Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

cvstrickland

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft arrives in a small goblet, and the dark, seemingly ebony body held to the evening sun reveals the drink to be a hue of the darkest possible ruby with a twinkle of gold at the edges. A thin cap of mocha foam leaves swaths of lacing on the glass.

The smell is roasty and darkly chocolatey with a hefty smack of citrusy hops.

The taste is wonderfully roasty and succulent with notes of dark mocha chocolate-covered orange splashed with a little grapefruit and sprinkled with bitter lime zest. Dark, rich roasty notes add depth and support.

Full in body with silky smoothness, Stone's 11th Anniversary is a fine and quaffable brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2008 21:08:46 | More by cvstrickland

Strix

Wisconsin

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

Looks darker than it seems it should be.

Smells quite hoppy, yet a bit roasty underneath. I like it.

This reminds me a bit of Rogue Black Brutal, except this is more bitter. Has grapefruit elements of a nice IPA, but also a maltier background with roastedness, overall, nice flavor complexity. A long, strong grapefruit hop finish.

Mouthfeel smooth with medium carbonation.

I enjoyed this, a somewhat creative blend of styles, very drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2008 01:21:42 | More by Strix

m1ked

California

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- poured into a pint from the growler. Modest tan head that quickly retreats to the edges of the glass forming a tan circle. Pours blackness, but when held up to the light the edges are a dark brown/ coca-cola color.

S- Sweet maltiness, with a touch a candy black licorice. Some very light smokiness and brown sugar. If I search for it I can appreciate some bitter hops lost in the mix. If I was blind smelling this I could easily mistake it for a b-wine.

T- How the licorice is really noticeable to me. Not in an overpowering way though. Not as sweet or smoky as the nose presented. More piney hops than the nose gave, but definitely muted compared to when I first had this guy.

M- This may be a consequence of the day old growler, but the feel is thin, but thicker than I recall with the release. Carbonation seems low.

D- This is not a sessionable beer for me, but a really unique, and excellent brew. I can't wait to try the 12th Anni. I also need to go by my spot and see if I can pick up some more of these.

Serving type: growler

07-11-2008 01:56:48 | More by m1ked

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap and had a nice brown head over the clear dark brown brew. Frothy head lasts and lasts, with ample sticky lace. Aroma is pungeant piney green hops. Taste is bit lacking in the chewy malts one might expect for such a dark color, but hops character and bitterness is excellent. It did have nice chocolate taste to it with that hoppy kick. Mouthfeel is extra smooth, and drinkability is great as well. Yet another anniversary brew from Stone that is worthy of the milestone.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2008 04:17:02 | More by barleywinefiend

Vansmack

California

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Last night went to Stone Brewery and was able to get a few glasses of the 11th anniversary. I'm not a huge fan of the black beers, but I have to say that the hoppiness of it being an IPA shined through and had a balanced mix of dark and hops.

The appearance on this sucker is absolutely appealing. It's doesn't break up like a guiness or have a nasty smell like most darks. It has a clean hoppy smell.

I have to say, the only downer for me was mouthfeel. I didn't get the usual amazing burst of hops I get when tasting an IPA. It was very drinkable though and I could have sat there all night pounding one after another.

Overall... if you're at Stone any time soon, I'd definitely get a few glasses. It's only $4 a pop and its definitely worth it.

GO UCLA!

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2008 17:45:21 | More by Vansmack

maddogruss

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark body with about a 1 inch, tan head with solid retention. Good lacing all along the glass until the finish.

S: Smells slightly spicy with some floral hints.

T: A slightly sweet, malty taste in the beginning. Very smooth; reminded me a little bit of a milk stout. About halfway through the beer, the hops become more noticeable as the beer gets slightly bitterer. Hops are originally present in the aftertaste in the beginning of the beer but become more evident in the taste later.

M: A solid, full-bodied beer. Nice and smooth and easy on the palette.

