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

dbossman

Nebraska

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark, dark brown with a slight red tint and no head; decent lacing

S: Tons of pine, citrus, and floral hops with some boozy undertones; this smells incredibly hoppy and those hops seem to take the show over any malt undertones lurking beneath

T: Citrus and pine hop bitterness up front--and lots of it--a slight roasty grainy quality underneath; really, really hoppy and bitter--something a bit musty and strange in the finish--though I kind of like it; also some lingering chocolate and coffee poking through all those damn hops

F: Medium to think body; sticky and oily--just the way I like it

O: One of the hoppiest, stickiest beers that I have ever had; good stuff

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 05:40:42 | More by dbossman

kemoarps

Missouri

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

Beer pours black with a massive pillowy brown head that lingers nicely decorating the glass as I drink.

The nose is primarily hops with a nice roasty backdrop

There are waves of hot chocolate, and spiced coffee topped off , with a hop bitterness, finally tempered on the back end by warm caramel notes.

This is an amazingly smoothe and creamy beer. Definitely taste the alcohol, but it goes down like butter. Good carbonation and easily drikable.

I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this, but really enjoyed it. Grab some if you can.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 00:09:24 | More by kemoarps

jkanavel

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Jet black with a pillowy, poofy, chocolate milk head. Very sticky rings lace the glass.

S: Charged with hops. Piny resinous pacific northwest style hop profile. Undertones of toasted pecans, and strong coffee.

T: Big hop explosion, very aromatic with solid bitterness. Next is a sweet but very earthy maltiness. Mild roasted notes. Not as assertive as a stout, and not as sweet or chocolaty as a porter. Very balanced.

M: Rich and creamy. Decent sparkle of carbonation.

O: This style of beer could easily be enjoyed as a pint, but I assume for cost reasons its served in a snifter, at least where I order it. I like to imagine that one day, some guy at the brewery was drinking a super hoppy IPA and decided he wanted some backbone to match the hop punch. Its not an imperial stout, its not really an IPA because its black. I dunno what it is. Its good stuff though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 07:27:26 | More by jkanavel

dbell23

Tennessee

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

Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass. Black with dark brown 1 finger head that leaves some lacing. Appearance is top notch.

Smells boozy, brandied fruit, with a slight hop. Reminds me of the moonshine that sometimes has added fruit like peaches or blackberries that we have here in Tennessee.

Taste is just this side of over the top. Burnt malt, strong coffee, super dark chocolate with dark fruit. You can really taste the alcohol. Almost sensory over load. Bitter sour aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is smooth but the taste overpowers it.

Overall I have to say that it's good but almost too much.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 22:18:33 | More by dbell23

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pour is motor-oil-black with a massive brown compact and creamy head. Dissipation is meidum-slow and leaves nice lacings.

S: The smell is awsome; lots of American floral and bitter hops; grapefruit and pine, together with moderatly roasted malts, some chocolate- some caramell- makes this very well balanced. The high ABV is not noticable - this smell is near perfection!

T: Bitter hops up front followed by roasted malts, chocolate with notes of coffee-beans - dry. Syrupy sweetness. Some burnt notes. And in the back; dark dried fruits. The alcohol is more present in taste compared to smell.

M: Short aftertaste, bitter and burned. Body is full while carbonation weak. Smooth but high ABV-presance.

O: A very complex and nice ABA. I hate myself for not buying a whole case...

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 19:53:22 | More by Sunnanek

warnerry

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours pitch black with one and a half fingers of creamy brown head. Head has nice retention and leaves spotty lacing.

S - Lots of chocolate malt and citrus hops, with some floral aromas as well. Definitely some alcohol in the nose. Good, but doesn't really grab me.

T - Still a good bitter hop presence after four months. Never had it fresh, so don't know how this compares. Significant chocolate malt and roasted malt presence throughout, a bit ashy. Citrus and grassy hops. Finish is dry and lingering bitterness.

M - Nice, creamy mouthfeel with a very bitter finish.

