Stone 8th Anniversary Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

palliko

California

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A lovely mahogany brown, translucent, tan head, lingering lacing, some carbonation. Mild aroma, some hops, and nut-brown-ale malt. Bitter initial taste with bittersweet dark chocolate and coffee, smooth mouthfeel. A little rough right now, but should age well. It tastes like an immature Arrogant Bastard, and costs $2 a bottle more!

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2004 21:37:51 | More by palliko

studentofbeer

California

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a nice brown/red with a light tan head that isn't very big, but seems just right in my imperial pint glass. Head falls quickly, but leaves a nice ring and very small cap for most of the beer.

smell is nutty, with rich, slightly musty hops and ripe fruit. Nice, though not super aromatic.

Taste is good-- much more restrained than I was expecting. Light body, pleasantly toasty, sweet malt, though nothing standout there, and a healthy hop bitterness that plays off the toasted characteristics in the end. Very lightly carbonation adds to the English-style.

Personally I found this a very enjoyable beer. Easily drinkable despite the high abv, and in the English mold of subtle but tasty flavors--though you definitely get the stone hop kick that goes above and beyond the style. like they say, a mild on steroids. Nothing wrong with that. It may not be as out there as other stone products, but it's gentle and calming--overall a very good brew that I would sample again.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2004 00:27:43 | More by studentofbeer

garthwaite

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 22 oz bottle, this one poured a deep brown tinted crimson with a miniature tan bubbly head. Toasted caramel, subdued hops, & smoke in the nose. Powerful & well-balanced brew which features an underlying wood smokiness with more direct flavors of hazelnut toffee, caramel, and sweet roast. Some noticeable bitterness, but a very delicate hop flavor. Notes of vanilla & sweet fig. Medium bodied and finishes with more sweet fruit along with a hint of warming alcohol. Tasty creation - especially as it approaches room temperature. Curious to see what time does to this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2004 19:41:03 | More by garthwaite

alexgash

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I luckily got some of this at Liquormart in Boulder on my through town...
Pours a rich chestnut brown with a small light sandy head. Smells of buttered toast with quartz, and earthy, slightly-fruity, sweet notes. A bit on the subtle-y aromatic side (especially for a Stone beer). Taste starts off with minerals and flint, but quickly gets sweet. Notes of toffee, and fruit come through. Then the flint comes back as it segues into a scorched, roasty, nutty bitterness. Doesn't entirely balance out the sweetness, as it lingers into the alcoholic finish. The mineral-quality seems to thin out the body a little bit, but the sweetness makes it coat the mouth quite well. Another great beer from Stone--I just wish I could have made it out to San Marcos for the anniversary festival like I did last year!

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2004 02:18:35 | More by alexgash

HappyHourHero

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Small dark cream colored head doesn't last long. Transparent cherry cola colored beer with no sign of carbonation. Chocolate malt aroma. Flavor starts of lightly sweet with hints of chocolate and tea hoppiness. Bitterness takes over midway through and is quickly joined by a rush of alcohol. It's pretty light in body which makes the alcohol stand out even more. Maybe my expectations are off, but I'm just not diggin it.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2004 01:54:42 | More by HappyHourHero

JohnnyDuvel

Florida

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Give this brewery credit for being unique, but this beer didn't quite do it for me. Tastes malty, but there is a significant green hops flavor underneath. Hoppier than a typical brown ale, and pretty tasty. Feels a little thin, however, and doesn't stand out in any significant way. Pretty good, but not up to their usual (excellent) standards.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2004 03:03:02 | More by JohnnyDuvel

bigbubba

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a beautiful dark mahogony red beer with a nice tan head. It has a very nice sweet malty smell. The taste is very well balanced, there is just enough bitterness to counteract the malty sweetness, plus a little extra. It has lots of body that gives it a great mouthfeel. It is very easy and enjoyable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2004 23:42:36 | More by bigbubba

rkhaze

California

3.53/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a chestnut color with a nice sized creamy tan head.
Big sweet chocolate and nut smells. Roasted and earthy. Caramel and a definite alcohol presence.
Tastes of roasted malt, tangy milk chocolate, nuts and a bit of caramel. A bit on the sweet side and finished with a mellow hop bitterness and an almost peppery spiciness. The alcohol was present and was a little raw.
Thin to medium bodied with a rich full mouthfeel and a pepper burn in the back of the throat.
The combination of the pepper and alcohol made this a tough one to drink. The flavors were good but this seems to need some time to smooth out.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2004 15:37:25 | More by rkhaze

odeed

California

3.7/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

i just grabbed this one today.poured out with a very nice head.i think for a beer like this you should have a little,but not much head..it smells great honestly,and tastes great too.a little less hoppy than most stone brews and its nice to see a bit of a change from them.overall a very nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2004 07:40:04 | More by odeed

99bottles

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: This ale pours a nice rich reddish brown color and has a bubbly head with below average retention. A thin lace does exist throughout the course of the drink however.

