Stone Cali-Belgique - Stone Brewing Co.

Blanco

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

pours a clear golden color with a good sized white head. Nice strong lacing. At first smell I pick up a ton of hops but after while they become overpowered by the belgian yeast. Once I pull away and go back to it I get a blend of both. It's citrusy and piney, almost like someone poured a tripel into an IPA. The taste is vastly different from the smell. It's unlike anything I've had. At first I'm a little confused then strong grapefruit breaks through and an almost grassy undertone. Mouthfeel is much thinner than I would have expected or wanted. It's also a little flatter than I would have liked as well. Drinkability is decent. This is a different beer and I'm glad I tried it. It's only my second in the style and has me intrigued enough to try others, but I don't know how much I'll be going back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 02:07:35 | More by Blanco

Halcyondays

California

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bomber,

A: Pours yellow with a medium, somewhat fizzy white head, fair retention, doesn't have good lacing like I would expect in a Belgian or an IPA.

S: Dominated by citrus, get a lot of tangerine, citrus, pineapple, and an earthy Belgian yeast kick, light pepper.

T: Has a strong grapefruit orange character that the regular Stone IPA has. Belgian character is there with bitter spice, pepper, and definite bubblegum esters at the end.

M: Medium body with a mild prickly carbonation on the tongue. Too astringent at times.

D: An interesting beer, but in the end I wasn't a huge fan of it, I didn't think the flavours blended well enough together and the hop character got unappetizingly bitter after a while. A nice experiment, I could see myself trying it again, but wont be a go to beer from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 02:42:57 | More by Halcyondays

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had on tap at Daily Pint
Poured a very bright orange color with a white head. Smells like citrus and yeast. The taste is a bit more balanced, but still very yeasty with a citrus kick. I thought it was a little tart at the end. Drinkability is low. Just strange but good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2008 04:43:02 | More by barleywinefiend

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a Three Philosophers mini snifter.

Appearance - Clear bronze-copper. Small white head.

Smell - Sour apple. Almost like a Flemish. Don't know how to interpret this. Stale bottle or innovative style? I'll take it for what it's worth.

Taste - A cross between an IPA and a Flemish sour. Both characters being mild. Weird and interesting.

Mouthfeel - Watery. Acidic.

Overall Drinkability -There's no real style or frame of reference by which to grade this. They apparentlycall it an IPA but it's not like any I've had. I'll have to simply rate it on sheer enjoyment factor, and there it does well.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 18:58:00 | More by ZenAgnostic

McD0uche

California

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured section of Cali-Belgique bomber into a pint glass:

A: Definitely appears to be an IPA. It's that perfect yellow/orange color that gets you excited. A great 2-finger head materializes, and sparse bubbles congregate around the edge of the glass. Exquisite retention; lacing is full and frothy.

S: I expect the familiar hops and citrus I've come to love, but instead there's the peppery, earthy smell distinctive to Belgian white ales. The hops and citrus are buried. I'm curious for a taste...

T: As expected from the smell: peppery, smokey, kind of burnt flavor. The IPA flavor is subtle and takes over more towards the end. After a few sips it grows on you.

M: Superb. Everything I look for is here: excellent flavor transfer, light/medium body, and dry finish.

O: This was a very interesting experience for me. Ultimately though, I think I'll stick to normal IPAs. Definitely something to check out, but not really for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 03:15:07 | More by McD0uche

mpyle

Maryland

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brilliantly clear, deep golden color. Pours a nice sized white head, creamy and with good retention.

Solventy pepper aroma. Almost medicinal in a cough syrup kind of sense. Belgian aromas dominate any hop aromas for me.

Slightly sweet phenolic character at start, again a bit medicinal. Nice peppery spiciness, and some piney hop flavors. Finishes with an assertive hop bitterness still coated with a peppery Belgian character.

MF - Medium body and carbonation, no astringency, minimal alcohol warming.

