Stone 9th Anniversary Ale

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

Rerate 11/13/06: Pours has a good amount of white foam. Aroma still has a health dose of citrusy hops. Body is somewhat oxidized but has good complexity of sweet caramel malt. Has lost some of its hop sharpness, and is probably past its prime. but is still quite drinkable.

Original rating 9/15/05: Pours a lightly hazy copper orange with a frothy and well-lacing white head. Nice fresh crisp hoppy aroma has some sweet crystal malt and grainy wheat. Body starts with a nice candy malty sweetness and good mild citrusy and piney hops. Finishes sugary, semi-bitter, earthy and lightly warming. An interesting and enjoyable beer.

Tasty fresh hoppy wheat - this has the kind of hop going on that I had hoped Gumball head would’ve had. Tangy sweet and citrus. Assertive all around, but believe it or not, Rockinout’s American Indian Wheat was far hoppier than this. Loved the citrus, pine, floral aromas. 2nd bottle tasted a little sweeter (but it was also served a little warmer, so that could explain it). I’ll taste a few more of these while they’re fresh.

Poured a hazy orange wth a small off-white head. Aroma of citrusy swet lemon. The citrus aroma seems to be more from malt than from hops. Aroma is thick. Malty sweet flavors. Citrusy with an acidic and bitter finish. Pretty tasty. I wish it came in 6 packs.

I really enjoyed this one. Nice color, full head, and really wonderful flavors. Very good.

This beer leaves glass and fills my chalice with a peachy-hued, opaque liquid, only shadows seen through, ’neath a solid cap of lace-leaving foam, thick, solid, puffy white...very, very attractive, quite nice. Aroma is pleasing, rife with citric, hoppy flavors, and plump in yeast content, farmshouse-esque, and plenty funky, too. Lemon and straw, with a generous blast of spice. Taste is full and fruity, evenly balanced, nicely split between herbal, hoppy, malty quarters...wait, that’s only three...let me get back to you...tangy, snappy, a big bounce on the palate...liking this...zesty, beautiful, just gritty enough to give and take pleasantly in the mouth. Full bodied, long, citric, hoppy finish...Good beer, here. Ah....I’m liking it!

Clear light amber body. Frothy off-whtie head; sticky lacing. Aroma has Flavor has some IPA caramelly malt, some bittering hop edge, sweet spicy yeast and flowers give it a very light belgian feel. Perfumed honey wheat sweetness. Very rounded, crisp, good beer.

(bottle - 22 oz) Clear gold color with white foam that begins at about an inch and goes down to a quarter inch and holds. Great glass lacing. Aroma has some sweet and malty notes with a touch of hops. Mostly sweet and caramel malts. Flavor is very sweet as well. Lots of sweetness and some hints of caramel, toffee and brown sugar. The finish is very sweet and thick with a bitter hop bite at the end. Very chewy.

Fine offering from Stone. Interesting combination of wheat and hops. Crisp yet full bodied. It was great after about six months.