Mixtape Ale - Vol. 3 - Stone Brewing Co.

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A mixture of 2011 Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine; Stone 16th Anniversary IPA, Stone Levitation Ale, Dogfish Head/Victory/Stone Saison du BUFF, Stone Cali-Belgique IPA, Stone Pale Ale, with chopped ginger root and orange peel.

I've called it a Stong Ale since I have no idea what else to call it.

Pours a dark orange/light brown with a firm khaki head; nice looking.

Nose is very integrated with fresh ripe pineapple, creamy malts, hints of chocolate, hints of orange/tangerine, hints of toasted white bread and lots of ginger.

Mouthfeel is medium bold, nicely carbonated and "half and half" creamy. Nice mouthfeel; good carbonation with medium small bubbles and inviting.

Flavor profile is off the wall, strange, weird and yet inviting, pleasing and good with food. All kinds of tones from this mixture of about 6 Stone brews with ginger root and orange peel added. Flavors are orange, tangerine, hints of coffee; hints of toffee; hints of stone fruit; biscuit and some light toast tones. I get a good amount of apricot tone.

However, the overwhelming and most assertive flavor is ginger. And, truth be known, it is the ginger that brings everything together and actually is the vehicle that integrates all of the otherwise crazy flavors.

In other words, this beer works! (But you'd better like ginger or you will disagree). Nice with food; great balance and integrated flavors.

Finish is bitter ginger, pine and citrus. I would not make a habit out of this one but it was cool to drink and is a nice change of pace.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 02:44:09 | More by GRG1313

steeb

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer is exactly what i hope for with a blended beer. All the best qualities of the individual beers are highlighted and work together excellently. I was not happy at all with Stone's 16th Anniversary however, in this blend i am a huge fan. Is a blended beer that is better than the sum of its parts that hard to ask for? Apparently it is but bravo to Stone for pulling it off.

Serving type: growler

02-11-2013 05:08:04 | More by steeb