Overall - The merging of styles detracted rather than enhanced it for me. Some of the aroma and flavor character struck me as unpleasant. I'd take a conventionally made Stone IPA over this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 22:28:45 | More by mpyle

rtepiak

Poland

3.28/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

an american distinctly. pours clear with a yellow/orange hue and a head of two fingers. american foam. not tight. not much lace either. nose of belgian sugar and pineapple. palate of something along those lines but the sugar has a plastic resin quality with the hops. grit hush quality and apricot. hoppy but muted by a abnormal sweet that doesn't add but disorients the palate. i love this style. i am sympathizing that maybe the bottle was infected. but it was complete average. worst stone i've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2010 20:41:35 | More by rtepiak

KarlosT

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

had this at a stone beer tasting event.

Prefer more the hoppy/ipa style beers.

a: yellow

s: slight skunky heinekin notes, which i'm not a fan of

t: ok

mf: ok

overall: will focus on other beers in the stone offering. FYI: this was my wife's favorite beer of the bunch.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 20:30:03 | More by KarlosT

BucannonXC5

California

3.28/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22-oz. bomber into a smaller class at the Courtyard Marriott in Culver City, Calif. Less than a finger of head. Color was honey pale. Light layer of gray lacing that wanted to stay, but was slowly evaporating. Light layer of soapy film on the sides.

Fruit dominated the initial smell. Got apple first with some pear, grapes and kiwi knocking on the door. Some rotten fruit as well.

Tasted pretty close to the smell, albeit a bit skunkier. Got some bitterness in there as well. Apple leading the way still. Some light pear as well.

Light body. Creamy texture. Average-to-soft carbonation. Bitter finish.

An OK beer, but nothing special. I will say that it had the “Stone” feel to it, but I just wasn’t into it from the start.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 05:05:38 | More by BucannonXC5

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.26/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

26 days old (bottled 03/01) - calculated by subtacting 120 days from exp. date of 6/29/2013 (according to Stone's website).

A: Copper color. Clear. Small head.
S: Sweet spices dominate: clove, pepper. I actually don't sense the usual hop flavors: citrus or pine. Bubble gum.
T: Some sugary sweetness.Bready maltiness. Slight acidic tang.
M: Medium-light, definitely on the light side of the style.
O: I would classify this as a Belgian Pale Ale more than an IPA because I don't sense much hop aroma or flavor. Nothing offensive about it, just not crazy about the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:06:44 | More by jibbyvonjibb

MisterClean

California

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

At OBF

A - Poured light golden with a 1 fingered head white head. Dissipated slow and left no lacing.

S - Light honey and flowers.

T - Light honey, flowers, heavy mint, and a little funk. Possibly from yeast.

M - Moderate bodied and hop dominated.

D - The flowers and mint dominated this beer, which was really too much for my personal tastes. Crafting a good Belg-IPA is such a fine art.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2009 00:45:27 | More by MisterClean

Schmaltzy

California

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Pours a hazy amber/straw color with orange hues and 2-3 fingers of dense head that leaves clumps of lacing throughout.

S- Wow, I have to say that Belgian IPA's really smell great... Nice sweet caramel malt and bready yeast finished with a shit-ton of floral hops, only way stone knows how, but these hops are different than typical Stone hops, much lighter floral scents.

T- Immediate trippel taste, and wham bitter floral/earthy hoppy IPA taste followed by a slight caramel malt and bready yeast... I guess I just am not a fan of the style, stick to one style and to it well...

M- Medium body with ample fluffy carbonation and a decent dry finish.

D- I love IPA's and I like Belgian Trippel's, however, I cannot explain my discontent for blending the two I find them not enjoyable at all...

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 02:11:45 | More by Schmaltzy

longbongsilver

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hadn't heard of this one in Stone's line-up upon seeing a bottle, price was right, so here we are. Pours somewhere between a dingy gold and a highly bright copper with very little visible carbonation, firm two inches of creamy white head a thin layer of which is VERY persistent.

The usual piney IPA smell is first, followed by lemon and something like pineapple. Faint candy in the background too. Swig...

