Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

RustyDiamond

Georgia

4.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at BSP 05/14/09. Blackish pour into a pint glass, with an unusual striking sandy tan head. Speckles of sand on top of the perfect 1" froth. Gorgeous contrast of color.
Pungent pink grapefruit on the nose, with a touch of charcoal smoke.
Massive grapefruit up front, which rides all the way through. Very nice malt flavor in the middle and back. Scotchy malt, smoke while possessing a mediciny bitterness. Bright, floral hop bouquet throughout. Somewhat tart and bitter finish.
I had 3 pints and could have had 3 more easily. Exceptional flavor & drinkability...so damn unique.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2009 11:50:03 | More by RustyDiamond

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a growler into a pint glass.

A- jet black with a 2 finger slightly offwhite head. So yeah, this looks awesome. Not at all what I was expecting...but it looks great.

S- holy fragrance! It smells like the best IPA in the world...I get pounded with hops...grapefruit and orange mostly predominant. Not at all what I'd expect from something that poured like this.

T- this is amazing...I'm getting a ton of hops like it smells, and theres also a smokiness that is representative of the color. The bitterness from the hops mixes so well with that subtle smokiness...its amazing

M- feels great. Carbonated goodness without having a texture that makes it overwhelming...this is perfect.

D- unbelievably drinkable. I want more now. It drinks like an IPA but looks like a stout...I love this so much

Serving type: growler

05-29-2010 17:30:57 | More by bigfnjoe

xmorgan

California

4.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bought it at BEV MO, 1 PT 6 OZ.

This is a beer that is big, bold and powerful beer.

I mean it is just like stone, this is not a bodybuilders beer, it is a powerlifter beer, strong and bold as hell, and not worried about it's waistline our how it looks in speedos. This beer does not care if you like it or not, it is taking your girlfriend home with it. The next day she will call this beer an $$$hole and crawl back to you, but late at night when the moon is full and she is ovulating, she is gonna think about this Sublimely Self Righteous Ale and moan in pleasure.

Such a big taste, it lingers and lingers in your mouth. It is hoppy as hell and bitter, but you can dive in and get the malt. It is like a double IPA/Stout.

Malty,Piney and powerful.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 04:14:56 | More by xmorgan

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber poured into a tulip glass

A- Black with reddish hues, not hazy at all. A quarter finger of a brown head.
S- A strong presence of a burnt caramel backbone. Some coffee and dark malts hidden beneath. An awesome floral hop aroma.
T- Holy Hell, this is good. A bitter hop assault on your tongue, consists of lots of piney and floral notes. This is more IPA then stout unlike some other Black ales. The unique malt character is perfectly balanced with the hoppiness. Malt taste are Burnt caramel, dark chocolate and some smokeyness.
M- A massive beer that doesnt have any other the massive drawbacks. Its a big beer so expect to get pretty full pretty quick. Leaves the mouth neither too dry or wet. Little to no sticky mouth feel. Very warming but at almost 9%... duh. This beer is full bodied and full of flavor.
O- I am in love with this beer, it is the best Black I have had to date. If anybody can get their hands on Stone 15th Escondidian I would love to work a trade for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:21:49 | More by TwelveOunces

HaynesJB

North Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

(My first beer review on BA!) Poured into my Stone Brewing pint glass. Just tried this one for the first time now, and I must say, I'm really impressed with this beer.

A - A very dark brown, almost Pepsi-like black color with a one-finger light brown head that eventually turns to a slightly thin layer of foam. Has a moderate amount of lacing in the glass.

S - The hops are the main thing that I notice, along with a nice roasty backbone. It's almost like a standard IPA (citrus/pine from the hops), yet with sort of a porter/stout roasted character in the background, but a bit lighter (which, for my palate, is quite pleasant). Very nice.

