Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

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95
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3,406 Ratings

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rAvg: 4.25
pDev: 10.59%
Reviews: 1699
Hads: 1707

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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 (85) | Reviews (242) | Events (2)

Reviews

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Reviews by jzeilinger:

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.35/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours almost pitch black in color but has a slight burgundy hue when you hold the glass to the light, mild head. This one smells really good - lots of pine and grapefruit with hoppy astringency coming through. This beer looks more like a porter which is why I'm so intrigued by it. The taste is really, really good! Lots of pine and citrus up front, very light malt, with a bitter chocolate finish that sticks around for 30 seconds or so before the chocolate starts coming through again, then fades away to hops. This is a very weird beer and one of the most unusual ales I've ever experienced. The feel is very smooth on the tongue and almost touches on creamy, but doesn't quite get there. This is a very drinkable beer and I could definitely have a few of these and not grow tired of it. I would say it's complex only because it fades in and out of a few flavors, there's not alot of stuff going on beyond hops and chocolate, but the way it blends is pretty impressive, especially when the color fools your brain into thinking there'll be more malt presence. Yet another well brewed and creative beer from Stone Brewing, I love their beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 03:23:54 | More by jzeilinger

More User Reviews:

Australia

3/5 rDev -29.4%

05-21-2013 00:35:42 | More by pin

Ak555667

Illinois

3.75/5 rDev -11.8%

05-21-2013 00:30:43 | More by Ak555667

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