Smell: This has a strong malty nose, with an exceptionally nutty scent, most closely approximated with roasted almonds.

Taste: Again, a malt monster of a brown ale this has an incredible nut flavor. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, somewhat wooden. The alcohol is present, but melds well with the nutty malts. This is an interesting experiment, to double the ABV of a brown ale. I like the outcome, but this is quite singular in its flavor. This ought to take on heaps of complexity as it ages (Stone's intent all along). While fresh, this is just interesting.

Mouthfeel / Drinkability: Smooth malt, a little thick at times. Nicely drinkable at cellar temp, but I can't see ever having more than one. In fact, you might want some help finishing the 22 ounce bomber, but it's still a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2004 20:12:43 | More by 99bottles

francisweizen

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

DArk brown, near black with tan edges and a huge beige head. Huge aromas of sweet malts, spices, subtle chocolate, nice roasted malt notes and more. The taste is a bit booz up front with a strange malty sweetness. Where are the hops, guys!? Anyway the flavor than takes an awesome turn for the better when some lovely spicy notes come into the picture. The finish is chocolate-like, sweet, roasty, and yet somehow a bit dry. The mouthfeel is medium bodied-full and the drinkability is outstanding. Great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2004 19:48:00 | More by francisweizen

vladtheimpaler

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After reading the cornocopia of verbal loquatiousness present in liliputian white lettering on the parabola that defines the container in which the mystical fluid was ensnared, I was ready to imbibe. I extracted the cap and the brownish liquid poured forth into a splended goblet that reads Duvel. Aromas of chocolate and carmel dance up past the rim of the glass creating a wonderful fruity fragrance. As the elixer slid across my tongue and proceded down my throat, I was reminded of roasty munich benevolence, combining malt with hops in synchronicity which has remarkable characterizations reminiscent of a scottish ale. Malt lovers delight, and only lacking in subtle smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2004 18:32:03 | More by vladtheimpaler

Dogbrick

Ohio

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

Pours a dark amber-brown color with a medium light tan head. Thin and sticky lacing. The aroma is very roasted, sweet and malty. Rich-bodied and very toasty and dry, with a pleasantly sweet malt and nut flavor. Just a bit of hops make it well-balanced and nice to drink. The finish is toasted malt and caramel with a hint of bitterness. Overall this is an amped up Brown Ale that I could enjoy regularly.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2004 21:07:30 | More by Dogbrick

Beaver13

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

The 8th Anniversary pours a light reddish brown with a thin brown head that quickly goes to a small collar.

Its aroma is roasted nuttiness, coffee and chocolate.

The flavor is sweet, yet heavily roasted, caramel and chocolate malts with some nuts and a little smokiness. It has a dry bitter finish (grassy hops) that is at just the right level. The alcohol is well hidden. It is a little on the thin side and a little under-carbonated.

Overall, a fine brown ale with a kick.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2004 06:33:06 | More by Beaver13

Dmann

California

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Yet another excelent beer from Stone. This beer poured a very dark brown color with a creamy off white head that looked very nice. The smell was very roasty and smokey and very Porter-like. The taste was slightly more Porter than Brown Ale, but the great malt presence balanced the smokiness out enough so it did not float too far into the Porter catigory. A great nutty flavor also appeared and the beer had a great bittersweet aftertaste. Another in a long line of winners from Stone!

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2004 08:47:10 | More by Dmann

BrewMaster

California

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a standard pint glass. The color is a cherry red and brown when seen through daylight. Nice sandy head that thins to a lasting half-centimeter. The aroma is of nuttiness, roasty malts and alcohol. Other scent notes are coffee and a bit of chocolate. All of these make up a nose typical of a good brown ale.

The flavor comes strong with roasty and coffee flavors. There is a harsh bit at the beginning that is a bit sour but that quickly subsides and I get mostly an alcohol and roast/coffee taste. The malt profile is very strong and the aftertaste is of burnt toast. The body of the beer is medium and the mouth feel is tight and clean.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2004 00:51:53 | More by BrewMaster

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This one pours a dark brown color with a finger of fluffy head. The nose is roasted malt and hops. The flavor is nice as well. The roasted/toasted flavor of the malt hits first followed by a huge blast of hops that stick with me for a few minutes. It gets even better as it warms. The flavors melt into each other more. This one is thick and fullbodied. I think drinkability takes a small hit because of the sheer size of the flavor, but just a little one. I'm glad I have a second bottle waiting for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2004 01:13:52 | More by kmpitz2

watermelonman

California

3.65/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

This beer definitely looks good. It poured to a deep brown and ruby color with a modest head, and it's leaving a few lines of lace.

The smell is strong but still very appealing. There's some degree of nuts along with the usual strong malts and hops. The mouthfeel is very full and very tasty. However, being so strong, the drinkability definitely takes a hit.