T - I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. The taste between the hops and the roasted malts have a really nice balance, more so than from the aroma. It's like the hops and malts are working 50/50 with each other; you get the pine/citrus flavor of the hops, yet you're getting that dark roasted flavor from the malts, but neither are overpowering the other.

M - Surprisingly light for 8.7% ABV, although I would say it's medium-bodied overall. It has a moderate amount of carbonation with a nice hop bitterness.

O - Again, I was pleasantly surprised by this brew. Like a few reviewers have mentioned already, I think this would be a nice example of a black IPA. It has the potential of a regular IPA, yet also has a really awesome roasty flavor that compliments the hop bitterness. I've had one other black IPA from another company so far, but I feel like the roasted flavor of that beer dominated the hops. With this one though, as mentioned above, it's a perfect 50/50. Stone definitely knows what they are doing, and this one is worth a try. I will have more of these in the future for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 06:32:19 | More by HaynesJB

0110x011

California

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Easily my favorite Stone beer, if not my all-time favorite beer, period. A real treat that should be enjoyed by any hophead looking for something more than your standard DIPA fodder.

pours pitch-black into a snifter, with a dark ruby hue when held up to direct light. Full two-finger head dissipates quickly with medium lacing. piney hops hit the nose first, with caramel, chocolate and dark fruit (raisin & fig) behind it. hops don't factor quite as heavily in the taste, with chocolate, toffee, light coffee, and dark fruit flavors abound. the hops make their presence known towards the end, where the pineyness & bitters hit the back & sides of the tongue, along with a mild alcohol burn. Full bodied, but not stout syrupy, and insanely drinkable.

The roasted malts & signature Stone hop punch create a very interesting & complex cross-breed of a beer. I'm planning on getting my greedy mitts on as much of this stuff as i can. A true drinking pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2008 22:12:04 | More by 0110x011

stumac

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

first off, dark imperial IPAs are great in my opinion!

pours up black black black with deep crimson edges. brown tinted off-white head. nice lace retention. aroma is straight forward roasted malts, floral hops, subtle chocolate. tastes is so bold! starts with floral hops and finishes with spicy hops. roasted malts, subtle coffee. full bodied, medium carbo, delicious! fantastic beer!

this is definately one to go down in the books

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 06:22:45 | More by stumac

Baileyuk

Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at a Stone launch party at uptown grille, and thankfully I did.

A - Great head that was slightly brown. Retained very well and lacing was superb also. Color was closer to black with a brown tint.

S - What a perfect smell. Chinook hops I think give this one a distinctive smell.

T - Excellent hops balanced perfectly with a strong malt backbone. This was a real treat that got better as it went on.

M - Was a little heavy at first but really lightened up to give an excellent feel. Carbonation was perfect.

D - Could definately do a couple more of these. I would definately order this one again as it is one of my favorite beers I have had redently.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2008 13:11:58 | More by Baileyuk

montageman

Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Prior to pouring this bad boy, I read over the bottle. A brief scan mentions IPA as the style, so I brace myself for another Stone hop bomb.

Poured into a pint glass.

Wait a second - this is dark, REALLY dark. Unlike like any IPA I've seen before, but totally intriguing from the get go. Totally sturdy head with lots of lacing and plenty of sticking to sides goodness. Roasted malt mixed with pine and citrus is the complex aroma. Really nice and different. Taste is a cross between a really nice dark ale and a hoppy IPA. Sweet and malty but finishes bitter and citrusy. Excellent stuff. Sturdy, full mouthfeel and this is one easy to drink brew. I could have another bottle right now. But alas, I only bought one. Highest recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 02:21:07 | More by montageman

porterwoobie

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bomber, poured into a standard pint glass.

A: chocolate brown color, no haze,, huge tan head with long retention, lots of lacing

S: it has a moderate malty aroma with a powerful citrusy hop aroma. has an IPA like nose.

T: its got it all. massive dose of bitterness greets you, there is a caramel sweetness that follows along with a dark fruit/raison-like character and some roasted grains. this is all mixed in with some citrusy hop flavor. finishes back where it started, with a good dose of hop bitterness.

