Stone Cali-Belgique - Stone Brewing Co.

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been a great while since I've had this. My brother got me a bomber for Xmas - thanks bro!

Pour is crystal clear amber/orange with a white head. Shrinks down a ring and slight cap pretty quickly but retains well as such.

Smell presents sweet malts, light Belgian-y tartness, some grassy hops and light fruits. Decent strength.

At first I'd say the Belgian yeasts get quite an upper hand, but as it warms this becomes a good mix of Belgian and IPA. Sweet and fruity with some farmy funky yeasty twang, kind of a saison feel. Nice grassy and citrus hops with some caramel malts, apple and white grape.

A solid mouthfeel, good body for the ABV, medium-high carbonation and no booze. Keeps you sippin.

It takes some time for the hops to shine, but when they do it makes for quite the beer. You can definitely taste the Stone IPA here but it's gone through quite a pleasant transformation. A unique blend that's on the lighter side, refreshing and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 16:27:32 | More by Chico1985

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer was has on draft at The Avenue in Allston. Served in an 11 oz snifter.

Appearance: It is a pale orange color with one finger of head that reduced to a thin layer. It has a hazy clarity and vision of bubbles moving up through the glass. Crazy lacing on the glass as the beer was drank too.

Smell: Spicy, malty, bready, citrus, tangerine, pineapple, and mango.

Taste: Same as above with some lingering bitterness in the end.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, very drinkable, lingering bitterness, medium bodied, and low to medium carbonation.

Overall: Pretty solid IPA. Happy to have finally enjoyed this on draft. More please.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 01:38:44 | More by Flounder57

kojevergas

California

2.08/5  rDev -48.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

"Cali Belgique with French Oak" served from a cask into a New Belgium stem-goblet at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica. Chinook and Centennial hops. Reviewed from notes. Cost was around $9.00.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger white colour thin head of little lacing and no cream. Appears quite soapy. Body colour is a vibrant copper-amber. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Caramel, sweet malts, fresh floral hops, some hop oil, light nectar, and a bit of soapy detergent. A mild strength aroma.

T: Hop bitterness with no balance whatsoever. Little oak at all. Some floral character does come through, but the hp notes are mainly just flat bitterness. Simple and bland. Boring. Poorly executed.

Mf: Thin and weak. Undercarbonated. Slightly nectary. A casualty of its cask serving type.

Dr: Difficult to drink due to its low quality. A major disappointment, even coming from Stone. I definitely wouldn't get this again. One of the worst beers I've had in a while.

D

Serving type: cask

01-29-2013 23:39:30 | More by kojevergas

ONUMello

Ohio

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

22oz bottle poured into a tulip glass
A: Slightly hazy orange-amber color with a one-finger head that lingers
S: A nice blend of malt & hops with the hops up front and a solid malt back-bone
T: This has a nice blend with malt notes including caramel up front, and hops backing it up. A hint of bubblegum from the Belgian yeast
M: Medium-bodied, a smooth base but a light kick from the hops
O: Another solid offering from Stone; a well-made IPA with a unique twist

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 19:14:59 | More by ONUMello

ElSid

California

3.99/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#56

Bottled Date: None

A: Clean and gold with moments of amber highlights in the right light. The head is off white, active, and fades after a significant amount of lapsed time.

S: The nose is definitely yeasty along with ester qualities. The fresh "Cali" hop notes are there but play more of a supporting role.

T: The palate is more balanced; yeast and banana, faint pineapple esters paired with citrus, pine, and flowers from the the triple "C" west coast hop combination. The malt is sweet and biscuity with some caramel also.

M: Good amount of carbonation keeps the brew lively. The feel is moderate and powdery from the yeast. The linger is there but not as noticeable given the carbonation and yeastiness of the feel.

O: Overall the yeast tempers the normal crisp and fresh Stone IPA but also adds some interest to the palate creating a nice example of the Belgian IPA style. This style seems to be growing out here on the west coast keeping the hop heads occupied while also expanding the idea of what an IPA represents.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:22:24 | More by ElSid

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.94/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Two fingers of head, the bubbles danced nicely as they rose, good lacing. Clear, medium straw colored body.
The aroma is floral and piney. Excellent complexity and depth.
The taste is moderately bitter balanced with the malty sweetness. There's some honey as well.
Smooth texture, moderate carbonation and medium body.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 02:07:05 | More by Fatehunter

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- medium amber gold, great lacing, and good retention

S- fresh fruitiness, apricot and fresh piney citrus hops, strong yeastiness with some barnyard notes.