D: A pretty drinkable beer overall. Fairly balanced with respect to hops and malts. Smooth and full-bodied mouthfeel makes this brew a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2008 21:02:13 | More by maddogruss

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draught at Vintage Estates in Boardman (1 of 7 kegs in the state I understand). Pours a dark reddish-brown color with a medium and lasting tan head. Sticky rings of lacing on the glass. The aroma is a cross between an Imperial IPA and a roasty Porter. Loads of citrusy hops in the nose, with a full roasted malt undertone. Other aromas like pine and toffee are present as well. Rich and bitter with a full array of citrusy and piney hops flavors. Toasted malt and chocolate flavors are found too. Slow alcohol burn through it all. The finish is long and bitter with a tasty grapefruit hops finish. Excellent overall. Once again Stone manages to do something unique and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2007 19:54:16 | More by Dogbrick

francisweizen

Australia

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-Tap, city beer store, sf, ca. This is a dark brew, near black russett brown with haloed edges of caramel/ruby. Aromas are of a hoppy IPA but also there is some roasted and chocolate maltin there as well. This is kind of a cross between death and taxes and racer 5. The malt background is nice and the hoppy/piney/citrusy middle smooths out into a chocolate caramel coated hop finish of roastiness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and helps this beer achieve a solid drinkability level. Nice one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2007 03:13:51 | More by francisweizen

pershan

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Frisco Grille in Columbia, MD

A: Not what I expected! Black with a cream-colored semi-rocky head. The bartender called it an IBA (India Black Ale). Nice lacing on the inside of the glass after a few mouthfuls.

S: Strong, piney hop aroma. I'm a hop-head, so very nice.

T: A big, initial hop hit, and stuck around for the entire tasting. A great balance of hop flavor and bitterness, which did a fantastic job of masking the substantial amount of alcohol in this beer. The warmness came through, but not until you swallow.

M: All hop flavor and bitterness...again, very nicely done.

D: This is a dangerous brew, since it is very drinkable and does such a nice job of masking the 8.7% ABV. I haven't had a bad Stone beer yet, and I think this might just be my favorite. Frisco has 7 of the Stone beers on tap right now in preparation for a tasting tonight - wish I could be there.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2007 18:04:28 | More by pershan

seaoflament

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

*This is the 11th Anniversary with Chinook. I don't know why my separate entry was bunched up with the regular 11th Anniversary.*

I had this during the Stone 11th Anniversary event in Sept. I don't remember if this was on-tap or cask. And I assume the alcohol was the same. Mostly from my notes:

Very, very dark brown with a nice amount of foam and great lacing/retention.

Aroma is hoppy, pine/citrus but dark and smokey, very interesting. Some ash but not in a bad way, it works well.

Taste is very weird, different but tasty (I know, very vague). Big malt profile but hoppy as well. Some caramel and herb qualities. I remember this one being much like a tea bag, very herbal and "green", bold and daring. You could definitely taste the fresh hops. A bit of bitterness, just like the regular 11th.

Drinkability was very good. Doesn't really feel like a big heavy beer. One of the most unique beers I had in the festival and most unique beers up to this day.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2007 04:35:19 | More by seaoflament

mentor

Colorado

2.3/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

On tap at Old Chicago in downtown Denver. Presented a pint glass with a finger of dark brown head over a black liquid. Smells piney hops with drying coffee roast. A bit piercing medicinal.

Tastes not good. Potent piney hops and drying roast malts. Combined together, they are quite unpleasant. Needs a bit more sweet to temper the edges. Actually, I doubt that increasing the malt sweet could cut the pine. With searching, a touch of caramel and also come burned grain. Alcohol presence is clear and serves to dry the finish, not a good situation. Finish is dry with lingering (but clean) hop bitterness. Md-heavy mouthfeel and moderate carbonation.

Drinkablility is quite low. I choked the beer down, in fact, almost sent it back for something else. Guess what, Stone is the new Rogue. Let's throw an overload of hops into a bunch of different base beers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2007 23:56:18 | More by mentor

marksto

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at Falling Rock in Denver and happy with the choice among their many offerings.

