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Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
Ranked #5 - ABV:
- 8.7%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,452 - Avg:
- 4.22 | pDev: 10.19%
- Reviews:
- 1,990
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 18, 2024
- Added:
- Sep 02, 2007
- Wants:
- 323
- Gots:
- 835
First brewed in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this ale was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn't last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn't be any more. For us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we are now blessing ourselves, and you the enlightened, with this ale. Thusly, you may now revel in your own self-righteousness as you see fit with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure.
90 IBU
90 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by begforme4484:
Reviewed by begforme4484 from North Carolina
5/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I know going into this review my words can never pay this beer homage.
That said, I was lucky enough to find this beer on tap for my first tasting of it. I've since bought it by the case in bottle form. It's not quite as good in bottle as on tap, but that can be expected with any beer.
SSRA pours a very dark brown. By eye it is almost black. Trying to peer through the liquid into a light or even the sun is useless, as you cannot see through it. It has almost 2 fingers worth of a tan-white head that recedes somewhat quickly, but laces with every sip I take.
It smells sweet and roasted initially. The malts smells of chocolate and caramel. Further looking into it, you can get a scent of the faint hops smell behind the malts. The hops smell somewhat grassy.
The taste is superfluous. It's very dark and smokey upfront with a very tasty bitter finish. It's like Stone combined 5 different styles of beer into one and made it work somehow. It's smokey like a porter, thick like a stout, clean as a lager, and as bitter and refreshing as an IPA. (Due in part to the 80ish IBU's I'm sure).
The beer is well carbonated. It does linger a lot.. and suffice it to say I think any beer you taste after having this will be ruined.
The overall drinkability for me is excellent. I can drink SSRA after SSRA and never tire of it. The only problem being is now that I know what SSRA is and how it tastes.. I have to plan ahead of time to make sure to drink it last if I'm drinking other beers. Even it's after taste overpowers a lot of brews.
This beer may not fit everyone's palate, but I see it as a must try. Definitely my #1 favorite beer of all time. Right in front of Pliny the Elder at #2.
Jul 09, 2010That said, I was lucky enough to find this beer on tap for my first tasting of it. I've since bought it by the case in bottle form. It's not quite as good in bottle as on tap, but that can be expected with any beer.
SSRA pours a very dark brown. By eye it is almost black. Trying to peer through the liquid into a light or even the sun is useless, as you cannot see through it. It has almost 2 fingers worth of a tan-white head that recedes somewhat quickly, but laces with every sip I take.
It smells sweet and roasted initially. The malts smells of chocolate and caramel. Further looking into it, you can get a scent of the faint hops smell behind the malts. The hops smell somewhat grassy.
The taste is superfluous. It's very dark and smokey upfront with a very tasty bitter finish. It's like Stone combined 5 different styles of beer into one and made it work somehow. It's smokey like a porter, thick like a stout, clean as a lager, and as bitter and refreshing as an IPA. (Due in part to the 80ish IBU's I'm sure).
The beer is well carbonated. It does linger a lot.. and suffice it to say I think any beer you taste after having this will be ruined.
The overall drinkability for me is excellent. I can drink SSRA after SSRA and never tire of it. The only problem being is now that I know what SSRA is and how it tastes.. I have to plan ahead of time to make sure to drink it last if I'm drinking other beers. Even it's after taste overpowers a lot of brews.
This beer may not fit everyone's palate, but I see it as a must try. Definitely my #1 favorite beer of all time. Right in front of Pliny the Elder at #2.
More User Ratings:
Rated by Matt_W from New York
4.47/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is worth trying. Poured like a stout but not an overly crazy hoppiness about it. Great beer, I need to get more.
Feb 18, 2024Reviewed by spectru from Florida
3.34/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.5
3.34/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.5
Coppery coffee, tan head recedes to thin cap; an unusual flavor for an IPA, interesting but not particularly appealing to me. Good mouthfeel. I don't particularly care for this beer. I'm glad I only had a single bottle.
Jan 17, 2024Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.41/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: It pours black with a tan head. Head retention is very good.
Smell: It has strong citrus aromas with some pine. It has some roasted elements. There are some faint dark fruit notes in the background.
Taste: It has strong citrus and pine flavors with plenty of roast. There are some grapefruit notes with hints of dark fruits. There are hints of licorice as well.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a nice bitter finish. It also has a creamy texture.
Overall, this beer is pack with flavor and complex combinations of hops and malts that work well together. I love black IPA's and this is the best I've had.
Dec 25, 2023Smell: It has strong citrus aromas with some pine. It has some roasted elements. There are some faint dark fruit notes in the background.
Taste: It has strong citrus and pine flavors with plenty of roast. There are some grapefruit notes with hints of dark fruits. There are hints of licorice as well.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a nice bitter finish. It also has a creamy texture.
Overall, this beer is pack with flavor and complex combinations of hops and malts that work well together. I love black IPA's and this is the best I've had.
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas
4.29/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into tulip, good 2+ finger light tan head, excellent retention and great lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light passes thru. Smells of pine, and roasted malt, haven't had these 2 together in a while. Taste is , well to hell with it, taste is great, rocking pine on the front end and then a light roasted malt comes slamming into it, each offsetting the other to where it just smooths out thru the end where there is a good firm bitterness to bring it to an end. Slight residual pine on the palate, roast has left the party. They really did a nice job with this beer, hops and roast do a great job of playing nice together
Advent 2023-06
Dec 09, 2023Advent 2023-06
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
4.04/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours pitch black with a small light brown head. Smells of grassy hops with very slight dark roasted grain. Tastes of citrus and earthy hops, with nice chocolate notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 18, 2022Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.77/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of pine, roasted malts. Taste is dank, pine, light roasted malts, a touch of alcohol, significant bitterness. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer.
Oct 16, 2022Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours black with a couple fingers of khaki foam. Aroma is sticky resin, with toasty and roasty malts underneath. Sticky, but dark, with earthy undertones. Flavor profile is sticky resin and mild dank hops, with roasty and toasty malts underneath. Caramel and earthy flavors build as the beer warms. It's a really sticky IPA, but with dark stout undertones. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a mild velvet, fluffy texture. Very low grit. Overall, sticky dark beer, which is always a juxtaposition, but in a favorable way.
Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 12oz bottle. Reviewed from notes.
Jul 31, 2022Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 12oz bottle. Reviewed from notes.
Reviewed by DeaconWhite82 from Pennsylvania
4.34/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a six pack, pours almost black. Strong flavor that was great. Makes you feel great. Became my go to beer for about a month. Did my job to bring it back next year.
May 15, 2022
Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
6094 ratings
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