T - Great full yeast grip, bitterness is full but not overpowering, subtle fruity sweetness, really good balance of flavour and nice subtle complexities with the strong yeast aspect.

M - Good carbonation, crip and dry, refreshing full body but nicely drinkable.

This was quite good stuff, a definite bret yeasty edge to it, and the california hops came through pretty well, thought it worked quite well, worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 22:27:41 | More by mick303

mooseo

Pennsylvania

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

22oz into tulip.

A - Clear gold copper with a thick bright white head.

S - Floral hops, banana, spicy Belgian yeast with hints of tropical fruit and sweet caramel.

T - Sweet bready malt, grapefruit, lemon, earthy pine, and herbal spice. Finishes slightly bitter ending with grain, yeast and fruity notes.

M - Smooth, slick, and a bit sticky. Light-medium body, crisp mild carbonation.

O - An interesting, easy drinking Belgian IPA. The yeast imparts a nice herbal spicy quality that blends well with the malt and hops used.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:37:06 | More by mooseo

mfnmbvp

Illinois

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

22 oz. bottle. Bottle says to "enjoy by 12/29/12" so I am just in time! I bought this b*tch from the local Jewel Osco.

A - Pours an extremely clear, light copper color. Creamy, white, fluffy, 1-finger head. Looks like a more full-bodied version of a Miller Lite or some other mass-produced lager.

S - Definitely a fresh pungent grapefruit smell. Nice and hoppy, which is surprising since this beer doesn't look like much.

T - Hoppy. Spicy. Floral. Coriander. Bubblegum. Definitely one of the most floral tasting IPA's that I have had. Lives up to it's "Belgian Style" label.

M - Clean, bitter, mouthfeel. Pretty well balanced. The bubblegum flavor lingers around a bit, reinstating it's status as a "Belgian-Style IPA"

Overall, it is a tangy, zesty, lemony, hoppy, pretty good beer. There are of course more intense IPA's out there, but this is a nice example of it's style, and it is a solid five dollar bottle.

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 06:12:27 | More by mfnmbvp

hagbergl

Massachusetts

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

I bought a bomber of Stone Cali-Belgique Belgian-style IPA at Kimbark Wine & Liquors in Hyde Park, Chicago on 9/30/12. It was enjoyed in my large Chimay chalice along with a couple episodes of Mad Men. Yum. Fresh hops and relaxation.

Appearance (4/5): Cali-Belgique is golden and slightly cloudy in the glass. A fairly vigorous pour creates a consistent, two-finger, frothy head of bone white foam that retains well. Lacing sticks to the sides of the glass as the beer goes down. This is decent looking beer, but looks aren't this beer's strongest point. Four out of five.

Smell (4/5): Stone's Belgian-style IPA features a distinctly Belgian-smelling nose. The aroma is as the brewery intended (I think): it has the grassy, herbal, piney hops of an IPA along with the floral, slightly sweet/sugary overtones that a Belgian Pale Ale sometimes features. The difference in yeast definitely works quite a change on the classic Stone India Pale Ale. Definitely cool that the change is so distinctive in the nose. Nice.

Taste (4/5): Yeasty flavors and bready notes hit in the beginning but give way to a grassy, fruity (grapefruit/pineapple) like hop flavor that lingers on from mid-palate on into the finish. A little spicy–coriander, peppery (again, a product of the yeast). Ever so slight alcohol warming in the back. Cali-Belgique is mellow for a Stone brew, but quite tasty nonetheless.

Mouthfeel (4/5): Appropriately medium-low carbonation. This beer features a good medium body. It is slightly prickly thanks to the hops. Not sticky, but lightly tart and acidic in the hopped up finish, puckering the roof of my mouth gently...Dry. Good mouthfeel.

Overall (4/5): Cali-Belgique is what you expect out of Stone Brewing Co.: solid. This experiment with using Belgian yeast to modify the classic Stone IPA works well. While it isn't quite as good as the original, it is a nice departure from the norm and a worthy entry in Stone's lineup of year-round beers. Try it out if you're like me and a little bored with the garden variety IPA. I think you'll enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 20:36:07 | More by hagbergl

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours amber to orange with a good amount of cloudiness. Finger thick head on an 8 oz pour dorm this 22 oz bottle. Nice spotted lacing on the glass through consumption. Smells of a strong piney hop and similar to the regular Stone IPA. Flavor is also nicely bitter and sweet with the hops - I want to say the Belgian yeast makes this slightly less hoppy in taste and more balanced than the regular version. Very enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 02:07:27 | More by Oakenator

Murrhey

Montana

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured in a 10oz. pour at Stone Brewing in Escondido, Calif. Reviewed from notes.

