15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA - Stone Brewing Co.

portia99

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into an Otter Creek World Tour tumbler.

A - Pours a pitch black color. Pours with a thickness and viscosity I wasn't really expecting. Two thick fingers of dense cappuccino colored creamy head with intense staying power. Falls slowly leaving behind an even sheet of lacing on the glass.

S - Roasty, burnt, coffee-ish base with some earthy aromas and some grassy and citrusy hops. Somewhat on the light side in intensity...surprised how subtle this is.

T - Where the aroma was lacking in intensity, the flavor certainly is not. Boozy on the inhale. Intensely bitter with hops and more than anything burnt malts, charcoal, coffee, bakers chocolate. At the same time there is a corresponding sweetness, like an infusion of simple syrup in a black coffee. Hops are grassy and citrusy as in the aroma. This has a definite acrid, smokey, burnt character to it.

M - Pretty full bodied, oily and almost syrupy in feel. Carbonation is noticeable but lowish in intensity giving a creaminess that further fills in the body of this beer.

O - Pretty intense bottle to have on a warm, end of summer afternoon. Turning into a bit of a sipper - probably better suited for a cool night, maybe with a dark chocolate based dessert...just skip the coffee and go with this. Way more intense than any other black IPA I've experienced, a rather unique offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 18:15:41 | More by portia99

andysc83

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-16-2013 13:42:06 | More by andysc83

samibr

New York

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-12-2013 23:14:28 | More by samibr

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -23.2%

06-10-2013 02:24:34 | More by jarrgal

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-07-2013 14:30:49 | More by DeutschesBier

beertardis

Rhode Island

4.36/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

found a bottle at a local fish market that also sells beer and wine . been conditioning on the shelf for two years just my luck. smells of toffee , coffee, chocolate , and a hint of annise. the mouth feel was smooth and silky, almost tasted more like a russian imperial stout that a imperial black ipa .

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 00:38:19 | More by beertardis

beernads

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

05-18-2013 06:39:49 | More by beernads

OC_Beer_Fan

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-17-2013 05:22:10 | More by OC_Beer_Fan

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-15-2013 03:05:13 | More by Zbeetleman

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-13-2013 22:24:50 | More by mikeincharleston

csfcmitchell

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-13-2013 15:54:17 | More by csfcmitchell

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-08-2013 17:19:02 | More by Whiskeydeez

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-07-2013 23:01:09 | More by cadaugherty

Tom-Peters

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-06-2013 19:43:12 | More by Tom-Peters

campfirebrew

New York

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-04-2013 14:53:21 | More by campfirebrew

Obsidian

California

2.75/5  rDev -35%

04-03-2013 03:18:40 | More by Obsidian

Smurf2055

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Reviewed Dec 2011

Poured from bottle into a pint glass.

Pours like a stout, with a nice tan head about a finger thick. Good lacing.

It’s got some coffee and licorice, but the pine and hops smell as well. Maybe a bit of caramel. An interesting mix.

Taste really confused me. It’s a light body, very smokey, almost ashy. Greets you with light coffee and finishes with a hop kick near the end. I couldn’t tell it was over 10%. Very powerful. Leaves a nice aftertaste.

Overall, it’s a very interesting beer to say the least. Very complex and very bold. Impressive.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 20:11:28 | More by Smurf2055

irish01980

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-18-2013 23:04:28 | More by irish01980

dailyminefield

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

03-17-2013 05:06:20 | More by dailyminefield

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

03-11-2013 21:14:42 | More by DaPan

Duvel

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-09-2013 19:15:22 | More by Duvel

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

02-24-2013 15:57:35 | More by t0rin0

Danielr26

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

02-21-2013 00:50:44 | More by Danielr26

Azrael

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

02-07-2013 05:37:48 | More by Azrael

tswater

Colorado

5/5  rDev +18.2%

01-31-2013 05:36:55 | More by tswater