Overall, this is a good strong beer, even if it is pretty simple.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2004 06:46:13 | More by watermelonman

RoyalT

Ohio

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – This one is dark brown in color with light orangish rings around the outside of the liquid. The head was nice and full and showed good retention with an aggressive pour.

Smell – The strong, sticky brownish flavors came with the signature hoppy Stone Brewing profile.

Taste – This is big and simple. The malty backbone gives this ale a traditional toasty brown flavor. The hops are big as well. The sugars at the end come across as very broken down, if that makes any sense. They reminded me of straight sucrose if you’ve ever had that.

Mouthfeel – This ale is medium-bodied with well-blended flavors and a very sweet finish.

Drinkability – The ale is evenly-balanced but kind of edgy for the style. It’s a heavy-hitter for sure, but I prefer my Brown Ales a little milder. Maybe Greg can by the rights to the Lazy Brown Dog Ale?

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2004 15:17:08 | More by RoyalT

mzwolinski

California

4.58/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark brown -- red when held to the light. Head is very thin and spotty, reinforced by scant, slow-rising carbonation.

The first sniff reveals a deep, malty aroma. Husky and roasty, with light chocolate overtones. This actually reminds me a bit of almonds roasted in vegetable oil.

The roastiness comes through quite strongly in the flavor. Here the malt takes on what again strikes me as a kind of oily, nutty flavor. Almost cola-like. A bit of oaky bourbon flavors kick in toward the end. The roastiness declines a bit in the aftertaste, replaced by some surprisingly restrained hops, and a hint of vanilla. The aftertaste lingers for a good, long time.

Funny, this is probably one of the most malt-dominated beers I've had in a while, and yet "sweet" is about the last word I would use to describe it. Fairly full in the mouth, and very complex in flavor. Tough to drink a lot of in one sitting, but this is a beer that I'm definitely looking forward to going back to.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2004 02:45:42 | More by mzwolinski

Wildman

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This offering from Stone poured a dark amber color and formed a light tan foamy head that left latticed lace as it quickly subsided. A small amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, burnt coffee and a touch of chocolate. The flavor was of malt, coffee, chocolate and a touch of hops. The body was medium light and a slightly creamy texture to it. The finish was bittersweet. Another nice offering from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2004 01:22:17 | More by Wildman

SheepNutz

Kentucky

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

22oz. bomber poured into a nonick pint glass. It pours a burnt caramel brown color with two fingers of head. There is a good amount of lacing left on the glass. The smell is in your face with big caramel maltiness. Sweet aromas reach the back of the nose without any problem. Just a hint of an alcohol smell as well. The taste has lots and lots of roasted malt, sweet at first with some toffee, but a slightly dry burnt coffee finish. A noticeable amount of hops in there as well. Fairly good balance. The mouthfeel is thick as a sumo wrestler's thigh, and covers the tongue thoroughly. For 7.8% abv, this is a fairly drinkable beer too. Another nice one from Stone. Happy Anniversary to Greg, Lee, and the rest of the bunch.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2004 00:29:53 | More by SheepNutz

mickeymac

California

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The back of the bottle had so many multi-syllabic words, I lost interest after two lines and went straight for the contents. It's mahogany with a head that looks like fizzy soda at first but settles into a nice 1 1/2 finger head before quickly disappearing again. The smell is caramel, a fair dose of hops, and a somewhat pronounced alcohol smell. The malt sweetness at first seems destined to be balanced nicely by the hop bitterness, but it never seems to come completely together. The beers stays a bit too sticky sweet but remains entirely drinkable. This is another nice beer from Stone but somewhat disappointing for an anniversary brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2004 05:20:27 | More by mickeymac

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I can't believe I have come across this already. And for only $4.99, what a steal! From the bomber pours a very deep ruby color with a shade of brown. Huge fluffy off white head. Great head retention, lasted for quite some time. Fair amount of lace on the glass. Smells are roasted, slight chocolate, and coffee. Taste is pretty much the same, a nice roasted malt base, combined with notes of chocolate and coffee. Being Stone, of course there are hops. There is a good amount of bitterness at the end, that seems to fit well. Medium body with low carbonation. This is a fantastic beer! I am a big fan of American Brown Ales, and this is a great example. I can't find much to criticize this beer on, other than not seeming like a session beer. Who cares? Enjoy while it lasts! I will certainly look for more.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2004 03:02:58 | More by Bierguy5

egajdzis

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a glowing reddish color with a large off white head and nice lacing. Rather muted aroma of vanilla, caramel, and light roasted chocolate. Taste was bursting with vanilla, chocolate malts, light citric hops, caramel malts, and warming bourbon alcohol feeling on the way down. The roasted qualities really stood out strong here. Very enjoyable. Not like anything else I've had recently.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2004 22:47:21 | More by egajdzis