Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dark ruby. Almost black. Thin cola colored head that leaves nice amounts of lace.

Aroma: Bready malts, cocoa nibs and juicy hops.

Appearance: Nice bitter hop presence noticed first and then some alcohol, which is quite noticeable and actually, a little overbearing and scathing in this beer. Covers up a lot of what I was expecting in the hop department. There's some hop juiciness noted, but not a lot. Chocolate is distant. Decent flavor, but not great.

MF/DK: Medium bodied and light=medium to medium bodied. A bit of spiciness from the alcohol and a long lingering astringency from the alcohol. Fair, but not one I'll be tapping again soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 04:16:01 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer at the Bistro Double IPA fest. Even though it is the same recipe as 11th anniversary, I thought this one was lacking compared to the 11th I had recalled. By lacking, I mean, just really really good instead of fantastic.

Black IPA, hopped very well, obvious dry hopping, hides the high alcohol quite well. I can't wait to try the bottled version. Some say don't age, some say age. . . I dunno, I'm still holding bottles of both version, we'll see this Christmas. You don't really taste the alcohol, but it hits you by the end of the bottle.

Anyways, if you see it, check it out. Right up there with Laughing Dog's black IPA's when uber fresh if you ask me.

EDIT: Well this was definitely a drink fresh beer. You can't really taste any of the darker malts used, but if you age it, the hops fade and some of the astringency comes out of it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2009 17:23:42 | More by Beerandraiderfan

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

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Miller's Pub, Chicago, IL

Poured into a pint glass a coffee brown with a nice, foamy, beige head that retained and laced decently. I really love this style of beer. Dark malts and dark fruits in the aroma, but a definite citrus hop presence like you'd get from your typical IPA. Smooth dark malts in the taste, molasses, brown sugar, quickly overcome by lots of citrusy hops, though the maltiness lingers on in the background. Flavorful and medium-bodied. Another highly drinkable beer from the consistently excellent Stone Brewing Co.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 14:57:24 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a glass of this courtesy of daryk77 - thanks!

Pours a color that's one shade away from black with dark brown highlights - I knew what this was going into it and was still surprised by how dark it was. Head is one-finger of light tan foam that recedes into a thin pancake on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of citrus and pine hops - more emphasis on the citrus than pine - and pale malts. I tried but could find no hints of roasted or even toasted malts.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Pale malt flavors up front quickly give way to citrus and pine hop flavors. The ending is solidly bitter - the only hint of darker malts.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation and goes down smoothly.

Drinkability is very good. I had half a bomber and could easily polish off a full one.

Overall this beer is quite the conundrum - a dark IPA that's definitely worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 02:31:23 | More by glid02

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

Purchased in the US and brought back to Australia to share with @LaitueGonflable and @tobeerornottobe.

Pours a dark, but tempered deep brown colour, with a frothy and voluminous head of light cocoa-coloured foam. Some sudsy speckled lacing. Body looks surprisingly light, but overall, it looks pretty decent.

Nose is fresh and sharp with big American hop characters. Forget the appearance, this is all about the IPA aroma dry-hopped West Coast goodness, giving lots of Cascade-like citrus and fruit characters. Once it warms, it does start to give off slight hints of chocolate and dark malt as well, which provide an interesting, but dichotomous counter to the hoppiness. But there's no doubting what is king: it's hops all the way.

Taste is also, surprisingly hoppy, with only light caramel chocolate characters coming in at the very end once the hops eventually grant them a fleeting audience with your tastebuds. Rather, there's big hp bitterness throughout, leaving hop oil residue and crisp biting bitterness throughout most of the length of the palate. The chocolate and darker characters only deserve a mention as the palate as a whole dies out.

Feel is rather light, but this just underlines its true nature as an IPA, not a dark ale.