Pours a deep brown, almost opaque, with a thin head and good retention. Aroma has big hoppy notes mingling with fruit - and the hops are complex and aromatic, nice. Flavor has a chewy, fruity malt backbone with fragrant, pine-tinged hop flavor and bitterness. This one is like juicy-fruit in a glass, another excellent beer form a brewery well known for its fine, hoppy ales.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2007 14:20:42 | More by marksto

dankman38

Ohio

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

This is one different beer, but it’s really good. This beer drinks, smells and tastes like a mellow IPA but with the hints of roasted cofee and carmel you’d expect from some porters or a quadrupel. Quite unique, if you get the chance I suggest trying it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2007 02:10:16 | More by dankman38

garbercury

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lucky enough to get this on tap at Vintage wine and beer, nice...

A---Looks like a stout, appearances can be deceiving.

S---Smell the hops, love it.

T---This is a unique, classic beer, so good. A union of Stout, Porter, and IPA, crazy stuff, this is such a good beer, the flavor is incredible

M---nice.

D--This is a very drinkable beer, I recommend it highly. One of the better beers I can remember having in my time on this earth...

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2007 23:50:10 | More by garbercury

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

jcdiflorio

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had this on tap at Fathead's served in a stemmed tulip like glass.
Black,opaque had just a tan ring of foam around the inside of the glass when served to me.

Intense hop nose,complex, Very piney,leafy with a strong minty/evergreen aromas with a sight sweet malt note. The hops were overpowering hard to smell anything else.

Very piney taste,resinous/leafy, tons of hops and intense bitterness. Very dry,astrigent slight sweet maltiness buried under the hops. Couldn't taste any alcohol either. Would have expected more maltiness with the dark color,really got fooled there.

Very thick,full and syrupy. Rough drinkability,unbalanced would have like some maltiness in there,maybe with some aging. A sipper for sure,just one at a time please. If you a hophead enjoy it now,if not might want to sit on this one a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2007 02:24:26 | More by jcdiflorio

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A black colored beer with pin grapefruit and resinous hops flowing through the nose and mouth like a DIPA. Who would thunk? Apparently Stone. The Traditional IPAs get a bit dull after a while. A bit repetitious. This is an interesting way to mix it up.

I have now had several pints of this beer. First on-tap at Capones Restaurant in Norristown, a taste out of a bottle and now I have an entire growler all to my self. (long story was supposed to be shared... oh well... more for me =).

At first I thought they were going for hoppy porter with this beer. Hoppy porters seem to be all around me about now. My notes from the first tasting at the bar were rather undecided. My second tasting of it was a bit more convincing. Now that I realize I am on my second snifter of this growler, I am very pleased with the beer.

Appearance: Pours a dark brown almost black color with a beautiful brown head and moderate lacing.

Smell: What is going on here? WOW. I get a big pine, citrus rind resinous hop bitterness, pineapple floral notes and also a black malt, toasted caramel malty element as well.

Taste: Like the nose, it is a muddle of DIPA flavors primarily but with a roasted Swartzbeir underneath all those fresh hops. It starts boldly hoppy. Grapefruit and pine. The flavor turns roasted espresso dark chocolate bitter through the mid to late end of the palate and then the finish and aftertaste is all about the hops once again. The aftertaste cling indefinitely to the taste buds with both coffee bitterness and pin resin bitterness, though all the burps are of the green variety. =)

Mouthfeel: With all the molasses and dark chocolate flavors even a touch of pumpernickel bread, I hoped for a slightly heartier body. This is an easy drinking beer but I don't think it will age well.

Drinkability: Damn, what can I say when I am singlehandedly polishing off a growler. Pretty drinkable beer. With out question. And certainly unique; which I always respect.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: growler

10-16-2007 05:29:34 | More by Phatz

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Brew House Grill

A--Nearly pitch black...not what I expected. Slight deep ruby highlights on edges. Nice, fluffy, off-white head. Laces very nicely.