O - Good black ale, which is a style I have a hard time getting excited about. Nice bitterness, but a little too much ash from the malt component.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 18:19:05 | More by warnerry

imasloth

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought bottle back in September and had it tucked in back of fridge until now (Bottle says to enjoy fresh so this may be an issue).

A- Poured into goblet the beer is midnight black, with a beautifully cafe-coloured head that is about an inch thick. the head dissipates slowly leaving a thin covering over the liquid. Spotty lacing.

S- When pouring the beer I was hit with the smell of bitter hops. From the glass they seem more citrsuy and floral and less overpowering. A bit sweet-smelling.

T- Surprisingly complex given the aroma profile. Hits first sweet and malty then followed by alcohol and bitterness. Some bitter chocolate flavor and the flowery hops in the aftertaste.

M- Smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel. Some bitter feeling while drinking that remains and maybe intensifies after swallowing.

O- Delicious and I recommend it if you happen upon it. I had one of these in September but hardly remember it amongst all of the alcohol and flavors of the evening. This is the first beer of the night and it's great, freshness be damned.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 02:42:13 | More by imasloth

jwc215

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours jet back with a thick, rocky head that stays around quite a bit of time, leaving lacing.

The smell is very robust. Chocolate and coffee backed by aromatic hops. Smells inviting.

The taste is strong delicious. Chocolate and coffee intertwines with plenty of citrusy, resiny hops. Alcohol is certainly noticeable, but adds to the flavor and complexity by giving a palatable spiciness without overwhelming. Too often, this style clashes for me. But, here it works very well. A hoppy, bittersweet, complex, rich brew here!

The feel is silky smooth and full-bodied.

This is a wonderfully hoppy black ale that it very enjoyable! Another winner from Stone! Happy 15th!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 15:59:44 | More by jwc215

cooncat

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another Stone anniversary beer. This one a black IPA, decanted into my SA glasses.

The pour produces a jet black beer, with an taupe head, that is beautifully rocky and substantial. It sticks around for a while, and lots of lacing is left behind. Very nice look.

The nose is lighter than I expected, but very balanced between a heavy dose of caramel malt, and citrusy hops. Perhaps if I let it warm up, the nose would be bigger, but its very balanced, which is what I've come to expect from Stone.

The taste is extremely well balanced. Caramel malts with notes of chocolate and roasted coffee come out, but are subdued by citrus and pine hops, probably magnum for bittering and amarillo or simcoe for flavor and aroma. So wonderful, it almost got the highest score, but I reserve that for perfection, which is rarely found.

Mouthfeel is huge .... almost chewy. This is a big, bold beer, with, which stands up to any food you could throw at it, including the hottest, spiciest wings you can find.

Overall, this is another brilliant beer from Stone. The balance is near perfection, and the mouthfeel is perfect for the style. Hard to find fault anywhere with this brew. Definitely one to search out. I paid $7.99 for a bomber .. well worth the price.

Na Zdravje!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 22:15:30 | More by cooncat

Pencible

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured an opaque black mahogany with thick tan head.
S: It smelled like fresh citrus and some dried mango and floral hops, with a little roasted barley and dark chocolate.
T: It tasted like bitter citrus zest and copper hops, with roasted barley and black coffee, and a little sweet mango and dry dark chocolate. It had a dry bitter aftertaste that was clean but a bit harsh.
M: It was somewhat thick with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This was a very nice black IPA with good look and scent and taste, but the body was only ok. The alcohol was hidden pretty well, but it had a harsh bitterness and burnt character in the finish, so it wasn't entirely easy to drink. I'd love to try this side-by-side with Sublimely Self-Righteous to see which I prefer, but this was solid on its own.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 19:00:54 | More by Pencible

DarthKostrizer

California

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have had this both on draft and in the bottle and I have finally gotten around to reviewing it. Shared with Alucard4 and some friends at our Christmas party

Look: Black with 1/2 inch tan head and great retention

Smell: Roasted malts mixed in with some floral and bitter hops

Taste: The beer starts off just as the nose leaves you off. Upfront is a massive amount of bitter and floral hops and mixed together with the roasted malt and form a kind of candy sweetness. The beer then finishes with some nice coffee and chocolate notes

Mouthfeel: Medium body and ample carbonation

Overall: A very good Black IPA note as good as they sublimely self righteous but damn close

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 21:25:09 | More by DarthKostrizer

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a pitch black color with a thick toffee colored creamy head, and gentle carbonation.