A very strange and one might say extreme example of the IBA style. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing--an IPA masquerading in the guise of a dark beer. The hops almost perfectly mute everything but the colour.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 04:03:49 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

4.4/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

They had quite a bit of this at the BevMo in Brea and hearing the good reviews of this beer on this site, I grabbed one. Purchased at $4.49, on to the beer:

This is a totally different kind of IPA. It's dark, nearly black in appearance. The piney and esters of an IPA are there in the flavor, but you can't really taste any raw hops, and for good measure is kissed by some cocoa. The checker at the store said he didn't like IPA's, but he really enjoyed this offering. This isn't an aggressive beer like some of the other Stone products, but a rather mellow beer that won't tax your palate too much.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2007 17:19:21 | More by DoubleJ

Gusler

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer emerges from the 22-ounce bottle a sparkling deep brown, the head a crown of light chocolate, creamy and long lasting, after its final demise the lace forms a thick blanket to cover the glass. Nose has a profound hop floral spiciness at the front, backed by the sweet malt, caramel, and maybe a hint of chocolate, mouth watering. Start has a nice malt sweetness; hop bitter bite to the back, top is moderately full in feel. Finish has a determined acidity, the hops potent and spicy; the alcohol warms the tummy while the aftertaste continues the hop spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2007 23:40:38 | More by Gusler

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark opaque color with a tan head.

S: Theres some citrus nose with some dry pine and a touch of smokiness. The nose is sweet overall.

T: The flavor is a huge dry roasted malt bill, some dry chocolate with some citrusy hopping and sticky pine. Theres a definity pine sticky resin character to the palate with a great roasted malt presence that is deep and very rich. Definitly tastes like they combined their arrogant bastard and smoked porter recipe. Typical Stone hopping with Chinook with some new Amarillo lemon hops used to give it a distinct citrus/lemon hop flavor. A good combination of malt and hopping and very well balanced. There was a nice lingering bitterness from the hops that hung around for a little bit as well.

M: the mouthful was full with a nice dry roastedness.

D: very good drinkability for its abv. could easily drink in multiples, very smooth palate going down, and nicely hidden alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2008 00:12:31 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

Very dark brown, clear, with ruby/mahogany highlights. Fine, tan bubbles clung in sheets to the sides of the glass and formed a tight cap. Good head retention with spotty lacing throughout. Intense pine resin and grapefruit rind aroma up front, fruity citrus and a hint of sweet cocoa fill in the background. Very floral and fragrant. Solid bitterness, not overpowering, that tends to linger. Sweetness is just enough to provide some balance and has more of a chocolate/cocoa character than stright-up caramel, but the hops are still front and center - mostly grapefruit flesh fruitiness and a bit of pine. Light alcohol flavour in the finish, along with mild warmth. Medium bodied, a bit chewy with creamy carbonation. Very nice texture. This is great stuff, worthy of an anniversary celebration. The darker malts, even though they're fairly subtle, really pull things together and create a nice counterpoint for the hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2007 23:44:56 | More by DrJay

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another limited release! I guess that these are to make up for all of the canned swill that I was downing for a while.

The pour produced a finger's worth of light brown head with good retention. The color was cola-like with ruby highlights. The nose had a malty sweetness to it, underlain by hops. The mouthfeel was medium with a licorice-like bitterness on the tongue. The finish had a chocolaty taste, but also smoky with a bit of bitterness. Mole, anyone?

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2008 22:13:08 | More by woodychandler

HopHead84

California

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

8/1/2010

Poured into my Stone IRS snifter. The beer is very dark brown with a monstrous frothy two finger beige head with excellent retention and scattered lacing.

The aroma is pine resin, grapefruit rind & flesh, and earth (damp forest soil, mineral, desperation). Malt exhibits a moderate roast and a slight toast that compliment the hop profile nicely. Light chocolate notes are evident as well.

The flavor displays an upper moderate level of bitterness up front with aggressive pine resin and grapefruit rind notes. The light roasted malt profile is a welcome addition to the lupulin onslaught. The finish is aggressively hopped with big alcohol notes, a light roast/toasted malt profile, and lingering pine and grapefruit.

The mouthfeel is creamy and sticky. Carbonation is at a moderate level. Great mouthfeel.

A very nice Indian San Diego Dark Hoppy Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 02:16:03 | More by HopHead84

kojevergas

California

3.58/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1 pt 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a generic hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Revewed live.

A: Pours a five finger head of lovely tan creamy lacing and great thickness. Retention is very good, especially considering the 8.7% ABV. Colour is a solid brown-black, very dark indeed. It's very appealing.