S--Huge hops, lots of pine resin and citrus. Must be dry-hopped to high heaven as I could not discern a malt presence at all.

T--BAM! hops flavors are grapefruit and pine. More tasting unveils a bit of chocolate, caramel and roasted malt flavors. Finishes with a ton of hops in the aftertaste.

M--Big rich and full bodied with tons o hops and a nice malt afterkick.

D--Lots o hops and a good malt backbone...what more could you want. I really enjoyed drinking this offering from Stone...another fine offering! I could easily drink 2 or 3 in a row...well done!

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2007 11:29:20 | More by Deuane

NEhophead

Massachusetts

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

On tap at Redbones.

Poured a rustic, maple in color which was nearly opaque. Creamy, white head that stands nearly half-inch high off of the tap and never really recedes, leaving thin, sticky lacing around the glass. Notes of bright, tropical fruit and balanced citrus, hop resin. Faint hints of mustiness along with a light biscuit aroma. The flavors are rounded tropical fruit: pineapple, peach, apricot; as well as, notes of ripe pine/spruce. Light breadiness; very clean, with just a hint of phenolic mustiness. Medium in body; smooth, light as a result of the hop profile. A Double IPA-tasting brew with some great flavors and balance. The 8.7% abv is nearly undetectable. A must try for Stone fans.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2007 15:23:45 | More by NEhophead

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Had this on tap at Concordia Alehouse the other night.

The beer pours an unexpected darkish color with very good head retention and lacing. The nose is pretty interesting, sort of a dry citrusy bitter aroma. On the palate this beer comes across as a dry dunkel, but with a significant hop wallop in the mid palate and finish. The beer is not heavy and is medium bodied, with a hoppy dry finish. The abv. is well disguised, and this beer is really prettry drinkable for a beer with 8.7% alcohol.

Very nice effort from Stone. I preferred last year's edition of this beer, but this is not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2007 18:14:03 | More by johnmichaelsen

onthefarside

New York

4.78/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had the great pleasure to try this beer on tap last night at Mahar's in Albany. Curious about the type of beer this was, I was told it was an Imperial Porter by the all knowing bar-keep.

A: Served in a 20oz glass with 1 cm of head about, not much. Was a very very dark brown or black, couldn't tell with the dim lights.

S: Smells like every Stone beer, hoppy and alcohol"y".

T: This beer has a nice one two punch on the tastes a nice flavourful malt up front with nice complexity and then a nice crisp hops twinge to hide any trace of alcohol, couldn't taste it at all. But this is definately a sipper.

M: Nice feel, not too watery, good to swish it around and let it cover your mouth.

D: I didn't know the abv at the time of drinking this beer, knowing stone tends to up the abv, i thought it was about 5-6 but i'm suprised to find it near 9! Unknowing, I could drink 3-4 and wonder why i felt strange. Over all a great beer from Stone again and it will please people who like their IPA and Bastard Ale. I felt like it was a mix of the two almost.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2007 23:28:44 | More by onthefarside

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

SacoDeToro

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beeotch.

Pours a deep dark brown with a slight transparency in the light. Small off-white head.

The aroma is bursting with fresh citrusy and resity hops. Some slight alcohol and faint malt is in the nose.

The flavor of the beer is a burst of fresh citrusy and resiny hops with a great malt profile to boot. The malt profile is slightly caramelly, but I don't really detect any dark roasted malts. Perhaps they used some Sinamar for color? Despite the dark color of the beer it's not too heavy on the caramel. It finishes much lighter than it looks.

The mouthfeel is medium yet crisp. The carbonation was spot on.

This is one of the best beers I've tasted from Stone and certainly my favorite anniversary ale since 8th. This beer is bright and should be consumed fresh. Drink it now and savor the memories.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2007 16:11:00 | More by SacoDeToro