S - Crisp roasted chocolate malt with a citrus zing and some floral notes, a little bit grassy.

T - Boozy, and finishes with a citrus roasted mouthfeel. Roasted malt in the middle, slight warming on the way down, and leaves a bitter roasted chocolate and citrus aftertaste. Compared to other Black IPA's, this one is pretty bold for a black IPA.

M - Medium to full body, a little chewy, velvey smooth, and semi-dry.

When it comes to the Black IPA's, I could take 'em or leave 'em because they leave my palette confused and I don't enjoy the clash of the chocolate and IPA nuances. However, this particular beer is worth checking out. I can't see this beer keeping a long time before the hops fade and turn it into a chocolate IPA. (This review is being written from notes that were taken on 9/14/11 when I sampled it on tap.)

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 04:23:21 | More by jzeilinger

TechTriumph

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes on 12/02/11:
Bottled: Aug 2011; Poured in a pint glass.

A - Half inch thick creamy tan head; Very close to black - just a hint of dark brown along the edges when held to the light; Some lacing around the glass

S - Grapefruit smelling hops; Sweet chocolate with some roasted coffee beans; Dark fruits as well; Loving the smell of this

T - Some bitterness hits up front with some pine and grapefruit hops; Roasted coffee beans follow accompanied by biscuity and slight chocolate qualities; Some alcohol is present in the beginning; A good dose of bitterness stays throughout the taste

M - Lots of carbonation; Higher side of medium bodied; Pretty smooth feel that leaves a slight citrus oily coat on the tongue; A little warmth from the alcohol is also detected

O - This beer has really broadened my horizons in mixing the stout and IPA styles...and it's awesome. At first, the flavors in this beer didn't mesh like I had hoped. However, after having a chance to warm, it really reached a nice balance of hops and malt flavors. Stone really did a nice job on this beer, and I'm pleased I had the chance to enjoy this. I am excited to see what direction other breweries take with this new and growing style.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 02:53:34 | More by TechTriumph

rarbring

Sweden

3.2/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer is very dark, black, a good brown head leaving some lacing and having good curtains.

The smell is very intense, dates, grass, herbs, flowers, a perfume character.

Starting with sweet brown bread, dark dried fruits, then loads of fruity and bitter hops. Tropical fruits, grape-fruit peel.

Light carbonation, soft, sticky and oily, a huge body and a very dry finish.

Actually I found the hops a bit too much and clashing with the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 12:17:48 | More by rarbring

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1 pint 6 oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Marked August 2011.

Appearance - Black body. Medium brown head with good retention and good stick.

Smell - Tons of wet grassy hop. Olives and soy sauce. Pungent.

Taste - Peppery. Acidic. Tons of hop. Almost fishy. Enormous lime peel bitterness in the body, finish, and aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - This facet dominates the profile. Very solvent and acidic. So bitter i can't tell if it's medium bodied, though I suspect it. Head offers some creaminess.

Overall Drinkability - This is one of the most in-your-face beers I've had since Ruination. This beer is no joke.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 19:34:58 | More by ZenAgnostic

wowbagger

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Was very excited to get my hands on a bottle of this, and very kindly shared it with a few others.

Pours black as sin and has a sweet hoppy smell as expected. Beautiful thick head but it doesn't last long. I'd describe the flavor as unrelenting. Harshly hopped and stays on the palate for quite a while with some coffee hints.

