Stone 7th Anniversary Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

Brent

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

For a 7.7 abv beer, the alcohol was amazingly well-integrated into the flavor - very stealthy. Big, bold malt and hops profile that is the signature of Stone brews, but here the hops is less of a sledgehammer on the palate (not that I mind a good sledgehammer, mind you). Some caramel and a hint of smokey chocolate waaaay back in the flavor. Quite drinkable for the high-octane nature.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2003 19:26:27 | More by Brent

alexgash

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I was able to try this on tap and on cask, and I liked the tap version slightly more. I thought that the taste was better, more complex, and bigger in this version, not to mention more carbonated (duh!). And I found it to be just as drinkable as its cask conditioned friend. Now I just need to get this in the bottle...

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2003 17:17:55 | More by alexgash

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

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a pleasant surprize to find this bier at the Wine Society in Tyngsboro. Had only one left, and you're mine! Come to Papa!! Poured a rich copper color, with just a touch of haze. Head was light tan, thin and very fine, and lasted throughout the quaffing. Also had a creamy appearance to it. Lacing was quite nice as well. All in all, a very inviting look to #7. A whiff gave me some caramelly malt, along with a whack o' citrussy hops. Mouthfeel? Oh yeah! More than medium yet not quite full-bodied, and silky smooth on the tongue. Mmmmm! Taste was top-shelf! Some malt, (yes, just some) again with a caramel lean to it. Gives way to a barrage of hops! And more hops. Oh, this is Stone? I'm shocked! Shocked to find hops going on in a Stone Bier! Very citrussy, piney, resiny...they infiltrate your mouth and leave a hop-coating that lasts and lasts. I love it! As the liquid pleasure warms, the maltiness builds and melds oh-so-well with the hops. Another winner from Stone! Zum Wohl!!!

overall: 4.4
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5
602

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2003 18:17:27 | More by Bierman9

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

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a mostly dulled orange pour. One heavy finger of foam, creates a ring of lace at the top of the Belgian glass, leaves off-again on-again lace elsewhere. There is a very thin surface of bubbles around the edge of the glass, and a thicker pile in the center where the beading is concentrated.

Aroma - sweet. hoppy, boozy. Smells like a big beer. Settles to a sweet, boozy aroma.

Taste - starts out sweeet and citrusy, the fruity side is intense. On the swallow, it turns decidedly bitter with grapefuit and pine becoming dominant. The flavor level stays constant as the flavors develop and change, very nice. Alcohol magnifies the flavor further, a very enjoyable beer to taste. The aftertaste is still ruled by the bitterness but some sweetness is there too. Finishes with a little orange burst. Quite the APA.

Mouthfeel - first sip is fairly viscous, but appears to thin out as my mouth adjusts. Definitely heavier than average, active carbonation keeps it lively and enhances flavor.

Drinkability - tastes stronger than 7.7 abv but still a fine brew even two and a half years after release.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2006 04:31:06 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Floydster

California

2.98/5  rDev -28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

8 ounce glass at the Stone Winter Storm for four dollars, shared with my girlfriebd

Color was a light orange with an obvious golden tint when held to the light, 3/4 inch white soapy head that mellowed extremely fast, minimal retention and no lacing

Smell had sweet apples, pears, peaches, white grapes, bready malt aromas, sugary scents, small amount of earthy hoppiness

Taste was pretty chewy off the bat with a hint of grassy hoppy flavors, when it warmed some fruit came to the surface, apple in particular was evident, probably more along the line of golden delicious rather than a more sour granny smith, some raisins later on when this one became too sweet for my palate, not balanced because the majority of the hops have probably died down, this one needed to have a more dry feel to be really enjoyable

Body was pretty thick and fairly syrupy, not much carbonation, taste did not last very long, mouthfeel was a too sweet and creamy for a pale ale

Could drink a couple more ounces of this, it has a somewhat mellow taste, the alcohol percentage is not too high, fairly light on the stomach expect when it gets warm and much sweeter, taste does not really keep you coming back for more

Had been looking forward to trying this one and I was not too impressed overall, one of the worst anniversary beers I can remember having, probably tasted significantly better fresh but I will never know, I prefer Stone's standard pale ale over this one, cannot recommend this to anybody attending the event because there are so many other great beers to try before this one

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2008 21:36:14 | More by Floydster

