Stone 7th Anniversary Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

arizcards

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at the local AJ's. Pours a nice copper color finishing with a fine head. I am taking in the usual Stone smell. Big floral hops and perhaps a hint of toasted malts. I could enjoy this taste all night long. This beer is as smooth as the day is long. The mouthfeel is full, along the lines of a barleywine. This is one fine beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2003 02:31:28 | More by arizcards

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: dusky, hazy, yet bold orange hue, graced with a slim, cream-toned head of foam.
Aroma: big, fresh, abundant fruit, (peach, apricot, some citrus), lovely, sweet and rosey.
Taste: great, initial bitterness greets the tongue, then backs away pronto, leaving it all mild and mellow.
Tasty, tasty, tasty, a pale ale that never quits with the flavor...I had some conception that this was supposed to be an IPA, but it's not, though it is a thoroughly outsized pale ale. Somewhat candyish in the flavor, with hints of toffee, perhaps from the malt. Full-bodied, full-flavored, excellently balanced. Hop bite never quits, either.
Very, very nice, Stone, looking forward to the 8th anniversary!
And enormous thanks to Mr. Long of the BeachBums, for this bottle!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2004 06:21:52 | More by feloniousmonk

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled August 2003.
Has a tight creamy beige head, clear amber/gold liquid. Nose is lots of aged hops with a sugary sweet malt underpinning with some alcohol sensed too. Fruity flavors abound in the taste, with intense maltiness that fills the mouth without the cloying mouthfeel, and a nicely balanced blast of mellowed yet still potently bitter hop smack...can also taste a bit of the 7.7 percent alcohol. Finishes flowery, bitter and bready, good stuff! Easily the best of the Stone beers I've had to date.
Thanks Craig once again!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2004 14:05:44 | More by beerluvr

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed amber to copper color with some orange highlights. Beige head is minimal, but leaves good lacing. Big biscuity and caramelly malt and piney, citrusy, and hoppy nose. Blast of ruby red grapefruity west coast hops backed with malt sweetness and subtle notes of caraway seeds, molasses and anise. Carbonation is fair, but introducing a higher level of carbonation would probably produce a metallic twang consistent with carbonic acid. Just the right amount of bitter to sweet. Very enjoyable and unique. Can't say it's really an APA, more like an souped up English IPA with west coast American hops. A bit of iced tea-like tannins as it warms. One year later and it's cellared nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2004 17:54:30 | More by crookedhalo

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Released into a pint from a signature style painted STONE double-deuce with a "can't get any bigger" number seven on the front indicating, in case you couldn't guezz? 7.7% ABV. Pours a clear golden coppery hue with a scant bubble here and there, capped by a sticky looking off white thin but prescent head that leaves tight lattice lace. A few swirls erupt a quickly dissapating froth.

Ripe red apple malt aromas and other sweet mixed fruit scents i.e. peaches and bananas, round out this STONE nose with plenty of olfactory offering. As a bit of warmth enters in, awl-kee-hawl esters are released.

First swigs: Bold complex cornicopia fruit scents and sticky acidic sizzle. Plenty of STONE house flavors. Massive malts and huge hops blend big. Bitter citrous tongue with plenty of varying flavors that make this an interesting taste. Caramely malts blend well with those STONE signature orange grapefruit slices flavored hops. Notes of raisins, fruit cake and mince meat pie.

Seven's syrupy savoring becomes a bit cloying. Tons of tongue sizzle, remeniscent of even Ruination.

Last swigs: Palate pummeler. Despite the well built style, Seven is a bit too sizly and bold to be a session offering. Personally, a different beer over another one would be my choice. An adventurous choice for my first beer of the day. A twinge estery and malty, but beyond that, it gets my wallet vote.

Beer is good. Happy big bold California beering.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2004 01:53:14 | More by blitheringidiot

carln26

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dull copper to amber color, slightly hazy with a thin off-white head that settled quickly, and became a light clingy lace. The aroma is a toffee hops smell with a mild doughy character. Hops do show up mildly in the form of a bit of citrus in the aroma. This is a fine APA smell. The flavor has more of the doughy taste, caramel toffee flavors from the malt along with an interesting mix of hop bite an alcohol warming. This definitely has more alcohol than many APAs I’ve tried. It doesn’t overpower, but it does change the character some. The mouth feel is slightly slick, not much carbonation, still this is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2005 00:38:20 | More by carln26

Westsidethreat

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Stone Winter Storm

A: Slightly hazy cider colored brew with a generous creamy off white head.

