Stone Cali-Belgique - Stone Brewing Co.

steelerguy

New York

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Gold, low carbonation, 1 finger head that fades to a covering and leaves some lacing. (Growler from my Whole Foods which is notorious about low carbonation)

S - Pineapple, sweet fruit, a little spice with a touch of Belgian funk.

T - Hops take the front seat, although not overpowering the malt just provides a nice backdrop for them to shine. The hops are a nice balance of citrus and floral, which gives it an almost succulent fruit like flavor...like lychee. Sweet malt in the back to balance it all out.

M - Fermented dry, could use a bit more carbonation, but I am certain this is because of my growler distributor and not Stone.

O - This is an interesting and very solid beer. If you like IPAs and you like Belgian beers like I do, it is a no brainer.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2011 23:20:53 | More by steelerguy

Kendo

New York

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from the bomber into a Sam Smith's nonic. Body is clear, light-honey in color with a small white head.

S: Citrusy - grapefruit & lemon - and piney hops over biscuity malt. Touch of earthy yeast too.

T: Similar to the nose: grapefruit, light caramel malt, some spice. Finishes with a dry lemony bitterness. Alcohol heat felt in belly.

M: Good creamy feel to it. Heft is medium.

O: Very good.

Serving type: growler

06-11-2011 00:25:52 | More by Kendo

socon67

New York

3.55/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours dark orange. Can see some activity in the glass. A lively beer.

S - Smells like a typical belgian ale with notes of yeast, sweet bread, and citrus.

T - Tastes like a decent belgian ale, but nothing that makes it stand out.

M - A crisp ale, finishes with a little burn.

O - This one isn't a bad beer at all. But with other great choices from Stone I'd go for other belgian ales first.

Serving type: growler

04-08-2011 21:26:25 | More by socon67

ehammond1

California

3.65/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler

Stone Brew Co.
Escondido, CA

A hazy, golden orange with amber edges and a moderate white head that sticks around. Leaves rings of lace down the glass with every big sip. This beer could be on a magazine cover!

Sweet and tangy hop note with a ever-present punch from the Belgian yeast, although it smells a bit vinegary here for some reason. I think the strong yeast character covers up a lot of the special hop character I love about Stone IPA. Certainly an interesting marriage, but the hop aromas do get lost; and the hop aromas are one of the best things about drinking a world-class San Diego (or in this case, "Cali") IPA.

An interesting blend of California hop juice married with old-world Belgian yeast. The hops here are sweet mixed with a familiar tang and spicy peppery note from the Belgian yeast. I miss the more pungent and bitter hop presence I'm familiar with from Stone IPAs, while at the same time missing the well-crafted sweet balance found in my favorite Belgian IPAs. This one seems a bit off in both directions.

A bit thick and heavy in the mouth for my tastes, but nothing to really complain about.

A fun and relatively successful experiment, but this beer does too many things simply well, as opposed to doing anything perfectly. Good, but not great.

Serving type: growler

03-19-2011 02:56:17 | More by ehammond1

dickroop

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Scored a growler of this brew at Staples Corner Liquor. It's rarely available in the East (THANKS guys!)

Poured from growler to my pint tumbler, it's golden or light tan, hazy, with enough carbonation to produce a thin foam and extensive lacing. Looks good enough to drink! The smell is yeasty, fruity sweet (maybe apple), Belgian for sure, maybe a little like a danish? No hops to speak of, some phenolic overtones, perhaps a little green pepper. Attractive nose.

The taste is where the hops kick in. A combination of fruity sweetness with an immediate bitterness at the back palate and some peppery notes. There's wonderful mild sourness in the cheeks and that's where you can pick up the bready malt flavors. The finish is bitterness and some grainy malt residual flavors. Overall very complex, starting sweet and fruity and ending with pleasant bitterness. Great combination. As for mouthfeel, there's some warmth from the alcohol, a little astringency, some peppery sweet stickiness, and a little tang to it all as the bitterness kicks in for the finish. Overall, quite wonderful.

This is a fine brew, a complex combination of sweet and bitter that just sings to the mouth and the spirit of beer. Highly delicious and highly drinkable. Get it if you can, hopheads, to expand your appreciation of what uninhibited yeast can do to hoppy bitterness.

Serving type: growler

10-09-2010 22:23:09 | More by dickroop

tang3nt

California

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My friend showed up with a fresh Growler from stone. Poured a yellow amber color with white head. I hadn't had this beer in a while, but the smell took me right back. Strong earthy and floral hop aromas. Taste the same with a bit of spiciness and a good dose of fruit/citrus. Good mouthfeel any very drinkable. The alcohol is very well hidden in this. I enjoy this one over raging bitch anyday. Ill usually buy this whenever I can. Good shit.