Overall, this and IPA's in general really aren't my style. It's certainly worth a try and drinkable but the third of a bottle I had was enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 17:49:09 | More by wowbagger

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

We pour a brew of the deepest ruby sheen, with highlights of dark browns. It holds a one and a half finger head of medium brown bubbles, and shows great retention. As it departs we are left with sheets of thick lacing. Carbonation is medium with the bubbles rising slowly, and no sediment is noted. The aroma boasts bright hops which are earthy and very organic seeming. We also detect cinnamon, dragon fruit, tart red apples, and strawberry preserves. There is also a light hint of raw ginger root. The malts are toasty and dark. With warmth comes booze and strong bubblegum esters. As we sip, the flavoring begins with robust citric hops. Those tropical fruits come in, riding on some more soapy hops. There is a sweetness of fusel booze, along with crisp and roasty malts. Raw coffee bean adds an additional dryness, and brings us to the middle where the malts are richer, charred, and salty. They battle more hops, which are now earthy, as they were in the nose. The fruit also remains, and helps provide a sweeter base for the esters to play against. We end with sugary sweetness, booze, organic hops and earthiness, and metallic malty roast. The aftertaste is bittered from the coffee and citric hop inclusions, with a heavy fusel booze to bind it all together. The body is medium to full and the carbonation is medium, but soft. There is great froth and slurp and creaminess, but the beer stills feels satisfyingly sticky. There is ultimate cooling and a twang of dryness. The abv is getting up there, but the beer has phenomenal drinkability.

Overall, what we found to be the best aspect of this beer was the crazy aroma and feel. The tropical fruit was totally unexpected, with beautiful hops and malts. The fruit and spice were seemingly unconventional for the style, but made for a unique twist and a really wonderful brew. At times the flavoring approached the upper limits of tolerance for booziness, but this beer is really over the top in almost every single way.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 06:09:22 | More by TheBrewo

iBeer16

New York

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in a pint glass.

A: pours extremely dark, can't see through at all. Pours with a 2" dark mocha head. Leaves nice lacing.

S: smell is very intruiging. Very hoppy but also strong sweet malty smell.

T: extmely malty, sweet and toasty malts. In addition as expected fairly hoppy but a great balance between hops and malts!

M: flavor combination of sweet malts and bitter hops make this a great beer to enjoy.

Overall, this beer is incredible. The mix between the bitterness from the hops and the sweetness from the malts makes this a fantastic black ipa. Strongly recommend to anyone looking for a quality black ipa!

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 03:49:58 | More by iBeer16

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a deep brown, with a couple fingers of dark mocha head. This retains with a tight finger, leaving back a big frothy cascade of foam that settles down into a sticky latticework of lacing that clings to the sides of the glass. The aroma smells of fresh grapefruit and pine accents, with both definitely having some vibrant power to them. Notes of roast and sweet chocolate come in off the sides, while that big ABV adds a bit of heady warmth to the nose. Those American hops really control this though.

The taste starts with strong grapefruit bitterness and pine that cut across the tongue, with that initial blast being buffered by a thick mix of chocolate sweetness and a touch of tangier feeling caramel. A wall of burnt roast pulls up the back of this before the hops regains their strength in the finish with bitter fruit, resins, and spicy alcohol sticking to the tongue with a stiff dryness, while even the roast gets in on the act as well with an intense charred feel that leaves an impression. The mouthfeel is full bodied in the mouth and has some sharpness on the tongue that pops those notes of hops and roast. The rest of the feel has more of a smooth creaminess to it that helps fill out the corners of the mouth. That near 11% ABV isn’t ridiculous feeling but like the nose, does give this a certain amount of beefiness and intensifies those already aggressive flavors.

While this certainly had some big ole’ balls on it, it ultimately came as more of a hefty and hoppy American Stout to me, as those roasted malts and chocolate sweetness had about as big of a presence here as the hops did. Even with this not quite being quite up to snuff style-wise for me and much like all of these Stone Anniversary beers, it’s always at least worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 15:34:39 | More by Kegatron

syrupjoe

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into pint glass.