S: Caramel, minor red fruit, pine cone, butterscotch and vanilla.

T: Begins like vanilla custard with hints of butterscotch and loads of honey. Lots of toffee and caramel, the trademark of an aged ale. Then a buttery citrus expression pops up, but the citrus has been muted over the years. The bittereness remains though and is a constant reminded what this beer was years ago. Finishes desert like with long lingering toffee

M: Medium body with a silky mouthfeel. The carbonation has chilled over the years.

D: This beer has aged remarkably well for a pale ale. This is a good example of what a hop bomb can become with some time on its hands.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2006 05:54:24 | More by Westsidethreat

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 22oz bottle poured into 2 Pint Glasses

A - Poured a nice deep and murky amber with a small, maybe one finger high head of thin foamy lace. No real side glass contribution and the overall look was kinda bland, aside from some nice hazziness. Some carbonation could be seen streaming toward the top.

S - Aroma was obviously aged as it was very malty and most ogf the hops had been mellowed and gone by now. Very sugary and sweet in smell, there was quite a bit of earth tones and a touch of some light grass at the end. A subtle bread like malt came over the top.

T - The flavor was very unique. This held up well over the last few years despite being only 7% abv. Very very sweet and sugary. Reminded me alot of DFH Burton in the flavor. Had that almost candy like sweetness to it. Lots of malts here, good earthy tones and a touch of hop still left at the finish, just enough to let you know what it once was.

M- Super smooth and rich. It had almost a syrup like quality to it. This was rather thick and the carbonation seemed to die off in it as it went down the session. Still an overall good feel and was not thin in the least.

D - A very nice sessionable ale for me honestly. There was no hint of the alcohol at all and most of the dominant flavors have mellowed and left behind a rather nice subtle malty masterpiece. Its nice to see this held up so well.

Overall very nice. And suprise this was my 700th beer review! I figured how fitting to have a stone 7th for the 700th review. It lived up to my expectations and I really thought it held up very well with age. It took on almost an old ale like appeal now and the finish was very long with the hops, but that was really the only place I picked it up. Overall it is probably gonna hold up for another year as it is still mighty fine and still a really good pick to try. Happy 700th!! and a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2007 02:38:11 | More by mikesgroove

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not a huge nose but there are some sharp hop smells as well as a hint to roast malt and earthy smells. Beautiful lookin' brew. Thick beige rocky sticky head that clings like spidermans ass to that red head. Lots of fine bubbles and carbonation in the clear red ale. Just beautiful beer in the glass. The inital smooth malty biscuit taste and feel is crushed by a big bad hop/abv monster taste on the tongue. Your palet is left punished lovingly with plum skin and orange peel notes. It looks good.. it tastes good, it is good. Get some while you can. It is rich and smooth and balanced with aggression.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2003 02:20:04 | More by frank4sail

Stingray5

New York

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber feels nice in the hand with the silkscreened label. Pours a reddish amber with small off white head. Citrusy hop aroma, very pleasing. Thick mouthful, medium bubbles. Taste is more citrus hops, orange, grapefruit, some pineapple. good fruity malt balance. Alcohol actually hit me on the first few sips, but was gone after that. Tangy hops in the finish. Fresh hop burps ensue.

Pale ale? IPA? Don't know, don't care. This is one excellent brew. Kind of like a Junior Bastard.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2003 01:28:29 | More by Stingray5

bigbubba

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a beautiful dark orange pale ale. The head was substantial but didn't stick around very long. The friuty and hoppy aroma is great and the flavor is delicious, including a very spicy American hop bite. The alcohol is evident but not so strong that you can't have a couple. I'm definitely looking forward to Stone's 8th Anniversary.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2004 01:52:36 | More by bigbubba

Boilermaker88

California

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Saw this sitting in the fridge of a local liquor store and pounced on it like a buzzard on a roadkill. Couldn't wait to try it but had to drive home first (damn open container laws :-) !).

Anyway, poured from a rather non-descript 22oz bomber (except for the big-ass "7" on it), it's a great coppery color with a thick, sticky tan head and lots of lace.

Smell: whoa, hops, lots of hops. Citrusy hoppy aroma abounds. Had me worried as I don't care for having my tastebuds blasted by hops.

Taste: wow, not as hoppy as expected after smelling it. Sweet malty tones followed up by the inevitable hops flavor. Citrusy, grapefruit-like taste comes on strong but not out of control. Warming alcohol bite at the end.

Feel: Full, smooth and creamy.

