Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
95
world-class
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3,404 Ratings

THE BROS
94
exceptional
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rAvg: 4.25
pDev: 10.59%
Reviews: 1699
Hads: 1705

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Stone Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
American Black Ale | 8.70% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (1474), on-tap (185), growler (25), cask (15).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (86) | Reviews (242) | Events (2)

Reviews

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Reviews by Phenom:

Phenom

New Jersey

5/5 rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow do I love this beer, I consider it my favorite beer and nearly perfect. I have had several before, but am just getting around to reviewing it. Too bad I only have 4 left after this one, it would be a real shame if Stone never brewed it again.

Very dark, nearly black with a nice tan head that dissipates fairly quickly to a thin film that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is of piney hops, melon or tropical fruits, raisins, molasses, an almost woody or oak-like smell which is interesting since this beer is not oak aged.

The flavor is really complex, with too many flavors for me to separate, and simply delicious. There is a big hit of hop bitterness, yet the beer is very syrupy and coats the palate well. The alcohol meshes well with the other flavors and is well-hidden.

Honestly I remember the beer being hoppier the first time I tasted it, and I liked it a bit better then. There is still plenty of hop bitterness, but this beer has some age on it now and the hop aroma and flavor has started to mellow and fade a little. My score reflects to some extent my memory of the fresh beer. Still excellent now, but not quite as exceptional as it was. Who knows what it will become with even more age?

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 01:05:04 | More by Phenom

More User Reviews:

Ctrauty

Minnesota

3.75/5 rDev -11.8%

05-20-2013 01:42:18 | More by Ctrauty

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5 rDev -5.9%

05-19-2013 23:22:31 | More by drgonzo2k2

cbaker1985

Ohio

4.5/5 rDev +5.9%

05-19-2013 22:10:22 | More by cbaker1985

CASK1

Florida

4.64/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured to a Sam Adams "perfect pint" glass.

A - nearly opaque black with a hint of ruby highlight if held up to the sunlight. Tan head with decent staying power.

S - Hops dominate with a complex blend of citrus, pine, and herbal/woody aromas. Low roast malt in the background with hints of coffee and bitter chocolate. I also get some licorice. Very inviting.

T - Hop forward, but nicely balanced. Lots of piney, woody hops that linger all the way through the finish. Bitterness comes up fast and lingers into a long finish. Roast malt supports the hops, but stays in the background. Hints of coffee and burnt toast.

M - Medium-light body and medium high carbonation combine for a highly drinkable beer. Dry finish with some dark malt astringency. Very low alcohol warmth - very well hidden.

O - I seem to have a love-hate relationship with this style, and this one is definitely on the "love" side. I love the complex, dominant hop profile, but the roast malt supports the hops just right for the style. This beer reinforces Stone as a go-to brewery for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:44:18 | More by CASK1

cp45

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -11.8%

05-19-2013 19:11:29 | More by cp45

ShawnMH

Indiana

3.75/5 rDev -11.8%

05-19-2013 15:35:53 | More by ShawnMH

SonOfKyuss

Virginia

3/5 rDev -29.4%

05-19-2013 14:51:17 | More by SonOfKyuss

jdhowe

California

4.48/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

22oz bottle, Enjoy by 08/08/13 (not clearly printed, so it's possible this isn't the date).

A: Pours a deep brown (very minimal light passes through the edges, revealing a deep brown color, but otherwise it's black) with 1 1/2 fingers of foamy mocha head. Plentiful lacing down the glass.

S: All hops. Piney, earthy hop aromas predominate, followed by light alcohol.

T: Strong hop bitterness, a sweet malty backbone filling out the flavor profile, with coffee and roast flavors on the finish. The coffee was undetectable on the nose for me, and is a truly pleasant surprise.

M: thick, oily, and moderate carbonation. This coats the mouth and stays long after the sip.

O: I am very impressed by this beer. While I am far from a huge fan of Stone, this is definitely one of the best beers I've had by them, right up with Espresso IRS and Enjoy By. I would not hesitate to have this beer again, and I will probably purchase it again if I am in the mood for a black IPA-type beer, which is really what this reminds me of. If Hop in the Dark were available year-round, this would have a bit more contest, but as it is, this may become the go-to for me in its style.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 06:43:03 | More by jdhowe