Mixtape Ale - CH & HS's Blend Vol. 2 - Stone Brewing Co.

UCLABrewN84

California

3.79/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Congregation Ale House in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a clear dark crimson-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, dark fruit, spices, yeast, and alcohol. Taste is much the same with a fruity flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop and spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some interesting aromas and flavors coming out of the blend.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 02:46:16 | More by UCLABrewN84

wattershed

California

4.18/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Growler > Snifter.

Look: Coffee black body, copper dark at the top. Much lacing, though head dissipates quickly.

Smell: Not a whole lot here, surprising given what's inside the glass. Most dominant of the four beers blended is the 2011 Old Guardian, and that comes through most in the nose with toffee. Oak, cocoa, coffee, pomegranate, licorice come through for me too.

Taste: Blended beers are always tricky, a bit like having access to the answers in the back of the book but trying to do the math yourself. I know what's in there - 2012 IRS, 2011 Old Guardian, 2011 Double Bastard, and 2012 Smoked Porter - so to say it's a combination of all those is a bit of a cop-out and not why you're here reading this. Like in the scent, the OG comes through the most and leaves the most lasting impression, in the form of that great Stone barleywine yeast that lingers on the back of the tongue and corners of the mouth. The chocolate malt of the IRS and the smoked porter are also big players and obviously provide this beer's color. The Double Bastard contribution seems to be the body of the beer...or perhaps more accurately, the tendons holding it all together.

Feel: Sticky, bitter, a bit astringent. A mix of these beers walks the line between strong ale & barleywine so the bitter finish is welcome. Boozy heat, though just a touch.

Overall: A chocolaty, roasty barleywine, runs a little messy and muddy, not unexpected given it's a blend. Fun to have a mix n match in a glass. I like the ongoing concept from Stone with these; there's a volume 3 as well that I'll need to check out.

Serving type: growler

01-10-2013 06:04:44 | More by wattershed