Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

fatmcq

California

4.93/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I usually buy these in 22oz bottles, but I filled up the 2-liter growler at the Stone brewery last weekend, and I was not disappointed.

Appearance: Dark. Very Dark. With a reddish tint. Great lacing and 1 finger of thick head that is almost slimy (in a good way).

Smell: Like Christmas. Douglas fir. Earthy and hoppy, with a sweetness like chocolate.

Taste: BANG! Tastes just like it smells... and more! Earthy, piney, bittersweet, grassy, citrus and toffee. Absolutely amazing.

Mouthfeel: Wow. Thick, without being syurpy. Looks and smells like a heavy beer, but drinks with medium weight. Carbonation is perfect. Even 36 hrs after cracking the growler open, it still felt fresh.

Drinkability: EXCEPTIONAL. Everything about this ale is right. Taste, smell, appearance, and feel are all amazing. This might be the IPA in which I compare all others from now on.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2010 04:28:02 | More by fatmcq

ZAP

Minnesota

4.93/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Outstanding black IPA...awesome aroma..big citrus which reminds of Simcoe and Amarillo....that follows in the taste...really a nice juicy citrus hit....then just enough black malt to make this doubly interesting.

This might rate as one of my favorite Stone beers. An extremely well done Black IPA..wish the price was a little lower because this drinks nicely as a session beer rather than a sipper...

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 00:39:39 | More by ZAP

BigDRS

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Admittedly, this is my first cascadian dark ale/american black ale/black ipa/whatever. Worth the hype.

A - Black. Solid black. Just a bit of light shines through the bottom of my glass, but that's it. I'm surprised at just how opaque this brew is. Head is tan in color and the initial two finger head dies down to a thick film that leaves a good amount of lace on my glass. This beer is awesome already.

S - Smell is intense. Lots of hops, burnt malt, and a bit of caramel. There is just a bit of some fruitness, mostly dark cherry, in the nose as well.

T - Hops dominate all the way through. The roasted malt flavor comes through initially and lets up to a caramel/molasses taste. Aftertaste is at first sweet and a few seconds later turns bitter. This beer is very rich and complex. Maybe Stone just brewed another amazing beer or maybe it's my first crack at the style, but this beer is awesome.

M - Mouthfeel has just the right amount of creamy/syrupy goodness. Carbonation level feels good to me.

O - If this is representative of the style then I'm hooked. The name of this beer says it all. Stone has never let me down and I doubt it ever will. Buy this beer and drink it NOW.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 02:03:46 | More by BigDRS

sirk0rebreg

Nevada

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

you can describe this beer with one word...WOW! i just finished drinking a bomber out of a stone IPA glass and i can say i was stunned with this beer...

pours a dark brown almost black...great smell of grapefruit, slightly piney...nice tan head that holds really well...the taste is excellent, great hop presence but it is very well balanced...the 8.7% abv is hidden quite well, it can sneak up on you...

i gave this beer all 5's except for drinkability which got a 4.5, only reason is it seems to sneak up on you and could be dangerous...this beer is awesome, get it while you can...

i grabbed a half a case and i am kicking myself for not grabbing a full case...i will definitely be back at the store very soon to pick up a full case, this is too good...

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2007 00:55:00 | More by sirk0rebreg

kosmoraios

Washington

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

<edit 02.03.08>

I've been aging this one since Sept. 07 (5 months) and finally decided to pop it. This ale gets considerably better after a little cellartime. AMAZING, Stone! How do ya do it?

<orig. review 10-17-07>
What an amazing ale.

Pours a dark mahogany into my pint glass, with a 2 finger almost-yellow head that lingers forever, leaving a strong lacing on the glass that lasts until the finish.

Aroma is extraordinarily complex. Definitely the trademark Stone IPA hop aroma, but there is caramel, pine, roasted malts, light coffee, citrus. Pop this one just below cellar temp and then keep sniffing as it warms. Amazing.