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This one pours a nice amber color with a tinge of red with a finger of head that falls quickly. The nose is very earthy, both in the malt and the hop. The flavor is very nicely balanced between the roasted malts and the earthy hops. I like it. Mouthfeel is very thick and very nice. Drnkability is good. I could easily finish one of these. This is one of my favorite Stone offereings I've had recently.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2004 01:37:28 | More by kmpitz2

beerguy101

California

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Orange gold color. Small white foamy head. Aroma is grapefruity, piney, fruity and slightly sweet. A full to medium bodied pale ale. The hops will assault your taste buds, take no prisoners and you will be lucky to only have to walk the plank, stripped don to your undies. Your taste buds are then rescued by the really big nutty malt sweetness. Malts are nutty and sweet. Hops are grapefruity, piney and a touch resiny. This beer goes from being hoppy to malty then back to hoppy again, all while staying in balance. Smooth tasting. This is a very nice beer, Stone has done it again, produced a very familiar style beer, but in a way that is unique and very definitely Stone. I wonder what this beer will taste like with some bottle aging, its still a little young. Very cool artwork on the etched bottle. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2003 03:33:17 | More by beerguy101

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

Mitchster

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Brewed August 2003. 77 IBU, 7.7% ABV.

Pours to a honey-colored amber with orange accents, forming a sticky, yellow/dark-beige head with good retention and sparsely delicate lacing. Carbonation is moderate. Aroma is semi-pungently citric and piney with hefty doses of caramel, honey, a suggestion of orange (Amarillo), and a cookie-like sweetness. Mouthfeel is very smooth and even, with a pleasantly semi-dry finish and medium-dense body. Taste begins with a sizeable amount of resinous flavor hops, walking a fine line between being pungent and over-the-top, followed by a medium-strong grapefruit rind bitterness barely kept in balance by a bunch of sticky crystal and light amber malts with a pleasant sweetness lingering into the semi-dry, spicy hop finish. Persistent grapefruit rind bitterness lingers and lingers. As it warms, the sweetness of the malt comes out from under the guise of the hops and helps balance things out a bit. Alcohol is barely perceptable in flavor...perhaps a peppery flourish towards the middle quickly drowned out by the hops. No off-flavors noted.

A quality brew. Despite being one of the more drinkable efforts from Stone, it's a little too intense in the bitterness to make me want more than (1) 22oz. bomber. I love the intense hop flavor balanced by the caramel malt body, but the bitterness level is just a tad inappropriately high. Almost there.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2004 21:57:57 | More by Mitchster

Crosling

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm usually Stone bias. I love their beers but this one didn't do much for me.

Poured an orange copper with a creamy white head. The lacing was poor and crawled back into the head. The lace fell apart each time, at this point my heart fell apart.

The aroma was full of grapefruit. Grapefruit was huge along with some other citrus flavors., sweet malts and caramel.

The taste was full of tropical fruits. Grapefruits mostly and some oranges as well. Nice hop flavor with some sweet malts that leads to a nice caramel flavor on the finish. Alcohol is very well hidden. Pretty tasty but poor for stone.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2003 07:25:44 | More by Crosling

illidurit

California

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Stone Bistro for RBSG 08. Gold-amber color with a small white head. Aromas of oxidized hops, overripe apple, and caramel. Light caramel flavor with a lingering tannic finish as the once-prominent hops struggle against age. Sticky/dirty palate.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2008 21:09:14 | More by illidurit

Boto

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is an almost clear, copper color. There was a little bit of a white head, which dissapated quickly. Minimal lacing. The aroma has a blend of pine and citrus hop aroma. As with all their beers, there is a big blast of hops to the taste, without being overdone. A fairly good balance of the hops, with some malts in the background. Still, it isn't quite up to some of their other brews. Better than most, but I wanted maybe a little more.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2003 20:08:42 | More by Boto

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Well ive had this brew sitting around for about 6 months, guess it is time to crack it. I am drinking at room temp in a snifter. Thearoma is all hops with sour citrus notes and also some piney scents blended. I get a nice 1inch offwhite head to foam up easily while it fades to a robust surface layer. The color of the brew is a clear red-orange and there are a few particles floating around that appear to be hop flower remnants. The carbonation is soft and rolling and the body is actually fairly thinner than expected. The flavor is dominated by hops with piney and sour bitey grapefruit notes dominating. The bitterness rolls from start to finish on this crisp brew. It is a nice beer if you like hops but I found it a little one-dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2004 02:37:52 | More by sulldaddy

mcallister

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A nice shade of amber. Somewhat cloudy and difficult to see through. A very large head that is foamy and thick leaves a sticky large rounded lace behind. Very nice.

Very nice sweet malty aromas. Some hop is still present as well. Floral and somewhat fruity. Hints of toffee, and some nut accents as well.

Still drinking very well. I'm surpised it has held up this well. A burst of malt at the entry with a very thin yet fruity, flowery mid palate, finishes fairly short with a hoppy bitterness that dries the tongue significantly. Some diacetyl is present as well.