MF: medium bodied, modium carbonation, drinks fairly smooth, the higher ABV is not detected.

Drinkability: awesome beer. very drinkable and extremely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 00:58:00 | More by porterwoobie

WickedSluggy

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have had an hour pass since I imbibed so my recollection is fresh yet I have no notes, just great memories

A - Lovely - very dark in a snifter with ruby highlights in the corners. The foam is light brown. The first glass out of the tap held no head after a minute or two - the second glass maintained for twenty minutes, frilling nice lacey remnants.

S - Stone has had some great winners lately - the 13th Anniversary Ale and this years DB, both winners in the aroma (and flavour). Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale too, is a scent to behold. Piney. Fruity. Resinous (very resinous)! Malty aroma is all pleasant and sweet.

T - I can't say anything negative about this beer's flavor either. It is indeed sublime - sweet and malty - bitter and perfectly balanced. The use of Chinook hops for bettering is bold. Simcoe utilization is fruity not at all soapy. The hops profile is well executed, interesting and appropriate. The beer is very hoppy but not boring. It is not typical. It is huge but appropriate.

M - The beer is rich as a barleywine. Mouthfeel is quite pleasing, but I wonder about this class of strong ale. It is indeed"strong" ale but it's very much in Stone's old ale class.

D - This beer is a wonderful sipping beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2010 23:15:05 | More by WickedSluggy

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well its Monday...what the hell....why not have a Self-Righteous Ale!?!?!? This beer has awesome complexity....that I would argue gave birth to a whole new line of craft beers....the Black IPAs, etc. This beer is very dark with ecru foamy head. The nose screams hops like an IPA. The taste is a wonderment that begins like an IPA, but finishes with a roasty malt character. The mouthfeel is decent, but the ABV can be tough to start. I could probably handle two stingers (22oz) fairly easily, but after that someone would have to carry me home.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 00:02:45 | More by WoodBrew

legalpete19340

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured very dark brown almost black with a huge head of sand. The beer laced endlessly and perfectly.

S: Lots of ripe grapefruit and citrus, pine in the background, some slight grassy notes as well. A bit of roasted malt sweetness too. Just great smelling beer. So fragrant.

T: Juicy grapefruit, citrus hops explode. I mean this is a monster. I still get some pine but mostly grapefruit. There is enough malt to stand up to the hops but it never dominates the flavor for more than a second in the mid swig. The malt is dark, bitter and sweet like russian bread. But this is all perfect hop character. Have..no..words.

M: I dont care, this is too good. It seems a little heavier which is good for the brew. Not syrupy.

O: Awesome glorious dark sexy hoperfection.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 20:22:28 | More by legalpete19340

Dave1999

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pure pure black with a nice off white foamy head. This is what a dark beer should look like.

The smell is citrus hops,very fresh lemon and grapefruit.

The taste like the smell has the citrus hop flavours with a slighty malty finish. Extremely well balanced.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied,slight syrupy with low carbonation.

This really an excellent beer, the hops taste so fresh and so well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 01:20:25 | More by Dave1999

FLAbeergutinMASS

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Forget about it, this is one of the best beers ever. I am not a huge Stone advocate, but this is one killer beer. Served on tap at Sierra Grill in Northampton, MA. Comes out looking like a stout, nice thick head, obvious black body. But there is simething more to this beer, classified as a "Black IPA" wtf?!?!!?! Considering how unique this beer is, it could be a Black IPA" fuck, it. lets start a new category...include Port Brewing's Old Viscosity.

Massive pine, huge hops, no bitters...how did they do that? An unbelievably great beer. Try and get some.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2007 00:44:23 | More by FLAbeergutinMASS

jerrymiller

Nevada

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark black color from a 22oz bottle.

Medium sized foamy head, with good retention and decent lacing.