The citrus notes are surprisingly obvious, even for a style that is pretty deeply associated with that kind of hop character. Yet it doesn't get annoying; oddly enough, the amped up dryness cuts in rather well. Speaking of which, the bitterness is more imparted by being dry than by being hoppy. There was little fizz in the pour, and there is little fizz in the go-down, which is oily.

I think there's two ways something like this has to be judged: accuracy of style, and simple beer-as-beer. Stone's stated intention (it's right on the bottle) is California-meets-Belgium, and on that I think they could've used a touch more west coast g-funk. On beer-as-beer merits, it still works though. I averaged the two.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 07:17:59 | More by longbongsilver

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

marvin213

North Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On the light side for an IPA--perhaps that involves the Belgian yeast? The head is thin but solid, and the retention is excellent.

I'm ordinarily a big fan of belgian aromas, and this one smells much more like an IPA. Without detecting what's usually a distinct Belgian smell, it offers more of a citrusy effect. Nothing extraordinary, but certainly pleasant.

Ooooh--I can taste the Belgian aspect. Having already disclosed I'm more of an IPA guy, I'm a little let down after my wafting. Where the smell is only subtlely Belgian, the taste is only subtlely IPA. Since "Belgian" is only an adjective describing the main "IPA" noun, I've got to judge this here beer relative to IPAs.

Belgian yeasts and quality carbonation combine for a good mouthfeel. It's almost like an alka-seltzer the way it fizzes and cleanses the palate. This effect would make the Cali-Belgique an effective transition beer among different foods and drinks.

The beer is easy to drink, and it's appropriate for just about any occasion. Thing is, it'd have to taste better to go to it more consistently.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 23:26:53 | More by marvin213

acurtis

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle
Amber with golden highlights, lively carbonation and solid one finger head. Smells like belgium yeast and fruity hops. Taste of tangerine, grapefruit, hops and carmel. Bitter finish. Doesn't taste bad but just not what I was hoping from this beer. Its like the beer doesn't know what it wants to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 17:17:07 | More by acurtis

shand

Florida

3.18/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a nonic. No date stamp, but bought from a generally reputable retailer.

This brew pours a very hazy apricot color crested with three fingers of head that leaves nice retention and lacing. The aroma is a nice mix between some Belgian yeast funkiness and some nice west-coast hop dankness. Citrus aspects are also noted. The taste is a little less balanced then I thought, the Belgian aspects are really the stars of the shows here. There's a bit of a nice hop kick in the center, but the slightly funky Belgian yeast and fruity ester qualities really dominates the start and finish of this brew. More hops, please.

The mouthfeel is pretty good, it's firmly carbonated and a bit light on the mouth, and the drinkability suffers just a little bit from the Belgian dominance. Overall, still not my favourite style. I wish there was more of a focus on the IPA side of the "Belgian IPA" equation.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 22:42:01 | More by shand

JesteR14

California

3.15/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- this beer is like a slightly darker budweiser in color. But to me what gives it extra points is the head. It's foamy a sticks all over my pint glass. Very tiny bubbles coming from the bottom of the glass at all times.

S- when I smell this beer I smell apples and some lemon and banana, with some hints of some hop. Defiantly strikes me as a belgium beer, and defiantly smells likes it will be good.

T- the taste if this beer is dry, and has a firm Belgium flavor. I definatky taste apple lemon and bitter hopsand little bit of spice. The hops come in later and leave a lingering bitterness in my mouth. I really like hoppy beers and especially stone, but this one is not my favorite tasting. However it is still a solid beer anqd great interpretation, and anyone who is looking for something different should give it a try.

It's a good beer and I'm glad I got to try it while it was out. just not my specific taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 08:59:10 | More by JesteR14

bundy462

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Golden, slightly orange. Frothy white head with good lacing.

S: Belgian yeast, spices, sweet, slight hops. Pretty tame for a Stone.

T: Very clean up front with pretty heavy yeast and a bit of clove. Bitter hops in the finish, but doesn't linger for very long.

M: Very smooth, but no hop bite. Pretty thin body.