Drinkability: holy crap, that was good! Only downside keeping this brew from a "5" is the rather high % ABV. It's not outrageous, but insidious and will have you tuned in short order. That being said, this is an elegantly crafted beer that's got me itching to try it on tap next weekend at Stone's 7th Anniversary Open House. Another home run brew from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2003 15:49:52 | More by Boilermaker88

mzwolinski

California

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I must admit some worry about this one. Sure, 77 IBU, 7.7% ABV, 7th anniversary thing is cute. But numerology hardly seems a good guide for determining the contents of a beer. But damn! As soon as I'd finished pouring, the sheer attractiveness of this brew was enough to put me mostly at ease. We're talking sunset-over-the-Tucson-mountains kind of pretty here. Clear, with lots of orange, hints of red, amber, and a huge off-white head. Citric hops dominate the aroma and speak up right from the start in the flavor as well. But this isn't just another Ruination. Mid-palate, the hops yield toward a surprising and really lovely sweetness, kinda caramel-like but combined with a nice toastiness that hits you on the back of the tongue. The finish is quite aggressively hopped -- lots of grapefruit citric flavors but a bit herbal as well. A sharp, piney aftertaste lingers pleasantly subdued. There's a surprising amount going on, on all areas of the tongue. Truely a beer to take one's time with.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2003 18:34:01 | More by mzwolinski

goz

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a medium copper, with a large white head, mostly lasting and lacing fantastically on the way down. Many tiny bubbles lazily make their way to the top through the coppery brew. Aroma is very floral, some citrus, and some pine - pretty much all hops, but as it warms, a bit of cookie dough and some caramel join in the fray. Flavor is slightly sweet to start, then comes the various forms of hoppiness - lightly floral, strongly bitter, and a good amount of spiciness all play parts. Full bodied, light-medium carbonation, long and lingering flavors, fairly dry ending.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2003 00:55:57 | More by goz

ngandhi

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Stone is quite humble to call this a pale ale. It's almost comical.

The sweet, honeyed, malt-laden nose and palette along with the supportive, but unaggressively resinous hop backbone suggests old ale all the way. And were it an old ale, perhaps it'd be a tad weak -- especially since Stone's sick interpretation of an old ale is Arrogant Bastard. I guess 7th Anniversary is a hybrid of old and pale ales, managing to show off the complexity of the age-worthy malt without deflating the nuance of a classic American pale ale. And I guess Stone could give a fuck what I think of how well they fit a style. "If you want consistency, drink Bud," I'm sure they'd say.

Glorious hopping reminiscent of SN Celebration in its complexity and distinction. Way too much malt for a pale ale.

But really this is classic British old ale with a wonderful fresh citrus kick. Sweet of fresh morning pastries. It even picks up the tiniest hint of sherry-like almondine nuttiness. A little buttery diacetyl late in the finish. 15 minutes later, this finishes with the dry fruitiness of a pale ale; I don't understand.

Stone 7th Anniversary has what I would expect out of a well aged old ale. Only 6 months into it, this beer's destined for something really special. It might be too thin to really be a great vintage ale some day, but it'll make the best run a simple "pale ale" ever could.

As a young BA, I knocked the site and said that the BAs missed the complexity of more delicate brews -- that their tongues were charred with high-octane stuff, primarily from Stone. Now that I've earned some stripes, I see the error of my ways, but also have noticed how burnt my own tongue has gotten. Stone 7th Anniversary is a pale ale for experienced BAs; for those who said that pilsners and amber ales were the cat's meow until they found out about barleywines and imperial everything. It reminds me of what I loved when I started, what I love now, and how much I have changed. This special release is my coming-of-age in a bottle.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2004 04:24:26 | More by ngandhi

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one was a beautiful mahogany colour was a decent head floating on top. The nose was a not as big as I expected but the taste was dead on for such a special beer. This is very hopped ale with a nice rounded finish that sits this brew somewhere between Old Guardian and Double Bastard in flavour. What impressed me about this beer was the refined aspects which show Stone to be true craftsmen.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2004 03:36:45 | More by canucklehead

PeprSprYoFace

California

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at winterstorm 2010.

Pours a Belgian trippel color. Head dissapated fast. No lacing. Nice color though.

Not much smell to this one. Sort of citrusy caramel.

Taste is wonderful though. Still pretty hoppy and bitter and even a good hop flavor. Lots of citrus hops. Nice caramel malt.

Mouthfeel is quite thin with a nice carbonation.

