Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (Cali-België)

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Escondido, California USA

When I saw one of my favorite breweries putting out a beer which had two of my favorite beer elements: Belgian yeast with west coast power hops, I got super excited. Although this was a decent beer I feel that my expectations were perhaps a little too high. Pours yellow gold with decent head. sticky caramel notes to smell with a peppering of dusty hops in there, searching for the subtle and gentle aromas typical of my Belgian favorites, and they are there with some hunting, but they dont seem to jive to well with the powerful piney citrus hop smack. The flavor itself seems to be at war with itself and doesnt have too much cohesion. Perhaps the nuanced subtlety I was expecting just can work with the bittering powershot that I have grown to love. It just seemed that the flavors didn’t blend too well into each other, or seem to get along all that well. That siad, Im probably just being a picky bastard, as this brew was a notch better than decent and was ejoyable to drink and explore. Worth a try but I dont think this one will enter my regular rotation.

22 oz bottle. Pours a clear golden orange with a huge creamy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is earthy muddy peppery hops and yeast with some bubble gum and cotton candy.

The flavor is lots of flowery soapy spices, bubble gum, and peppery hops with a big bitterness in the finish. A little fruitiness comes out as it warms. The mouthfeel is medium to full and is very velvety and creamy.

Overall, it is interesting and unusual. I didn’t really care for the soapy bubble gum and bitter blend. It was a little reminiscent of a British nitro ale.

Pours golden with an orange tint and white head. Sweet and hoppy aroma, some citrus and the Belgian yeast is noticeable on the finish. The flavors mix together a little bit better than the aroma. Has a nice blend of the citrus hops and a peppery spice kick from the Belgian side. Medium body, somewhat oily. Interesting take on the IPA, definitely worth a try.

22 oz. bottle from Grape & Gourmet. Pale orange in color with a 1/2 inch thick white head. Initial pine hop aroma which quickly fades into a bready, Belgian aroma (smells like a Saison more than an IPA). My guess from tasting this one is that the brewers were going for something between a Tripel and an IPA and they succeeded. This is a good beer and it’s very pleasant but I was hoping for more from Stone. The label doesn’t lie as to what it is I just hoped the flavors would combine better. Still, very solid.

In short: A hoppy beer of some kind with a focus on candied fruits flavours. Interesting.
How: Bottle 22oz. Consumed fresh one month after purchase.
The look: Clear golden body topped by a very small off-white head
In long: A nice hoppy nose with dried oranges, citrus fruits, orange peels. I often describe beers as tasting like dried fruits but with this one this statement is truer than ever. Really tastes like those little square of dried oranges, dried citrus & dried pineapples that I buy in mix-bags at the grocery store. Really well balanced. Some green dry grass. Mild bitterness and medium dryness finish. The beer didn’t feel much Belgian to me but there was something “special” about it. Ah, the Cali-Belgique, this magical land where the monks that brew barrel aged imperial stouts are girls with big boobs.

Bottle. Light to moderate aromas of light bread, grain and roasted for the malt, moderate spruce and tangerine for the hops, light yeast note of soap, and hint of wood and melon. Head is small, fizzy, white with some lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is sparkling clear amber. Flavor starts lightly to moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes moderately acidic and lightly bitter. Palate is on the light side of medium, oily, with a lively carbonation and a dry finish. A pretty good IPA, a nice palate and great fruity smells.

Pours a cloudy golden hue with a pillowy bright-white head of foam that leaves some slowly melting specks of lace in the glass. Interesting aromas of piney and fruity hops, spices, red apples, pepper, and a slightly dirty yeast smell. Lots of dry & toasty malt, tangy orchard fruit, a healthy helping of spicy/peppery hops and more of that dirty yeast Spicy and peppery. Rather dry and prickly, even as it warms.

Pint – Eastside Club Tavern - Olympia, WA
Aroma: IPA aroma with slight Belgian yeast coming out.
Appearance: Amber in color, clear, with a thin head.
Flavor: Nice IPA flavors with some Belgian like qualities.
Palate: Dry IPA finish, with a Good Mouthfeel.
Overall: This was a nice beer had ore IPA than Belgian so I can understand the name . It was interesting to say the least.