Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

Reaper16

Alabama

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bomber served into a tulip glass

Pours a deep chocolate brown. This beer is stout dark. The very tan looking foam, a two finger dome of head, sits heavy on top of the stout-looking body, leaving little in the way of lacing. The beer looks good and not just because of its unusual color 9I say unusual because, while this is listed on BA as a strong ale, I can't get away from thinking of it in terms of a "black IPA").

Loads of grapefruit dominate the nose here. Only a gentle kiss of pine or bitter hops. Beyond the fruit there is a porter-like smell of light chocolate maltiness. There is some age to this bottle, I can tell from the aroma, but it doesn't detract from the beer. While simple, uncomplex, the beer smells good. I can't deny the pleasure of smelling this much grapefruit from such a dark beer.

You first taste all of that grapefruit along with a touch of a softer, rounder fruit, like strawberry. But a beer this dark has to have some roasted malt character, right? Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale has the roast character of a solid American Stout, with a tasty blend of coffee and chocolate flavors coming out of the malt bill. It is a treat to taste the bright hops interact with a roasty, stout-like base. This beer makes me think of what a dry-hopped Boulevard Bully! Porter might taste like when ran through a DFH Randal the Enamel Animal. I can see why some people wouldn't like black IPAs or super-hoppy stouts. Me though? I adore them.

This very thick by IPA standards. I would abhor the mouthfeel if it weren't for the stout flavors that this beer has. it strikes me that Stone has figured out something of a happy middle ground here that feels mostly like an East Coast IIPA. The more that I drink of this beer the more that I can see how creamy the feel is without being too heavy. Drinkability is just fine. It is close to 09% ABV, strongly flavored and comes only in a bomber but the sheer playfulness of the flavors here is enough to propel the drinker down deeper into the bottle.

American Strong Ale? American Stout? Black IPA? Whatever. This is a playful, interesting, damn tasty beer that successfully marries big-time hoppy grapefruit with roasty malt. Enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 05:52:17 | More by Reaper16

anvilx

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-25-2013 20:27:30 | More by anvilx

Hoozierdaddy

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-25-2013 19:19:43 | More by Hoozierdaddy

DeanMoriarty

California

4.78/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a litre growler of this the other night from the new Stone Brewing World bistro and Gardens - Liberty Station in Point Loma and poured it into a Bitburger branded stemmed pilsner glass.

Pours like iced espresso coffee with auburn highlights when held up to the light, massive tan head that mushroomed over the edge of my glass with ridiculous amounts of lacing from the first sip to the last. Smell is like a West Coast IPA - extremely hop forward right off the bat - chlorophyllic and resinous, as it warms aromas of carmel and roasted malts emerge, balancing the aggressive hoppiness perfectly - hints of dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans as well. Flavor is amazing and on point with what the nose suggests - hops abound with earthy goodness that coats the palate, sweet toffee and carmel, fresh milled grains, espresso and cocoa nibs round the flavor profile perfectly - insanely tasty and so well balanced! Mouthfeel is on the lighter end of medium bodied which is just insane for a beer clocking in at nearly 9% ABV - chewy but finishes clean and dry, carbonation is perfect for the style with a lingering bitterness from the 90 IBU's. Where is the alcohol - barely detectable - a bit of warmth with all those hop oils but other than that, you'd never know what this one clocks in at.

More please!

Serving type: growler

05-25-2013 02:17:38 | More by DeanMoriarty

Segelstrom

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - poured to a frozen tumbler- large head that I had to wait on to get the entire glass poured. Dark chocolate color w/ decent clarity

S - light hoppy aroma

T - a decent beer but not one of Stone's best efforts. Seemed like a cross between a golden ale and a poorly made stout

M - good carbonation

O - worth the try but not going to fit on my list of regulars

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 23:39:51 | More by Segelstrom

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

P- Wegmans

A- coffee black with a nice 2 finger tan foamy head. Gorgeous lacing and head sticks around.

S- resin hops with a burnt malt presence on the back end. Very nicely done Stone!

F- nice hop presence that tastes like pine resin and burnt malt. Very tasty.

M- chewy and creamy. goes down with ease.

O- great beer from stone. All i can say.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 22:49:38 | More by Dodo2step

Spaz7

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-24-2013 20:11:49 | More by Spaz7

Obsidian

California

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

05-24-2013 05:36:02 | More by Obsidian

TranceTF

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-24-2013 01:07:40 | More by TranceTF

Thecasehead

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-23-2013 23:37:25 | More by Thecasehead

Michael_20P

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-23-2013 23:23:39 | More by Michael_20P

sjanowiak

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-23-2013 20:17:41 | More by sjanowiak

visionaries

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-23-2013 17:17:21 | More by visionaries

pisano

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-23-2013 13:43:41 | More by pisano

Black_ox

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

05-23-2013 06:05:03 | More by Black_ox

Callmecoon

California

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-23-2013 02:21:54 | More by Callmecoon

twkirkby

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-23-2013 00:17:08 | More by twkirkby

firecrack0r

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-22-2013 22:51:17 | More by firecrack0r

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-22-2013 13:23:43 | More by SpdKilz

IPeteA91

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-22-2013 05:25:50 | More by IPeteA91

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-22-2013 03:26:52 | More by SmellsofMahagony

dwagner003

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%

05-22-2013 03:07:28 | More by dwagner003

gamanley

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%

05-22-2013 03:02:44 | More by gamanley

Bauzen

New York

4.24/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Black body, tan head. Rings of foam get left along the glass every time you take a sip.

You wouldn't expect a beer that pours black as night to smell as hoppy as it does. Notes of coffee, chocolate, slight citrus, hops and malt. There's a lot going on.

Flavor is odd, it has the bitterness of an IPA, but shares its body with the flavor profile of a stout. Bitter finish, slightly spicy at times. Stone has an interesting way of attacking your palate with overwhelming flavors... This beer is really no different.

Can't quite understand it, but it's certainly different, and that makes it worth trying,

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:36:17 | More by Bauzen

PlinyBeMiney

California

4/5  rDev -5.9%

05-21-2013 23:12:55 | More by PlinyBeMiney