Pours a pitch amber color (deep brown/black with slight amber tints around edges) with a one finger sand colored head.

Nose is woody, roasty, and slightly cocoa-y. Hints of smoked meat and vanilla.

Taste is roasty, savory like burnt meat, and has intense hop and cocoa bitterness.

Moderate carbonation with a clean but intensely bitter finish and bitter hop aftertaste.

Overall a good beer. Alcohol is almost completely concealed and hops are nicely balanced with dark roasted malts. Not super easy drinking but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 05:47:46 | More by syrupjoe

bszern

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours with a 2-3 finger dark tan head. nice lacing. Beer is deep brown, almost black.

Smell is a little boozy, real hoppy, with hints of licorice. I'm not a huge fan of anise, so this part of the beer kind of put me off.

Taste is intense. It is a little woody, and intensely malty. The hops are very obviously there, but the brutal bitterness is hid well by the malt. The large alcohol content is only noticeable on the aftertaste, and is not offensive or overpowering.

Mouthfeel is heavy and a little sticky. Not bad.

Overall, this is a very solid beer. Everything works together very well. I didn't expect anything less from Stone, and hope that this gets re-released.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 02:47:03 | More by bszern

crowsoup

California

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Darkness is not the opposite of light, it's the absence of light. It's night time right now, but I speculate that if one wanted, they could pour this "Black IPA" in a glass, hold it up to the sky, and stare directly at the sun with nary a negative effect on ones vision.

There's a certain maltiness that serves as an upfront mask to the underlying hops here. A complex hit of dark fruit sweetness balanced by bitter, dark chocolate notes to the left and right. The body and flavors mask the alcohol well, but as the beer warms in the glass the booze elbows its way to the nose.

There's a complexity here that I believe might possibly get more and more mysterious as time passes. Sadly I was more thirsty than curious and killed it way too fast. But not fast enough to forget it. Seems to me that I'll be back at the corner store tomorrow picking up another bottle or two to study.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:35:05 | More by crowsoup

ElGordo

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have to say first off that the nomenclature of this beer is unacceptable. The style is a Cascadian Dark Ale, not a black IPA, but that fight is for another day and for other parties to sort out.

Poured from the 22oz bottle into a snifter. Body is a deep dark brown, nearly black, topped by a finger or two of dark tan head. Aroma of roasted dark malt with some lactic sweetness, along with a good dose of citrusy hops that impart notes of grapefruit and grass.

Palate is big,rich, and a bit sweet for the style. Roasted malt with notes of lactose and cocoa. The hops come through on the swallow, with some grassy notes peeking through the huge malt backbone. Finish is full and sweet, with more lactose lingering alongside the dark roasty quality.

Body is big, full, and creamy, understandably heavy given the strength. The creaminess holds the flavor very well. I think, though, that the huge level of malt in this beer is a bit much for the hops to compete with, which leaves this beer closer to imperial stout territory more than any sort of hoppy style.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 06:40:46 | More by ElGordo

sevenarts

New York

4.48/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Just a beautiful beer. Really dark, with a nice big cappuccino head that subsides to thick, resilient lacing.

S: Very strong aromas of floral hops, alcohol, and malty chocolate/coffee, all mingling together.

T/M: The hops hit up front and are quickly joined by slightly burnt, toasted malt flavors, some mild fruitiness, and hints of warming alcohol in the aftertaste. Thick, creamy mouthfeel.

O: A strong, tasty, intense black IPA that hits hard but doesn't sacrifice complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 00:19:10 | More by sevenarts

Crundy

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: pours black with dark brown caramelly colors around the edges, mocha colored head

S: Chocolate, dark roasted malt, distinct hop aroma and an earthiness

T: Strong dark roasted malt, quite sweet and bitter at the same time, dark fruit

M: dry yet smooth, very think and sticky, medium bodied

O: very complicated beer, lots of flavors and the alcohol is masked well. I like this beer, its a great special occasion beer but I would not drink this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 03:17:06 | More by Crundy