Stone 10th Anniversary IPA

22 oz bomber from Rayboy. Perhaps this bottle lost some of hop character that I expected from this brew. This came across as a malt forward IPA with only trace amounts of that West Coast bitterness found in most IPA’s from the region. The ABV is very well hidden. Very drinkable but not huge.

Big, Big, Big beer. Aroma is deep caramel, piney hop goodness, and strength in alcohol. Frothy tan head with a clear, rich orange/amber color. Truly unlike othere Double IPA’s. Huge flavors with the hop complexities and strong malt profile. Finish is a little thick on the tongue, but I never argue when 10% is involved. I can stand a little burn for the amount of great ingredients in this brew. Always nice to have a brewer push the limits.

Bottle: Pours a transparent copper color with an animated white head and nice lacing. Aroma is an assertive hops with mostly citrus notes and some alcohol. Taste is full of hops, citrus, pine... a sweet malt backer also runs through each sip. Very deep in character and certainly a brew to savor.

Rich, brilliant auburn. Nose very hoppy and tart, sharp and hugely citric. Flavor is wonderful, extremely hoppy, massive citric and herbal hops notes. Great finish, tongue aggressively burns. Mouthfeel is largely incomparable, extremely rich and full, like drinking a hop-coated pillow. Simply one of the best mouthfeels I’ve ever experienced with a beer.

22 oz bottle purchased and poured here behind the Redwood Curtain. I have a lot of respect for our local craft brewers but Stone is the standard they need to strive to equal. Some come close but there is still a little room to grow. For an IPA fan this is siimply incredible. Deep copper color with a big tan head that lasted 10 minutes and left great lacing in the glass. Very complex hoppy nose. I loved the bitterness, but it might be a little over the top even for IPA fans. Had I not know what I was drinking I might not have been quite as impressed, but I knew this was an IPA, and from Stone as well. I expected it to kick butt, and so it did. Great finish. I have got to make it back to my local COOP for more before it is all gone. Thanks Stone, you have done it again.

This golden/copper ale poured with a foamy off-white head, eliciting a strong citrus and hop aroma. The complex flavor includes characteristics of pine, grapefruit and roasted malt. These flavors are very pleasant but are, unfortunately, overwhelmed by hop bitterness and alcohol. Hopheads will probably enjoy this beer, but it was just too bitter for my taste.

The alcohol is not well hidden but I don’t mind, it has a grapefruit-laden intense bitterness along with a medium finish which is dry enough to please. The simcoe really comes out with this one.

poured an orange-copper hue with a fast fading head. A piney aroma with a small honey/citrus note. Flavor was a bold mix of hops, very piney hops, a nice scotch notes and some orange notes. A crisp full finish.