Sm: It's extremely hoppy - I get citra and maybe cascade. Nothing gets through other than the (overly?) dominant hop aroma. Aroma is moderate in strength.

T: Hoppy goodness is dominant, with a soft blanket undertone of light cream. It gets too bitter on the climax due to the hop overload, but they did what they could to compensate. For the style, it's really quite nicely built. It's simple, which lends itself naturally to easy balancing. For what it is, it's quite lovely.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but also very soft and light without being thin. I might call it velvety if I were more pretentious.

Dr: Incredibly drinkable for the ABV - which itself is cleverly hidden. It's priced right (at least in California) and though it lacks complexity, I'd certainly have it again, particularly if I found it on draught. A nice offering from Stone that every beer fanatic should try.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 06:19:11 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

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

Pours a pitch black color with a nice brown two-finger head into my fluted glass.

Aroma is full of floral, citrusy hops with grapefruit standing out the most for the hops. There's also a nice hint of sweet malt that seems a bit roasty as well.

Taste is full of floral, grapefruit-like hop character that dominates at first. It's followed by sweet malt with a hint of raisin and dark fruit.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering hop bitterness and sweetness that seem to coat the mouth. Alcohol is present but feels muted just enough, though it coats the throat with warmth.

Interesting beer that has many different flavors to contemplate. Worth a try but make sure that you sip it.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 04:22:09 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black color with a bit of redish brown hues around the edges when held up to the light. Thick tanned head pours more than a finger full and laces all around the glass and has some lasting retension. Aroma is strikingly citrusy with a fresh hop smell. Some burnt malt subtleness is evident in the background. Hops really prevail in the nose. Taste is hop forward with citrus bitterness but burnt grains and a little bit of chocolate/coffee character fills in as well before the bitter finish that lingers. Light carb and medium feel. As it warms the alcohol becomes a bit more evident in the taste but I am not complaining, this is a fine beverage.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2009 22:53:27 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Black with brown highlights, tan head, good retention & lace.

S: Pine, citrus rind, grapefruit, candied fruit, rye bread.

T: Grapefruit, pine, marmalade, dark caramel, toffee, rye bread, hint of lightly roasted coffee, good bitterness, alcohol is well-hidden.

M: Well-attenuated moderate body has a dry finish with hop and a little roasted acidity.

D: Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2008 23:56:52 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at the Brick Store Pub. Pours almost black with ruby highlights and a thin head. Smells very hoppy with citrus as well as burnt sugar, caramel, and some roastiness. The taste is quite an interesting mix of roastiness, hoppiness, and tannins. Tea-like in flavor, with burnt sugar and hops. In the mouth its smooth and a bit tannic on the finish. Very interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2010 02:43:18 | More by Georgiabeer

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

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Intensely thick dark brown pour settling quite ebon in the glass with a tall dense light tan foam that sits heavy and hardly moved from its top. Good amounts of thick curtained lace lathers onto the glass.

Aroma is a thick dark citrusy affair with a pine sided stab at the nose in places. Slightly cindered orange, blackened grapefruit, and over baked, charred peels of both those heep and stand bold with the usual Stone attitude of hops.

Taste is alot more of the same as it has a long, dark citrusy tongue the lashes the top of the mouth with dark peppy orangeyness, bits of roast slip in underneath along with burnt coffee notes. But the hops really make a strong presense with its citrusy brigade of bitterness that has a high tinge of orange bite and white grapefruit zip and pepperness. All tinted slightly with a crisp touch to burntness and a medium coating of pine. There's malt in there somewhere keeping the balance but its nowhere to be found in the taste really. Its all about the hops here with a fairly raw, green, stew of dark citrusy stuff.

Body is a solid medium with a bold tone of hops that takes over immediately and lasts the whole bomber thru. Dark, peppy, nearly peppery citric zest with a low building warmth. The Stone mark of bitterness is there with a bite uniquely darkened and roasted.

Another big brute of hops from Stone for their 11th. One that'll grab your tongue and pierce it with the spiked wing of a gargoyle.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 00:16:14 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

I need a hop fix... and don't want to dive into recent trades or too deep into the cellar.. so I picked out a 11th and am hoping for the best. I haven't had one of these in a couple of months and noticed then, the hops were definitely dying down.