Overall I would say to drink up your bottles if you have any. This beer is goin down hill from here on out.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2010 17:19:56 | More by PeprSprYoFace

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the first 5 to review this, woohoo! 22oz. bomber poured into a pint glass. It pours a reddish-amber color with 2 fingers of fluffy off-white head. There is lots of lace left on the glass. The smell is rich in hops, citrus, and even a hint of coconut. The taste starts with sweet malt, almost a caramel taste to it, then finishes with a powerful bite of hops. Hell, this beer has more hops than most IPAs! The body is smooth and fairly heavy for a pale. The drinkability is very good for a 7.7% brew. Greg, you've done it again. You are a beer god.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2003 02:31:41 | More by SheepNutz

mickeymac

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ah, it's that time of year again: Christmas in August. Poured from (surprise!) a brown bomber. It's an absolutely beautiful orange that almost looks like it would glow in the dark. The head foams up nicely but fades quickly. The smell of hops certainly makes itself known, but it's on the light side compared to other Stone offerings. It's not the usual pale ale by any stretch of the imagination. In addition to more intense hopping than most PAs, it packs a punch in the alcohol department, though it's well-hidden in the taste. A hint of grapefruit comes through. Everything comes together nicely, and it's great to see Stone put together a really good beer that's not as "big" as its others.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2003 04:30:19 | More by mickeymac

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lovely beer this, but what Stone isn't. The neon copper body is crowned by a modest but lace-happy tan head. The nose is citrusy, a bit foresty, and laced with lovely malt backing. This malt sense increases as the beer warms, a happy characteristic of most brews with a substantive malt presence.

The taste is, well, Stone's. The citrus flavor jumps in followed by that lovely malt backbone following. The body is full and creamy but modulated by that nice hop presence which cuts the syrupy sweetness and makes the body appear 2 shades lighter.

A wonderful new addition to the Stone repertoire. When will they stop brewing hoppy, delightful beers?

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2003 19:32:09 | More by AtLagerHeads

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bomber bottle, pours reddish amber. tiny bubble film and lacing evident. Hoppy nose. Another high quality, hoppy ale from my heros at Stone. This one is nicely balanced, malty/hoppy. well done. Warming and strong, medium bodied, sticky/creamy mouthfeel. Finish is long and tasty. Get some of this stuff while you still can.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2004 15:52:42 | More by Billolick

kmo1030

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

hazy copper/orange, almost pumpkin pie or apple cider colored with a thin tan head. big malty toffee aroma, with brown sugar, resinous citrus hops, and a dark fruitiness. faint alcohol. apple cidery aromas pop out as it warms. as for the taste the maltiness has attained an almost grainy texture. toffee and caramel maltiness, with molasses, spices and a rich candied fruit flavor. subdued but omnipresent earthy grapefruit hop bitterness. pretty damn complex. nice smooth and full bodied with crisp carbonation. very enjoyable, i feel like this beer has been softened with age, i wish i had had a chance to try it when it was new.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2005 01:38:50 | More by kmo1030

mynie

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle aged damn near two years.

Nice APA pour from a cool bottle. Dark orange with a nice head.

Smells of big hops and yeast. Lots of bread with hints of pine and dough. Bold.

Tastes even bolder. Raw bread dough upfront, followed by spices and pine, ending in very dry hops. Tastes like a double pale ale, more than anything.

This is a tounge killer. Incredibly hoppy, lots of complexities. Goes down smooth despite its high ABV, too.

(Thanks to beerislove for the trade)

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2005 04:50:09 | More by mynie

Overlord

California

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another of these Stone beers I'll probably never get to try again.

Pours a beautiful light, orange-ish amber. Surprising amount of carbonation given this beer's age. It's a sweet tasting beer. Surprisingly, the current brew I'd most compare it to would be the Alesmith '06 Decadence (which is a much better beer, but taste-wise, it's reminiscent). There's some hops, but mostly this is delicious sweet malt with orange, mango?, papaya?, and other tropical fruits.

Really, really great. Settled in nicely after a very spicy meal.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2007 04:57:34 | More by Overlord

BierReise

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz. Bottle Deep amber ale with an orange hue. Big rocky head of foam. Aroma is super hoppy with a nice bready malt character. Mouthfeel is smooth medium bodied with a velvety texture. Flavor is big on hops with a sharp bitterness. This is similar to the Ruination but with a better malt balance. Flavor is great, blended malts and bitter flavorful hops. Another winner from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2004 06:04:03 | More by BierReise