A- Poured with a two-finger fluffy white head with long retention. Sticky lacing. Reddish-orange color.

S- Citrusy and cheesy. Nice and smooth smell. Grapefruit and citrus hops balanced with piney ones.

T- Creamy flavor with grapefruit and spruce as the breakers of taste. Nice deep flavor.

M- Creamy, yet light. Very drinkable feel.

O- This is a hoppy and spicy IPA and very nice for this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2012 23:56:34 | More by Murrhey

joecast

Australia

4.48/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was hesitant to try this as I thought it wouldn't live up to expectations. Truth is, it's as good as any Belgian IPA.

The usual Stone IPA traits with a nice hint of Belgian yeast. A little spicy and phenolic but still let's the base beer through. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 00:21:09 | More by joecast

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 22oz bottle with a BB of Oct 27th 2012, so it's just out of date. Hopefully it's character remains intact. Picked up recently from Trembling Madness in York; I'm keen to find out what a US-made Belgian IPA tastes like. The label acknowledges Belgium's divided nature - good to see that Stone are on the ball culturally.

Poured into a Delirium chalice (twice). Bottle conditioned. A bright golden-amber hue with good carbonation and some haze. Produces a large head of creamy white foam with decent retention; this slowly subsides to a surface layer. Aroma of fruity yeast esters and restrained hops, with notes of banana, clove, bubblegum, spice, citrus and earthy yeast. Slightly sweet, with a faint hint of malt sugar. Dominated by the Belgian yeast.

Tastes of dry, fruity yeast with hints of aromatic hops and a bitter finish. Notes of banana, clove, mild bubblegum, anise, spice, citrus, faint tropical fruit, earthy yeast and stewed leaves. Dry and slightly sour, with a funky hint in the background. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, light, spicy and spritzy. Nice carbonation and good body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of dry, fruity yeast esters and hop bitterness.

A decent interpretation of the style; the Belgian yeast character certainly shines through. Not overly IPA-like; the hops don't come across all that well (and certainly not by Stone standards). Impressively yeasty aroma and flavour, with a nice bitter finish to round it off. I reckon this could have done with a greater addition of hops but it remains a well-crafted effort. Although I'm not a fan of Belgian IPAs I find this pretty good, and better than some others that I've tried as it achieves a degree of balance between the yeast and hop notes. In general the style has a muddled character that leaves you unsatisfied. Worth trying, even if I probably won't pick one up again.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:53:24 | More by jazzyjeff13

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

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

(4.0) A: Hazy coppery-straw colour with a decent sized semi-creamy head. Very good retention and similar lacing.

(4.5) S: Banana, spices of cloves and faint ginger, pineapple, grapefruit, pine, and buttered baked bread. Very nice combination of both Belgian qualities (tropical, cloves, yeast) and IPA qualities (pine, citrus, bread).

(4.5) T: Thankfully similar to aroma, with plenty of tropical and citrus fruits, spice, and bread-like malt. An appropriate dry bitterness emerges and stays through the finish. A bit of slight damp, earthy wood give this a nice funky element. Everything works well together. Very delicious.

(4.0) M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Good oily character and a healthy dose of bitter dryness on the tongue.

(4.5) D: One of my favourite Stone offerings and something I could drink all night (if only I had more). Taste profile really gives you a little of everything, and it all works together very well. *hat tip to Stone*

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:33:18 | More by Digimaika2

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650ml bomber poured into tulip 11/10/12 thanks liamt07 for sending me the bottle

A not quite clear golden yellow with various sized bubbles throughout, tight two finger off white head sits long enough to leave 4 thin rings of lace followed by lots of random patches, sexy looking stuff

S lemon hits me first with some soapy pine and toffee, faint spices with some more citrus fruits and candied pineapple, the yeast profiles Belgian but the hops are American and there's a little something I can't quite place but its fruity and good

T some bitter greens and lime rind, sprite perhaps with very faint banana, earthy weedy notes and there's still fruit I can't place

M a nice bitter bite with a little grit, well concealed booze and a big citrus finish, good carbonation and slick after the fact for a short time

O this ones going to bug me because there's a fruity aspect I can't quite place but its positive. If anything it could use more Belgian yeast to get it more on line with the style but I liked it no matter how its labeled

I feel like I'm being hard on this one even though it gets a high score, not quite 4.25 in many areas maybe I should start complaining that we need a .10 increment on the site

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 08:08:42 | More by wordemupg

qdbfc

5/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

22 oz bottle bought for $5 poured into a Imperial pint glass.