22oz picked up at a variety of places around Boise in the $5.50 range... poured into a shaker pint.

Looong lasting lite tan head leaves crusty lacing for the entire glass.... color of the brew reminds me of a schwarzbier.. near black but still walnut and dark ruby highlites show when held to a light.

Aroma is certainly more subdued than fresh.. but still reminiscent of a big grapefruit and piney DIPA. Black coffee/with sugar notes are more prevalent than before.

Flavor is abundant citrus .. dark roasted malts are only available on the end of the palate and the finish.. even then, the hops are the heavy hitters... Very smooth from front to back.. the hops resins add nicely to the palate.. Doesn't taste as dark as expected.. just enough interesting espresso/chocolate components that drives everything home.

This brew is going to age very well... don't let the naysayer change your mind .... it may go through a significant muddy period like the 8th, but ultimately, the 11th will be fantastic... I will not drink another for probably 6 months... ooh my.. I have another glass.. cheers. Galt.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2008 09:18:16 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

3.2/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Dark bitter ale with no hint of fruitiness.

Very dark brown, looks inviting. Doesn't taste dark, however. Very austere, no hint of sweetness in the malt. more like a hint of soy sauce. Hops jump right on without much aromatic foreplay and keep at it. Seems surprisingly light-bodied for a strong, dark ale. Has a very odd taste of metal at the end, an edge on the teeth.

I think this is one of my least favorite Stone ales. For the hard core IPA drinker, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2010 04:46:35 | More by mactrail

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Spaten mug. Pours dark dark brown almost black with a one-finger light tan head. The aroma is mainly of a slight hoppy note. The flavor on the other-hand is of weak hops with a subtle nutty flavor. It was medium on the palate with low carbonation. There was no apparent lacing. Overall this is a very nice brew as with most Stone's. Definitely worth trying if you have not before...

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2010 23:02:38 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Pours a deep, opaque chocolaty brown with a thick, fine-bubbled, light tan head that hangs around for a bit. Aroma is strongly hoppy and has a hint of spice. Fiercely hoppy flavor makes drinking this beer like drinking a pine tree; it is fairly bitter but not ferociously so. Thick and silky smooth texture leaves a nice tingle and a hint of honey sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2009 02:27:35 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer appears black with a thick, light tan head. The head hangs out for several minutes before leaving a thick sheet of lacing on the glass. The aroma is of alcohol, hops, pine. The flavor is primarily of hops and pine, with chocolate and roast notes following behind. The feel is medium bodied with prominent alcohol throughout. This beer is a bit too hot, slightly degrading the drinkability...

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 23:27:31 | More by Huhzubendah

ccrida

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a nonic, Stone's 11th Anniversary is black with a very large, thick, rocky tan head that leaves heavy lace.

Smell is overwhelmingly sweet, citrus hops, grapefruit to the extreme. Smells fine, but really more like grapefruit juice then beer, although with enough sweet malt and alcohol to make the difference clear.

Taste is pretty good but rather unusual. Basically a big porter with a huge charge of citrus hops. The hops are so citrusy that they're more akin to the sourness of, again, grapefruit. There's a bit of astringency from the black malt as it warms. The finish is a bit boozy, with just enough bitterness to let you know your actually drinking beer. Lots of flavors, but they seem very disjointed, lacking synergy. I think I'd really like this better if they went with EKG or another English or Noble hop, rather then the PNW "C" varieties, but still, it's quite nice. Funny how thinking outside of the box ceases to be so when you do it the same way every time....

Mouthfeel is very creamy, with a suprisingly light, yet not thin body.

Drinkablity is about average. The booze is certainly there, and I'm not to fond of grapefruit juice, even if it is as sweet as this. However, like most Stone brews, that second half of the bomber goes down way to quick! Still, I couldn't really take to big of a swig, that weird sweet and sour combo was just too much. I had this right when it came out, and this one tastes about the same, maybe a hair sweeter, but I think the store kept it chilled the past 3 months, as the hops are still in full effect. I'm gonna cellar one just to see what happens in about 2 years. Sure the hops will fade, but dark beers really develop well in my experience, and I expect a whole new animal by then.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2007 08:24:56 | More by ccrida