Serving type: growler

09-20-2010 17:57:16 | More by tang3nt

pastradul

California

3.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured out of a growler that was 1 week old.

Pulled the top off and there was a nice "pop". Poured into an allagash tulip. tons of carb in the pour, the head builds quick as I pour!

The smell is belgian yeast/bread/spice... followed by that signature stone hop smell!

The taste is similar. There isn't as much carb on the mouth as there was in the pour :-(
but the flavor is good. Strong hop presence that cuts through followed by agood amount of spice and bready presence.

Serving type: growler

06-06-2010 06:12:52 | More by pastradul

armock

New York

3.68/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a growler purchased from the brewery a day prior.

A - Poured a clear golden color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Has a funky nose with grapefruit hops

T - For the most part it follows the nose with a rather dry funky flavor with a touch of grapefruit

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - I'm pretty much torn on this one as I like Stone and Belgian IPAs but the taste doesn't make me love it like other Belgian IPAs don't get me wrong its a good beer but not as good as an authentic version worth a try though if you see it

Serving type: growler

04-17-2010 07:24:47 | More by armock

bunnyhustle

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 1L growler a couple of days after it was filled. Poured into tulip with great two finger head. Deep gold in color, good retention and lacing. At first the citrusy west-coast hops hit me but then I noticed a yeasty, hefe-like nose. Spice, banana and some sweet fruit all present. A definite bready and yeasty taste along with a pleastant bitter hopiness. A little more of a bitter hop kick than a citric hop kick. Some sweetness, some malt, and some grain as well. A very unique blend of flavors. Good, medium mouthfeel with slightly oil, chewy aftertaste. Overall a great beer and unique for stone. Tastes a bit like the 8-8-8 epic I thought, but thats not a bad thing at all.

Serving type: growler

10-07-2009 03:47:34 | More by bunnyhustle

callmescraps

Massachusetts

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

Grabbed a growler while at the fantastic brewery/restaurant.

Appearance - A nice copper color. A solid foamy head and very nice lacing. Looks good.

Smell - Some nice sharp hops. A little more to the pine side of things. Also some lemon, hint of yeast.

Taste - Real bitter pine hops. There's also a hint of fruit, maybe apricot. A solid biscuit malt background keeps it balanced.

Mouthfeel - Not oily or thick, with a nice carbonation.

Drinkability - Goes down smooth and easy.

This is a very nice beer. Nothing to light your world on fire, but a pleasant, slightly more balanced drinker from Stone. Good times.

Serving type: growler

08-14-2009 04:27:41 | More by callmescraps

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Had out of a growler bought at the brewery and poured into a pils glass.

A-very dense off white-rocky head. golder amber body

S-medicinal and clove smell

T-piney, clovey, some sweet malt flavor in there as well.

M-light

D- good, California IPA meets Belgian ale yeast. this is fusion gone right for a change.

Serving type: growler

08-06-2009 04:22:17 | More by jneiswender

womencantsail

California

4.22/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A hazy golden-yellow color with a two finger head. Good lacing.

S: The nose is a bit more complex than your typical IPA. A nice bready, and yeasty aroma with some great citrus hop notes as well.

T: You definitely get the Belgian yeast character in this--orange, some slight spice. The hops are there but not as in-your-face as the typical Stone IPA. Very balanced and tasty beer.

M: Medium body, good carbonation.

D: Not my favorite offering from Stone, but a nice change of pace for them.

Serving type: growler

07-24-2009 02:17:17 | More by womencantsail

scottoale

California

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2 Liter Growler fresh from the brewery, pours a brilliant gold with pristene clarity and a fat finger and a half of white head. Good head retention, lively carbonation and some awesome intricate lace, that sticks to the glass. It looks like poster material.

Very sweet, bubblegum nose upfront, with a piney, citrus hop note way down the back. Floral and fruity for the most part. The taste starts off sweet with a banana, bubblegum thing going on, and then the hops come in hard with strong pine sap, grapefruit and the likes. It's nicely balanced, but the taste expirience is short lived. It's not a sipper and it's not a quaffer, but it's quick and pungent. An interesting blend of the hops and the yeast used. What is the style again?

Medium body with active carbonation, yet I feel something lacking in the mouthfeel. Perhaps it's the lack of time that it spends in your mouth, I'm not quite sure. Overall tasty and easy too drink with the alcohol lurking somewhere...pretty good brew.

Serving type: growler

11-29-2008 02:41:18 | More by scottoale

rallison

California

3.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice hazy golden amber color with a 1/2 finger white head.