Mouthfeel I think is the big hit. The lack of any mid palate presence along with the thin body really hurt it. However it is still enjoyable and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2006 22:09:19 | More by mcallister

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nice coppery color-good carbonation level though no real head. Some malt/hop aroma but nothing really to note.The flavor on the other hand is right there in your face.Big big hop flavor.Almost comes across as an Imperial PA.Big,malt flavor with a slew of hops bleeding thru it-silky smooth in flavor and mouthfeel.Nice, oily body.A very quaffable beer-bigger then your average US Pale but then again it IS a Stone product.This one is a year old and a real humdinger.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2004 00:38:37 | More by lackenhauser

clvand0

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer poured a red color with a little orange in it. The head was small and thin with a tiny bit of lacing on the glass. The aroma was a little fruity (citrus mainly) and reminded me of pine needles. The flavor was fairly strong. I tasted some citrus, something "green", and some caramel malts. This is a little different from the normal IPA's that you might try and it is very interesting. Not my style, but I have to admit that it is a well made beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2003 12:31:07 | More by clvand0

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

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Ahhh...my lone bottle of this brew. I've been holding onto it for long enough and am ready to enjoy it. Pours from the bomber a viscous deep opaque dark orange with hint of dark red. A nice inch of eggshell foam forms and then leaves some spotty lacing in its wake. Aromas are deeply malty upfront with sweet caramel, raisins, citrus and dark fruits. Sticky pine bough hops are resiny and forward. Subtle alcohol. Sweet candied bread. Wow...after over 2 years the nose is still enchanting...reminds me of a barleywine.

First sip brings a big massively caramel maltiness upfront. Notes of citrus and dark fruits abound. Hints of raisins, molasses and brown sugar. Flows down with a big helping of piney, resinous hops that leave a nice bitter trail. Alcohol is there as well but does not detract from the overall brew. This has really aged quite nicely. I wish I could have tasted it fresh! Rich and tasty.

Mouthfeel is fairly thick and chewy with a nice stable carbonation that works well. Fills the mouth and takes hold...I like that. I wouldn't mind having another bomber lying around here. I have no clue how this will age from here on out but I'd say it's pretty tasty right now! Well worth trying if you can still find it or if you still have some lying around. Thanks to kmpitz2 for the opportunity to sample this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2005 02:23:34 | More by orbitalr0x

marc77

California

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pellucid, brilliant copper hue. Frothy, pitted vanilla white leaves rough, muddled lace. Pungent wafts of citrus peel and spicy, pine laced ethanol heat hit the nose at first, then are quickly bolstered by deep caramel and syrup drenched biscuit tones. As the volatile hop oils dissipate, a persistent impression of sugary, candied tangerine remains. Assertive, yet balanced and quite appetizing aromawise. Combination of bready malt and burnt toffee bathes the palate initially. Sharp, yet unastringent hop bitterness ensues and is complemented by notes of marmalade and browned butter. Understated hints of ethanol and hop derived spice lend an agreeable, dryish black pepper undertone. Bitterness fades slowly, leaving a static malt suggestion of bourbon soaked Werther's Original. Fairly full bodied, with ample dextrins lending a creamy, slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Finishes bittersweet and soft, with fading notes of brown sugar and citrus pith. 7th Anniversary is quite a unique brew, being akin to a Double Bastard and standard American pale hybrid. The buttery characteristics and malt dominance are unusual for a Stone brew, but are highly enjoyable. Delicious, although it begins to weigh heavily on the palate over time.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2003 01:32:57 | More by marc77

granger10

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is definitely an imperial pale ale. Big in alcohol and flavor. It had a creamy butterscotch initial flavor. Crisp pine taste comes in and a hit of bitter hops follow. Next chance I get I am going to buy every Stone beer available (can't get it where I live). The Stone brewers have amazed me twice now with the quality of beer that they make. This is one world class brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2003 20:30:20 | More by granger10

far333

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Orangey copper color with a thick tan head of bubbles of many sizes. It sinks quickly, but leaves a thin layer atop, with big bubbles all around the edges. Aroma is thick, and full of pear and apple, some cinnamon and vanilla. I can also tell from the sweetness in the smell that this one's got some pouch. Initially sweet, biscuity, a little buttery. Sweet malts come through, plus a little toffee. Some hops in the finish, but wow, the alcohol jumps out too. The sweetness and the alcohol dominate. I find with many Stone brews that there is depth of flavor waiting to be unleashed, but is being held back by the alcohol flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2004 23:33:55 | More by far333

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

aracauna

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This one is starting to show its age. In other words, if you have it, drink it. It’s a deep amber with a dense, small head. There’s a slight haze to the beer that gradually clears as it warms. There’s a distinct cookie-like aspect to the malt in the aroma and the flavor and maybe some slight oxidation. The hops are mainly present in the bitterness in the back of the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2004 08:26:54 | More by aracauna