Taste is phenomenal. Nice, piney/citrussy hops underwritten by the very slight toasted malt flavor. The "toastedness" of the malt is so slight and subtle it's perfect. Hoppy bitterness certainly dominates, but there are undertones of plum, caramel, fruit all in perfect balance.

Mouthfeel is excellent, perfectly carbonated, nice and substantial, lingers on the palate for just the right amount of time.

Drinkability is good for an 8.7 ABV, quite sessionable indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2007 04:53:26 | More by kosmoraios

mwa423

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours black as an imperial stout with a finger of head that refused to die. It stuck to every inch of the glass. Very impressive.

S - Very hoppy in the traditional Stone style with hints of malt to back it up

T - Arrogant bastard on pcp, a sharp hop taste with heavy hop and malt aftertaste. I ned to get more of this!

M/D - Mouthfeel is excellent for a ber thisstrong in the mouth, there are very light aftertastes which make this dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 05:22:07 | More by mwa423

jpittman80

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Basically opaque with ruby red highlights when held up to the light. Huge tan head that lasts to the end with plenty of lacing.

S - Beautiful blend of chocolate, roast malt, earthy and piney hops.

T - Oh. Wow. Chocolate, a nice biscuity flavor, roast malts, huge hop flavor and perfect bitterness to counterbalance the sweetness, which even on its own wouldn't be cloying. Finishes dry and big on hops. Amazing.

M - Silky, creamy, perfectly smooth with very soft carbonation. Perfectly dry finish to compliment the amazing smoothness.

D - With a tiny, tiny bit of alcohol, and the high ABV, a bomber will do. This beer is near perfect, and besides, you don't want to overdo it with this one. Keep it special.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 22:00:42 | More by jpittman80

vdread

Texas

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

this stuff pours black as night. i can't even see sunlight through the glass. the head is great and leaves elaborate lacing.

the smell is heavy with hops. juicy grapefruit comes to mind. there is a hint of rich chocolaty malt. most definitely pungent and strong hop domination here.

oh wow. i have to admit, the alcohol hits me in the mouth first, followed by a sweet, licorice-like malt and aggressive, juicy hops that also have an earthy note. roasted and coffee tastes are strong as well. it's rich, smooth, creamy while at the same time abundantly bitter and resinous with hops.

mouthfeel slightly creamy, perfectly carbonated, and a little dry at the end.

i believe this was a very fresh bottle. i don't have the words to properly describe this beer experience. it's fucking amazing.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 22:28:49 | More by vdread

overfiend1976

Vermont

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Liquid amazement is what I would have to call this. Save for the aroma being a little on the burnt side, this black IPA is incredible. Smooth and thick, this beer brings an awful lot to the table. High on the bitters throughout the mouth-feel, its smoky, mellow aftertaste makes you completely forget that. This is definitely a beer that balances itself well. Out of all the 'newish' style of black IPA that I have had, this one is definitely the crown jewel. Congratulations Stone, for making another beer that I find to be so enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 02:32:42 | More by overfiend1976

eclaycamp

Kansas

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

To say that I’ve been looking forward to this beer is an understatement. One of my buddies happened to pick this up in Denver last year but he of course didn’t share. 22 ounce bomber poured into an oversized wine goblet. Comes out of the bottle dark brown (think cola) with a frothy long lasting tan head. Wish the head was a bit thicker, but the high ABV probably makes that difficult. Aroma comes across as this dank and earthy hop character, with big notes of pine. It’s huge! Roasted grain and chocolate are buried in the nose. You have to work your way past the incredible hop aroma but they’re in there. Then there’s the whole matter of taste. Hops shatter the palate first, with a prolonged bitterness in the finish. The first taste is all hops. As you acclimate you’ll be able to start to pick at the malt profile a bit more, but the first taste is jarring. I like the mouthfeel as well. It’s slick and despite all the hops never gets sticky. This beer finishes very dry (something I’ve noticed with most Stone beers), as the malt character never goes overboard into sweet territory. Instead it opts for roasted and nutty, with a slight bitter coffee note. That’s not the best description. Let me put it this way I’ve toasted pine nuts, getting them to the point where they’re almost too dark, and that’s what this malt flavor reminds me of. It’s not burnt, but is right there on the edge. There’s also some definite alcohol warmth but I’m not picking up any fusels in the nose or taste, very impressive. It’s not often that I find a beer that lives up to my expectations when trying it, but Sublimely Self-Righteous does that and then some. Not sure if it’s possible, but this is a textbook example of an emerging style.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 23:56:24 | More by eclaycamp