Smells of Belgian yeast with a nice bready character. Slightly hoppy here, but not overly so.

Good flavor. Definitely a Belgian yeast flavor profile with a distinct West Coast hop profile. Overall, not bad. This leans a bit too much toward the West Coast hops...thus overwhelming some of the complexity. Don't get me wrong - this isn't overly hopped - it just lacks some of the superior complexity of the true Belgian IPAs. Some orange peel in the taste.

Mouthfeel could use some more carbonation. Drinkability is good.

Overall, good. This lacks in certain areas but is a fair attempt at a Belgian IPA.

Edit: Looking back at this review, a 4.0 for taste was too generous.

Serving type: growler

05-18-2008 01:53:32 | More by rallison

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.34/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle to Dogfish Head IPA glass
Enjoy by: 04-16-04

A - Pours a clear honey amber with 1 finger of pillowy white foam on top. Impressive retention with polka dot lacing.

S - Belgian yeast upfront, taffy, limes, malt, lemon pepper, hints of thyme and rosemary, candied grapefruit and lemon oils comes out as it warms.

T - Ruby red grapefruit, with a sweet taffy/candy like malt in the background, old school bubblegum, the sweetness in quickly wicked away with a dry middle to finish. Lemon oils and herbs, lemon thyme, and some rosemary, the bitterness has a spicy sensation. Lemon/lime really come out more as this warms. Nice spicy finish.

M - Medium body, oily at first but the carbonation turns creamy mid palate providing a lush feel.

Very expressive flavors from the yeast that really meld with hops and malt. Complex herbal notes really took this up a notch. The bitterness is there but you have to think about it to really notice it, which to me, is impressive. Mouthfeel is has great transition and glides over the palate nicely.
The best American made BIPA I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:33:52 | More by StaveHooks

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

P: A clear vivacious bright golden body with a full finger of milky white head.

S: Earthy, smells like walking in the woods in summer. Pine, funky yeast, a spicy tingle and a touch of smoldered barley.

T/M: Earthy notes continue but introduce ruby red grapefruit, and lemon zest. Spicy, funky yeast and barley. An active body with a moderate feel. Finishes dry and piney.

O: What can I say? I live this beer. The yeast strain is fabulous and the piney fruity hops mix well with the spiced earthed notes. For the price this will be picking up many more. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:25:25 | More by Hopswagger

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.73/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

$5.99 for the bomber. Enjoy by date of 7/25/13. Poured into a chalice.

Saison meets Enjoy By. Bought this beer as a flyer. How could I could I go wrong at $5.99 for the bomber. WOW - what a deal! When I first tasted this beer I told myself this is the Enjoy By receipe brewed with Belgian yeast - that's how great it tasted. I was not far off, the bottle says Stone IPA with Belgian yeast. This beer is THE DREAM for anyone who is a hop head but also a farmhouse freak. The refreshing complexity of a saison with some not too hoppy bitterness of a great Stone brew.

A - Poured a clear light golden with a white-white rocky head. Average lacing.

S - Piney, earthy and spicey with a little funk. Some hoppy bitterness and some light floral notes.

T - A clear IPA start, a hint of sweetness with a yeasty/funky finish.

MF - Creamy at first with a nice bright finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:01:14 | More by Sludgeman

robby23

Iowa

3.21/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

It had a little had light carbonination. Its a very light in tast but still has good aroma to a little out doors tast to it with a belgian wheet. The hops were a little weak but still had a little critus tang to it . No date on the bottle which was odd, but for the price it wasnt bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 19:13:48 | More by robby23

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured from a bomber bottle into a pint glass. Pale golden with 2 finger white head. Average retention. Soapy lacing.

S- Belgium yeast is the most noticeable. Some barnyard aroma, with a little peppery spice. Interestingly, not detecting huge hop in the nose. Slight amount of herbal hops.

T- follows nose quite well, but will a little more hop presence than nose indicated. Good balance. No weakness, no outstanding qualities either. Good mix of spice, earthy hops, and Belgium barnyard funk.

M- Mid body, fairly smooth and drinkable. Nice crisp finish. Maybe a little under carbonated for the style, but favorable for my palate.

O- Solid brew. Enjoyable. A style that I am really starting to appreciate more and more. This is certainly a nice hoppy take on a Belgium style beer. Amazing how different a slight change in yeast can make.

No bottled on date.

$3.99/bomber bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 02:39:12 | More by Bosoxfan20

William85

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Reading the description of this beer on the back of the bottle, I suspected gimmickry -- I couldn't imagine that the addition of Belgian-sourced yeast alone could have a major impact on the taste of an otherwise textbook American IPA, and I thought this might just be a repackaged Stone IPA.