Aroma is floral with bold grapefruit and piney hops with nice chocolate malts.

The malts are roasted and chocolate. The hops are intense, lots of grapefruit and pine. Bitter. It has a interesting interplay between the hops and roasted malts. Lively carbonation. Alcohol is not overwhelming in the taste.

Mouthfeel is full and the finish is clean. Aftertaste is slightly dry.

Great beer, I bought a case.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2007 18:28:44 | More by jerrymiller

chefscott79

California

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at my favorite place to drink beer in my local area....
beach wood bbq...sigh

Appearance:dark brown...almost black....and great fine head and lots of Brussels lace

smell: Super fragrant lots of summity? hop notes I love the summit hops

Taste: great balance of malt and hop flavor(which I believe is summit hops and when I asked at the brewery it they said summit but on the website it says Amarillo I believe) do they have similar flavor characteristics?

mouth feel:heavy and silky but not too weighty

drinkability: I could drink this for a good long while...and have been in bottle a bit...but on tap hot damn

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2007 21:17:11 | More by chefscott79

tonistruth

Nevada

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- pitch black brew wearing a massive tan crown, outstanding retention

S- hops galore: citric, pine. caramel, big roasted malt aromas

T- roasted malts and citric/pine hops, grassy. outstanding balance of hops and malts, intense amount of flavor

M- medium creamy body, definite hop abuse, sticky film after

D- WOW, this beer is pure joy. This brew is the answer for us stout lovers who are also closet hop heads. I couldn't possibly recommended this brew enough

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 04:05:10 | More by tonistruth

dfillius

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. Shared with Ksullnh

A: Pitch black. A moderate pour yields one finger of tan head. Head characterized by very tight bubbles. Looks like a stout, not a dark IPA.

S: I could smell it from a couple feet away. Amazing tropical fruit hop aroma! Dried pineapple, grapefruit, a little pine. I caught little whiffs of candied pineapple every once in a while.

T: Big bitter foretaste really bows out cordially to the sweet malt. Sweetness is just on the amazing side of cloying. Tangerine flavor is evident in the background - tastes like white fir needles. Delicious! Surprising that it tastes like a regular IPA since it is so dark.

M: Smooth and likeable, like a con man.

D: I want more! But it is 8.7%

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2007 18:33:16 | More by dfillius

littleshamrocks

Kentucky

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz brown bomber with September 2007 printed on the bottle. Served in a snifter.

Pours a very dark brown to black in color with a solid one finger of creamy looking head. It is fairly dense, but from what I can tell the carbonation is plenty active. Head leaves behind an impressive amount of sticky lace. The first aroma that I identify is grapefruit rind, but I can tell that there is much more going on here. The malt smells are, at the same time, roasted and semi-sweet. Certainly, there are some coffee tones in there. In addition to the citrus, I also picked up some evergreen notes and some fruity esters. Bold flavors abound here. The hops are very assertive and pack plenty of bitterness, and the malts, while they do take a backseat to the hops, are still sufficiently represented as well. The malt flavors are as advertised in the smell- roasted and lightly sweet, but it doesn't take long for the powerhouse citrus hop bitterness to steal the show. The bitterness lingers in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a mostly smooth texture and lively carbonation.

Kudos to Stone for being creative and taking a chance. This is a finely crafted gem to commemorate their eleventh anniversary. Admittedly, I am a sucker for over the top citrus hop taste and bitterness, and this beer satisfied that immensely, but unlike most super hopped up beers, this one added considerable nuances from the malt as well. Not only did I think it cool to have an almost black IPA (or is it a IDA or IBA?), but the malts added a lot to the overall character of this brew. In all, I would say this is one of the best beers that has ever passed through these lips. My wish is that Stone will bring this one back in the future, but for now, enjoy it while you still can.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2008 22:09:36 | More by littleshamrocks

UA8

Washington

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Pour a rich, deep and nearly opaque mahogany. Two fingers worth of cocoa colored head which resembles the top of a root beer float.