MarkBlackout

Indiana

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is sort of a lesser cousin to the Stone 15th Black Ale. That said, it can't be faulted at all; it offers more drinkability than the 15th, and somewhat less of a medicinal aspect. What can I say, I love both. Stone has defined Black IPA, in all its contradiction as a term, they bring the intense hop and roasted malt together perfectly in both cases. I had the 15th when it was just a week or so old, and I have never experienced such a fresh hop blast. Again, this is similar, but less hi-test and in your face. But not much, at all. I'm glad this is becoming a regular offering. Herbal hops with a touch of a medicinal aspect, which is rare and appreciated. Kick ass brew from a kick ass brewer. Get it if you can handle it.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 17:58:16 | More by MarkBlackout

BeerGogglesReviews

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Opened the bottle expecting good things, and it didn't disappoint.
Forget bouquet and think bucket. Black India Pale Ale and the 'pail' is the measure per bottle for the hops. Pine, passion fruit, cocoa, bergamot orange, lychee, fruit cocktail, peach, grape, muscovado, demerara, blackstrap molasses.
In short,
YUM YUM!!!
Need I say more?

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 18:21:20 | More by BeerGogglesReviews

FlemingVSKing

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Unless you just don't like dark ales, it's hard to call this one anything much less than perfect.

It has great complexity, ranging from a deep flavorful ale to a bright floral hop. Just simply put it offers a wide range of complementary flavors that really make each sip a different experience. I'm excited by drinking it.

The visual appeal is all there as well. A nice head from an average pour and great retention. The coloring is deep and black with some reddish tints near the edges of the glass.

My first reaction was "wow this is going to make a strong case for being my favorite beer." And that holds true. I had it on tap but can't wait to pick up a case.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 05:48:09 | More by FlemingVSKing

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

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

Stone- 11th Anniversary Ale

Appearance- Dark murky black with a thick tan head. Light lacing on the glass.
Smell- Stong pine and citrus hops with spicey malt.
Taste- Strong grapefruit and pine hops. Thick black pepper spice, caramel malt. Rye and anise flavor comes through.
Mouthfeel- Sweet heavy malt with a powerful dry bitter hop finish.

Overall- Delicious. Much better than their 10th Anniversary.
This was like Rogue Brutal Bitter and Weyerbacher Double Simcoe mixed together!! 1 of the best beers I've had to date!

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2007 23:44:23 | More by NJpadreFan

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

22oz bomber, served in a pint glass.

A - pitch black color with a huge tan head that had plenty of staying power, leaving sticky lacing down the entire glass.

S - hop scents, pine and citrus fill the nose, but if you sniff real hard you can smell some roasted malt.

T - delicious brew, strong hop flavor upfront, roasted malt flavor hits briefly before the bitter hop flavor kicks back in on the finish. Alcohol is only slightly detectable after it warms (drink up, buddy!).

M - full bodied brew with a great amount of carbonation (hop burps, baby!).

D - at close to 9% abv, the drinker should know his limits, but if you drink this one cautiously, you can enjoy it all night.

Final Note: I love what Stone has done here.
This brew is a wolf in sheep's clothing...
a black sheep that is!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2007 22:02:47 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

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