16th Anniversary IPA
Stone Brewing

16th Anniversary IPA16th Anniversary IPA
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 13.91%
Reviews:
393
Ratings:
1,398
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 27, 2022
Added:
Aug 10, 2012
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  55
We've been loving creating Collaboration beers with great creative brewers from all over the world these last several years-unique beers that would never have existed without the free-flowing imagination and idea generation of the collaborative process. However, when it comes to the Stone Anniversary Ales, it's all us. Yet, it is indeed still a collaboration with great creative brewers (if we do say so ourselves). We're talking about our own brewing team, of course. And while some of our beers, anniversary and otherwise, have been designed by a single person, the Stone 16th Anniversary IPA was definitely a team effort.

This year our brewing team was inspired by some exotic-ish additions of the lemony persuasion. Yes, it's a Double IPA (can you really say you're surprised?), but as we strive to do with all our Stone Anniversary Ales of the let's-take-this-IPA-in-a-new-direction variety, we've brewed up a Stone-worthy divergence from tradition. The amount of rye malt we used isn't quite enough to warrant the appellation "Rye IPA," but it still adds hints of spiciness that contrast deliciously with the tropical fruit flavors and aromas of the Amarillo and Calypso hops. Add a few European specialty malts, some lemon verbena, and three more hop varieties to the mix, and you have a highly complex brew melding both bitter and fruity hop notes with rich toasted malt character punctuated by nuances of spicy rye and subtle lemon.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tectactoe:
Photo of tectactoe
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan

4.01/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice amber color with some dark copper hints around the edges, mild clarity and a frothy, creamy off-white head - this is a Stone brew, so you can typically expect excellent lacing, and sure enough, the lacing is magnificent.

The aroma is heavily saturated with pine and resinous oils, somewhat grassy and herbal, along with a thick overcoat of citrus and fruit, but not the typical profile you'd expect to see in an IPA. This one includes some lemon and lemon zest, almost with a "Lemon Pledge" type aroma to it, along with faint tangerine, grapefruit rinds, and sugary sweetness.

The aroma leads into the taste pretty well, you get what you're expecting here. Lots of pines, oils, and grassy notes outline things while the lemon verbena, citrus, and orange peel come alive. The lemon flavors in conjunction with the hop profile yields an interesting, herbal, lemongrass tea flavor. Nice amount of bitterness from the pines while remaining sweet from the fruit.

Alcohol is not a problem here, especially considering the hefty 10% ABV tag. Malt flavor is subdued here, I'd like to say I taste some caramel malts, but it's just not prominent enough to really bother talking about. Medium body, maybe a little on the thicker side, slick and smooth. The rye actually provides a relaxing, somewhat dry finish and really shines in the aftertaste, along with a touch of grassy bitterness. Medium-high carbonation in this one.

Many people seem to be upset with this beer, but I thought it was pretty good. Nice fruity characteristics, which were a little different than most IPAs. It's always good to mix things up. I didn't think the fruitiness was too overdone, either. It was nice and refreshing and it works well with Stone's monster hop line-up. I guess when all is said and done, I'd still reach for a Ruination before this, but it was definitely a decent change of pace.
Sep 16, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.14 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Beerbuddha from Florida

Jan 15, 2018
 
Rated: 2.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
 
Rated: 2 by wpreynolds from New Jersey

Jul 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Yermomsfavorite from California

May 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by Hoppedelic from California

May 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by BeerDrinkingRhino from Pennsylvania

Dec 29, 2015
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Orange pour, strong head, big foam. A ton of lemon hops. Like that is the grand sum total of the aroma.

Taste was nice, again, lot of lemon. Hid the alcohol well. Rye is hidden too. Caramel minimal. Unique anniversary beer, and good too.
Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.86 by Dwinslow15 from Massachusetts

Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by bgold86 from New York

Sep 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by wethorseblanket from California

May 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by BYOFB from Wisconsin

Mar 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Mar 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Feb 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by Devil_Doc from Texas

Dec 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JNForsyth from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by nathanmiller from New York

Dec 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by cuvtcuv from Florida

Dec 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Techichi from Texas

Nov 18, 2014
16th Anniversary IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 1398 ratings