet malt in the background too. The finish is spicy with more citrus. Pretty good hodgepodge style beer.

(22oz bottle) Healthy off-white head atop a lightly hazed golden body. Aroma is moderately sweet, floral, grapefruit, some pine. Taste is moderately sweet, floral, grapefruit, orange. Medium body, some resin. Alcohol noticeable without being off-putting. A hop-bomb wheat -- I wonder what the IBUs are?

Lemon candy, sugar, bitter, hoppy, soapy nose. Also some alcohol coming through. Hazy off golden color. Medium head that lasts. Really bitter with a golden hops presence. Notes of orange peel and citrus. Cookie and malt flavors balance things out.

My wife pegged it: a strong cross between a banananosed hefe and a floral IPA. Good, but I actually would have liked to taste a version with a lower ABV. This would have made a great session ale. As is, though, a nice sipper.