A:
Poured a thick head, clean white-beige in color, with above average retention, gradually declining to a thin cap atop the body. The alpine lacing was exceptional with strong spider webs on the sides of the glass. The body was fairly transparent, slightly hazy golden orange color, with the carbonation migration visible on the glass.

S:
Aroma is densely fruity, with mango, grapefruit rind, and cardamon-coriander like spices being readily apparent, resting on an appropriate Belgianish yeast (slightly Brettanomyces-like mustiness) and a some what earthy pepper-clove blend. ,

T:
The overall flavor is a very tropical mix, very complex with some pineapple and mango characteristics being the most obvious attributes. Front of palate picks up the malt sweetness joined to earthy grapefruit rind. Mid-palate balances Belgian yeast, slight bit of Brettanomyces, mild hop bitterness, and very subtle malt sweetness quite well. Back of palate is pleasantly bitter, quite dry and not slick. Also as subtle as the malt, are the complex spice notes of coriander, cardamon, ginger and cloves.

O:

The Cali-Belgique IPA is an Americanized Belgian-style ale that I wouldn't necessarily recognize as a Stone beer. The hops are very toned down by their standards, but definitely contributes to many levels of complexity.

D:

As a disclaimer, the level of subtle-ness should calibrated with the fact I enjoyed a Oaked
Arrogant Bastard along with Stones 16th anniversary IPA before tasting this great beverage.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 16:48:23 | More by qdbfc

orangedive

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A - Goldeny orange. 70% opaque. 2 inch off-white head that dissipated slowly. Nice lacing is beginning.

S - Hoppy and fruity. For some reason, I'm not getting a whole lot of aromas, which is surprising for a beer with so much flavor. (Might have something to do with my glassware.)

T - Lots of hops, grapefruit and tropical fruit initially. Also, some candy orange. Quite of bit of malt is present, but the beer is nicely balanced. The yeast gives it a slightly tangy flavor, which is nice. It is not as "in your face" as Raging Bitch by Flying Dog, but it has a similar profile.

M - Nice...smooth, medium-bodied. The bitterness lingers on your tongue.

O - This is a great beer. It is very drinkable and has that wonderful tangy flavor that comes from the belgian yeast mixed with IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 00:10:08 | More by orangedive

mscudder

Georgia

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

Into a snifter.

A - Golden orange hue with a white head. Good retention and lacing.

S - Some rich tropical fruits, citrus and a nice blend of spicy malts.

T - Starts with some biscuit malts, advances to a frothy Belgain hop character and concludes with an oily pepper finish. Together it has a strange taste of bubblegum. Lots of piney hops to speak of, which compliment the oily citrus. Reminds me a bit of their most recent anniversary (lemon) IPA. Not as strong on the acidity or lemon though.

M - A frothy medium body that explodes across the palette. Medium carbonation that accents the oily mouthfeel.

O - This is a nice enjoyable IPA for sure! I wish the oily nature was a bit subdued but otherwise this is fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 05:34:59 | More by mscudder

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

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

22 oz bottle bought for $6.59 poured into a wineglass.

A: Slightly darker than a Belgian pale and slightly lighter than an IPA. A disappointingly slim one-finger head dissipates into a blanket of bubbles. Decent cling on the glass. Not one of your stunningly beautiful Belgian-style ales.

S: Smells dry. Very ripe peach, a whiff of pine, and some discernible yeast. Very unique smell.

T: Subtle and nice. Citrusy and wet just for a drop, then a transition to dry and earthy. A bit of booze there in the middle and a slightly metallic but not unpleasant back end carried by the hops.

M: Soft and velvety, with nice sparkle dancing on the back of the tongue. Both wet and dry sensations.

O: Cali-Belgique is a workmanlike Belgian-style ale that I wouldn't necessarily peg as a Stone beer. The hops are pretty toned down by their standards, and what you've got here is a reasonably priced, accessible entry for those new to the Belgian IPA style.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 13:23:03 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Piccadilly, Champaign, IL
Date: None on bottle
Glass: tulip

Stone's Belgian IPA is a solid offering, with Belgian yeast and hop-forward additives, yielding a strongly funky and hop-intense Belgian IPA. While I might prefer New Belgium's hop choices more than Stone's, this is still a new go-to in the style.