S- Looks Say Stout ....Nose says IPA! Rich citrus hops with a pineapple backing.

T- Whoa... leads with heavy citrus hops and tropical fruit flavors. Moves to nicely roasted caramel and toffee malts. and finishes with resinous hops.

M- Nice rich and thick with fine carbonation bubble.

D- I love this beer and am extremely sad that its A) retired and B) I found it almost a year after its release. So much going on here its almost as if it starts and IPA then moves to a stout then back to and IPA. Never had something quite like this. I would highly recommend this and fortunately know a place that has a stash left!

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2008 01:36:25 | More by UA8

jsp2

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22 oz bottle poured into a wine glass. Jet black, with thin white foam. Aroma of hops, wood, vanilla, barley, and faint fruit.

Taste is incredible. Sweet/sour attack followed by herbal/piney hops, with almost a cherry, wood, bitter finish. Licorice is very present. There is almost a smokiness to the aftertaste. Hops are aggressive yet very balanced with other extremely prominent complexities. Unusual tartness. Unusual aftertaste. Both very nice.

Reasonable carbonation and well suited to sipping. Ridiculous flavor even for the high abv.

This beer delivers 110% on taste. The flavor is complex, delicious, and not shy, you get punched with it every sip. Unusually nice roasted barely flavor bitterness in the aftertaste of every sip.

I bought this beer simply because it said Stone on it and I am not only please I did, but I will be buying it again. More complex and pronounced than other examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 02:45:52 | More by jsp2

ArrogantDeadGuy

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark brown to black with a mocha head and a
nice consistent lace

S: Sweet, malty, grapes !

T: A medley of grapes, chocolate, and toasted
malt. Like eating bakers malt out of the tub

M: Sturdy rich feel on the pallet

D: Try to take it from me, I dare you.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2009 00:03:18 | More by ArrogantDeadGuy

BeerBelcher

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm always a little intrigued when a friend describes something as a "black IPA," bit usually a little on the disappointed side when I try it. Both descriptors set an expectation that is a touch contradictory; something that is hoppy-sweet and citrusy while at the same time roasty and malty. The two tastes are powerful ones, and balance between the two is frequently perceived by me as a touch boring. And RIS's that shout about their hop content don't usually taste hoppy to me - just too much going on to pick up the more nuanced note of bitterness, even if they dumped bushels of high-alpha hops into the mix, my tongue just can't seem to enjoy them for everything else going on.

Wow - that is a long lead in to say that this beer is unique to say that it does this integration very well. It pulls off the balancing act without being boring; in fact it pulls it off so well it does the opposite - this beer is intriguing. It is dark and there is a dark-roasty-malt note to it, but it is also lightly sweet and citrus-y with pronounced bitterness. Both notes are there, but Stone has figured a way to make them play well together. If anything, the hops are more pronounced than the roast, which is the outcome I would've chosen (if given a choice). Appearance is quite pretty with a black-red body and tall white head. Aroma is as I've described flavor, and mouthfeel is like a solid IPA - not slick like a DIPA might be or cloying like a RIS frequently is.

All the way around - this is a heck of a beer, and I need to see if I can find some of it here in C-bus.

I bought my bottle down in KY, at Party Source in Newport.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 16:09:31 | More by BeerBelcher

theboozecruise

Louisiana

4.83/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought one of these heading down to the family camp in Texas... hadn't seen this Stone offering in LA yet. My best choice of glassware was an oversized wine glass, but I figure that should work well for this style.

The beer poured a dark, dark brown with a really creamy off-white head. Looks more like a stout.

There's a fantastic hoppy aroma, smells like a pine forest!

If there was one term I'd use to describe this, it would be like drinking a fresh Christmas tree. My friends that I let try it were overwhelmed by the hops, but I loved it.

Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 18:46:47 | More by theboozecruise