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The Perfect Crime
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 6.8%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.5 | pDev: 14%
- Reviews:
- 188
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 20, 2020
- Added:
- Nov 13, 2012
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 47
Collaboration with Evil Twin Brewing & Stillwater Artisanal
In a masterfully orchestrated collaboration of the minds, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø of Denmark's Evil Twin Brewing, Brian Strumke from Baltimore's Stillwater Artisanal Ales, and Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele crafted a beer that cleverly exploits the definition of a saison.
In a masterfully orchestrated collaboration of the minds, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø of Denmark's Evil Twin Brewing, Brian Strumke from Baltimore's Stillwater Artisanal Ales, and Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele crafted a beer that cleverly exploits the definition of a saison.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Greywulfken:
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York
4.33/5 rDev +23.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +23.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Described on the bottle as a "black smoked saison", this beer looks to combine characteristics of two styles: the saison and the (presumably) American black ale (ABA).
A: center pour into a nonic pint - slightly translucent black body, tan sea foam head three fingers-thick
S: only noticed slight smoke on the nose, dark bitter roasted malt aromas were cut by slightly herbal and floral notes more typical of a pale ale
T: bitterness from the roastiness; crisp hops and bright yeasts - nicely bittered but light aftertaste
M: light and smooth, slight bitter coating on the palate - very drinkable
O: I have to say this beer probably tastes like what you'd expect if you poured a black ale into a saison. For that reason, I thought the beer very good. I thought it looked, smelled, and felt like "the kinda dame worth gettin' in dutch for"
My tasting biases:
I've had several ABAs, being fond of those that have a sweeter taste and fuller feel (like Dark Element and Dark Horse's Special Reserve) as opposed to having those with a more bitter taste and crisper feel (like a Wookey Jack) - but I liked them all, mind you. Moreover, I feel like Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale is probably a perfect middle ground for the style.
Saison wise, I've had more than a few - and really liked tham all - but Foret stands out from the rest as exemplifying what I expect in a saison. Caveat: I have never had the Saison Dupont, which some may regard as the definitive saison.
I see my review leapt way above the average... I believe this beer will improve in rating as it gets more reviews - bearing in mind that it attempts to blend of two styles - a feat I think they pulled off very well.
Jan 05, 2013A: center pour into a nonic pint - slightly translucent black body, tan sea foam head three fingers-thick
S: only noticed slight smoke on the nose, dark bitter roasted malt aromas were cut by slightly herbal and floral notes more typical of a pale ale
T: bitterness from the roastiness; crisp hops and bright yeasts - nicely bittered but light aftertaste
M: light and smooth, slight bitter coating on the palate - very drinkable
O: I have to say this beer probably tastes like what you'd expect if you poured a black ale into a saison. For that reason, I thought the beer very good. I thought it looked, smelled, and felt like "the kinda dame worth gettin' in dutch for"
My tasting biases:
I've had several ABAs, being fond of those that have a sweeter taste and fuller feel (like Dark Element and Dark Horse's Special Reserve) as opposed to having those with a more bitter taste and crisper feel (like a Wookey Jack) - but I liked them all, mind you. Moreover, I feel like Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale is probably a perfect middle ground for the style.
Saison wise, I've had more than a few - and really liked tham all - but Foret stands out from the rest as exemplifying what I expect in a saison. Caveat: I have never had the Saison Dupont, which some may regard as the definitive saison.
I see my review leapt way above the average... I believe this beer will improve in rating as it gets more reviews - bearing in mind that it attempts to blend of two styles - a feat I think they pulled off very well.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by descobar from Florida
3.1/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.1/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
muddy ruby brown with a thin tan head with low retention. on the nose, roasted malts, caramel and toffee. some spices and earthy yeast notes. medium body, rich texture, moderate carbonation, some astringency in the palate. taste is where the age of this beer shows up. mostly roasted malts, muted bitterness. the expected smokeyness is nowhere to be found and the fruity esters are absent. its mostly dry and just not much character left. but... no off aromas or flavors. finish is dry with a lengthy bitterness. still drinkable but kind of faceless.
Nov 17, 2016Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
3.2/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.2/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Bottled October 26, 2012. Consumed July 26, 2016.
Jul 27, 2016Reviewed by Bierliebhaber3 from Massachusetts
3.81/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer is described as a black smoked saison, which I have never heard of and thus found intriguing. As to the first point it is definitely black with a thin effervescent white head. The second point, however, is as false as the first point is true. I taste no smokiness here though I think that is probably for the best since I don’t know how well that would go with the summery taste of a saison. It has a strongly aromatic, banana smell reminiscent of a Belgian beer. The initial flavors are some spices common to saisons such as a strong coriander and grassy notes, however it also has some Belgian flavors mixed in (fruit and yeast flavor). This beer is drier and a little hoppier than the average saison also. Really a pretty solid though heavily Belgian influenced saison I would say. Not as exotic as the name had me believe and I don't like it as much as most Stone beers that I've tried, but I still enjoyed it more than the reviews would have me believe.
Jun 12, 2016Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts
3.97/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smokey, bitter and big roasted malts. Light and delicate for a dark saison. Not bad. Note: This is one of the first beers I started out with the idea to cellar beers way way back in 2012. The smoke must have dies down, because this had just a hint of it that added another level flavor.
Nov 16, 2015Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio
4.23/5 rDev +20.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +20.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
While I certainly know I had this beer fresh when it was first released, I've also had a bottle aging in my cellar since then and got the urge to crack it open tonight. This beer pours a very dark, clear amber color with deep ruby highlights when held up to the light and a nice tan head that is about an inch thick when first poured and that settles to a very nice thick surface coating of foam with excellent lacing. Aromas of roasted, smoked caramel and bready malts, hints of cherry, and some citrus hops. Flavors of roasted, smoked caramel and bready malt sweetness starts out this baby tastewise along with a nice cherry hint that adds just a touch of tartness and also a bit of a chocolate sweetness. Rounded out with a decent hop bitterness. On the one hand this beer is surprisingly hoppy considering the fact that it has been in my cellar aging or 2 1/2 years, but then again being that it is Stone and friends who make this the hop presence is not surprising since we all know Stone loves hugely hopped beers. Has a slightly crisp and prickly, mainly smooth and frothy, medium bodied mouthfeel with minimal carbonation. Very drinkable and quite tasty indeed. Another very solid effort from Stone and friends. I hope they resurrect this one again at some point because I'd sure like to have this one again!
Eric
Aug 14, 2015Eric
Reviewed by TastyFoodAndDrink from Maryland
2.86/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.86/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On sight, "The Perfect Crime" pours a pleasant deep chocolate brown with just a hint of off white head. The nose is one of smokey espresso with a hint of spice and hop. Perhaps time in the bottle has robbed it of some complexity.
On the palate it opens with the same smoked flavor, but then gets a little bit funky. The medium and smooth body carries spice, but not in a discernible way. The roasting almost takes on a piney-herbal note. It ends rather slowly with a pine-chocolate smoke flavor that, while not bad, isn't something that asks for you to come back. Perhaps two years ago this was more entertaining, but now it seems little more common place, calling to mind Back in Black from 21st forcibly.
Jan 29, 2015On the palate it opens with the same smoked flavor, but then gets a little bit funky. The medium and smooth body carries spice, but not in a discernible way. The roasting almost takes on a piney-herbal note. It ends rather slowly with a pine-chocolate smoke flavor that, while not bad, isn't something that asks for you to come back. Perhaps two years ago this was more entertaining, but now it seems little more common place, calling to mind Back in Black from 21st forcibly.
The Perfect Crime from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
650 ratings
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