O: A Belgian IPA, an interesting concept that wasn't mind blowing and surely not worth the price. However, still an above average brew, just not as good as I had hoped.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 00:31:11 | More by bundy462

Overlord

California

3.08/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Unless I'm mistaken, they ended up naming this beer "Cali-Belgique." I sampled it at the Stone Sour Fest.

Poured a bright orange gold with a whiote soap foam head. Smells like citrus and yeast. The taste is a bit more balanced, but still overwhelmingly yeasty with a citrus zest. Really astringent, and not particularly drinkable.

Not my fave.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2008 00:18:05 | More by Overlord

yeastsipper

California

3.08/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Was looking forward to trying this after enjoying Le Freak.

Pours a very light color, almost weak looking, with a very small head.

Smell is nice, with Belgian trippel scents dominating - yeast and spices. There is a slight hop aroma.

The taste to me is somewhat odd. The beer constantly vacillates between bitter and sweet, the IPA and the trippel. First I taste the bitterness of the hops, which subsides to a sweeter trippel flavor before leaving a pretty strong bitter aftertaste reminiscent of an IPA.

An interesting experiment, but one that unfortunately did not create a great beer, IMO. Definitely worth checking out to sate the curiosity. At roughly $5, why not, you get a buzz out of the deal. However, this will not be a beer I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 05:55:50 | More by yeastsipper

rinhaak

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

750ml poured into a Westvleteren Goblet.

Pours a light gold color with no head. The lack of head (despite a straight pour) was surprising, especially considering the Belgian influence in this beer. Nevertheless, the color of the beer was appealing, and it looked inviting.

The nose was unexciting. It smelled like a stereotypical Belgian tripel: lots of Belgian yeasts and bread. I got no hops in the nose.

The taste was certainly unique, and resembled a sour Belgian tripel with hops. The Belgian yeasts dominate while the hops provide counterpoint. There are flavors of freshly baked bread and strawberries. No finish to speak of: once it's swallowed, it's gone.

I was generally unimpressed with this beer. Although I like many of Stone's other offerings, this seemed to fall quite short. It was too sour and bitter to be overly drinkable, and while I enjoy a hoppy, bitter beer, these hops seemed to give it more of an "off" taste. If you're looking for a Belgian IPA, stick to La Chouffe or Le Freak.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 17:55:12 | More by rinhaak

Bfarr

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear orange amber with a foamy/frothy off-white head and good retention. Pine-floral aroma with a yeast backdrop. Floral and pine hop bitterness. Extensive saltiness. Balanced sweetness at forst shifts to bitterness. Light bitter linger. Smooth feel with a bite.

I remember enjoying this much more previously. Perhaps it was mishandled since it was best before 4/22/11. Overwhelmingly saltiness makes for a more basic, strong IPA with only minor yeast qualities. I'm going to have to search for a fresh one on this as it didn't compare to Le Freak.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 00:48:49 | More by Bfarr

jsh420

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

enjoy by 05-10-11

pours clear bright goldenorange with a 1/2 finger white head that left some spotted lacing

smells - not strong but fruity funky a little bready

taste is very saison like but has a sour tartness to it - not very spicey and not very ipa not a lot of flavor

mouthfeel is light with good carbonation - very drinkable

overall - very underwhelmed - i might revisit this one later but after this first impression i would not recommend it

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 21:20:44 | More by jsh420

dancinwillie

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A blond pour, with a thick rocky white head. Constant activity in the glass, releasing bubbles upward to freedom. Head drops pretty rapidly, laving scant lacing.

Mostly lemon in the nose, with a citrus undercurrent. A yeast scent down there, bready and heady.

As in the aroma, lemon and citrus, though faint, are detected. Yeast comes in with a bubblegum sweetness, and a light pale malt flavor. Everything is less than impressive however, and somewhat subtle. Not what I've come to expect from Stone. And moreover, nothing to write home about.

Mouthfeel is thin, with a sweet finish.

Drinkability is low for me, I just didn't care for this too much.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2009 03:28:28 | More by dancinwillie