However, I was proved wrong even before my first sip: at first sniff, I could have sworn the snifter in front of me held a Belgian ale (albeit a very hoppy one). And this is exactly how the Cali-Belgique tastes -- as far as I'm concerned, it is a really hoppy Belgian Ale.

I've read other reviews of this beer in which folks declared themselves as Belgian Ale lovers who enjoyed this IPA in spite of themselves; and as a hophead who doesn't generally enjoy Belgians, I would describe this as a Belgian Ale which I can easily drink. I would definitely recommend this beer to anyone who likes either hops or Belgian yeast.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 04:16:49 | More by William85

MeneerBeerSnob

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a tulip.

A-Pours a bubbly golden with a finger of white head that quickly fades.

S-Smells of Belgian yeast with a background of hops, citrus and floral notes.

T-Sweet Belgian funky yeast followed by a hoppy bitterness.

M-Smooth medium body, moderate carbonation.

O-Leave it to stone to make the best Belgian IPA. There's a really great balance between Belgian yeast and hoppy bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:58:46 | More by MeneerBeerSnob

SanDNigel

California

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

A- The beer pours a bit crisper than the standard STONE IPA, the smallest hint more clear and lighter. Mott's AJ color almost to the T
S- The Columbus/Chinook/Centennial are having a slap fight with the proprietary Belgian yeast. With hops coming out victorious
T- So very similar to the STONE IPA, but with an unmistakable/very confrontational (in a good way) Belgian yeast forward. Definite hop smack though
M- Very Belgian feeling en la boca. But quick hop bitter/floral palate punch When you sip its a 'Tripel' and when it sits your mouth it's an IPA
-This is a good beer. A very easy to drink good beer, that happens to pair nicely with almost anything else you can put in your mouth.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 20:26:13 | More by SanDNigel

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: very hazy, orange colored, smallish white head.

aroma: spices, citrus, and funky-ass Belgian yeast. Beautiful. Like a trappist tripel with a hoppy kick. Nice, nice, nice.

Taste: Belgian yeast flavor leads it off, commands the palate, with the bitter hoppy edge riding side saddle. Funky, weird, wild, and hoppy as heck. If I were drinking this blind, I'd assume it was Belgian and never guess it was hailing from San Diego or thereabouts. Rounds out rather dryly, eases easily off the palate, but leaves one with the memory of fruity hops and esters, a blistering barrage of hops, and unmistakable Belgian yeast.

It's a wonderful marriage of Stone IPA and Belgian-style IPA. It's sweet, hoppy, wild, and dry, and I'm falling madly for it. Quite drinkably, passes the gullet with the greatest of ease. Each new sip leaves me loving this, and marveling at the mastery of it's creation. Mmm, mmm.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 08:07:37 | More by feloniousmonk

TownDunkel

Texas

4.01/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

IPA - Never the biggest fan but it grows on me each time I drink a good one (and this was a great one)

Appearance - Pretty gold yellow color with a nice white head

Smell - Now that is some hoppy goodness! sweet and citrusy

Taste - A neat mix of sweet and spicy with a good aftertaste of hops, lots and lots of hops, very dry but in a good way

Mouthfeel - Keeps me long and refreshed but dry!

Overall - A great rep of the style, if you wanted to try a great IPA this is the one

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:42:23 | More by TownDunkel

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Enjoy by 07/25/13. Poured half into a shaker pint.

Light copper color to the beer. Beautiful clarity. The head turned down from what I expected. Maybe three-quarter inch.

Citrusy American hops with tropical notes plus fruity Belgian yeast aronas. Very fruity, in total. Mango, apricot, ruby red grapefruit, light pine, pear, pale malts, and almost a hint of maraschino cherry. Smells marvelous.

Clashing tanginess of super West Coast hopping and fruity/nutty/spicy Belgian yeast reminds me of drinking a glass of orange juice right after brushing your teeth. Like a lingering pine-like mintyness in the finish that's almost sanitizing in the mouth. Too loud with the Anerican hops. I still pick up grapefruit, pineapple, pine, papaya, and orange. Alcohol is a component, as well.Yeasty esters spins the spokes of tart apple and some nuttiness, but it's all getting a little lost. I really wanted to say great things (and I still enjoy drinking it), but something is strangely awry. Clearly an above-average beer, but slightly offending for the style.

Clean middling body with smoothness. Booze is popping out just a bit. Carbonated to a lower-medium.

Knocking it back a quarter of a point here. Has that imbalance that I've found in Heavy Seas Loose Cannon (albeit, that's an American IPA). Anybody else get me?? BROS, chime in here...

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:30:31 | More by thecheapies