Pours a thick, 2cm head, clean white in color, with above average retention, gradually declining to a thin cap atop the body. Lacing is exceptional, with strong spiderweb, clump, spot, and other artistry on the sides of the glass. Body is a mostly transparent, slightly hazy golden orange color, with active carbonation migrating up the sides and center of the glass.

Aroma is densely fruity, with pineapple, mango, lemon, grapefruit rind, and melon being readily apparent, sitting atop a Belgian yeast (slightly Brettanomyces-like mustiness) and a somewhat peppery blend of white and black peppercorns.

The overall flavor is a heavily yeasty tropical fruit mix, with some pineapple and melon being the most obvious descriptors. Front of palate picks up pale malt sweetness joined to strong grapefruit rind: bitter with some pithy, fibrous flavor yielded by yeast secondary metabolites. Mid-palate balances Belgian yeast, slight bit of Brettanomyces, hop bitterness, and pale malt sweetness quite well. Back of palate is pleasantly bitter, like grapefruit rind, but not juicy, very dry. Other components in the back include a bit of curry-like spice and modest ethanol. Lingering taste of Belgian yeast and a mix of spicy and bittering hops.

Beer is medium-bodied with medium to medium-low carbonation, creating a generally smooth, creamy, and well-flowing. Closes quite dry, as expected from the Belgian yeast and abundant hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 05:42:25 | More by falloutsnow

RussBecker1

4.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a light golden ale, with decent carbonation and a slight one finger head that sits for a decent amount of time. Cloudy to a certain degree, but not the most aesthetically pleasing despite leaving a pretty good amount of lacing towards the latter half of the glass.

S-Big on both hops and citrus, mainly grapefruit. The Belgian yeasts are very very faint, but they are there if you know what you are looking for. The California side of this IPA (Hops, citrus) is enticing, and there is enough complexity to keep it interesting.

M-Surprisingly full bodied. Heavier than it looks,but still light enough to keep the citrus poignant on the tip of your palate.

T-Wow. Cali-Belgique proved to be one of the few beers that I have tried where each and every note was not just on point, but keep me on my toes throughout the 22oz. Between the hops, the citrus, the slight bit of malt, and all that being intertwined with the hit of sweet and tangy Belgian yeast, I was absolutely smitten. I know I am in the minority, but this very well could be my favorite Stone IPA, and it is quickly becoming one of my very favorite Stone products in general.

O-Keep in mind if you are expecting ruination, or even the regular Stone IPA, you will be disappointed as the hops do not kick your ass and drag you through a ditch. Without comparison, Cali-Belgique becomes a surprisingly complex and incredibly delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 13:30:30 | More by RussBecker1

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.24/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Into a chalice:

A: hazy golden orange body has a small concave white half finger head appears and lasts for ten seconds and gently dies into the body. The body is too hazy for any carbonation to be seen rising. No lacing was left around the sides of the chalice.

S: nice combination between tropical/citrus fruit and the hops.

T: sharper bit of the tropical fruits such as pineapple and papaya come out. There is a certain juiciness in the taste

M: light to medium with nothing obscure to the tongue.

O: ok, is this really a Belgian IPA, because I'll take this any time any day again, though I thought I wasn't thrilled with this style, I am thrilled with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 17:07:23 | More by kangarooAdam59

phishsihq

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA pours a hazy apricot color, and is topped by one-inch of off-white head that leaves tons of lace. Floral and citrus (orange) hop aromas mingle with Belgian yeast notes, with just a touch of bready malt lurking underneath. Sweet malt quickly gives way to flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast, and orange citrus hop flavors linger in the finish. Medium in body, this brew is also high in carbonation. This may be our first Stone review, sorry it took so long!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 01:13:41 | More by phishsihq

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best by 7/18/2012. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a good 1-2 finger dense off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of lemon zest, clove, pepper, banana, orange, grapefruit, herbal, grass, honey, earth, and yeast spices. Very nice and well balanced aromas with good complexity. Taste of big lemon, orange rind, pepper, clove, banana, grapefruit, honey, bread, herbal, floral, pine, earth, and yeast spices. Good amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, banana, clove, pepper, herbal, pine, earth, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Great flavor balance and complexity. Medium carbonation and body; with a very nice crisp and lightly creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed at all after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Belgian IPA. Great balance of hop and yeast character; and extremely smooth to drink. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 03:58:51 | More by superspak