4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Big thanks to tever for sending me some of this: Translucent copper orange pour has a nice, dense, frothy, well-lacing cream-colored head that has slight greenish hues. Aroma boasts a big citrusy grapefruity hoppy presence dripping with hop resin and lots of sweet caramel malt with a hint of earthy mustiness. Body starts with a rich sweet, candy-like caramel malty presence with the constant balance of fresh citrusy hops turning more bitter toward an incredible balanced finish that masks the alcohol with almost no warming, or should that be warning... Either way, a very enjoyable beer that reminds me a lot of Oggis Hop Whompus. Cheers to Greg and everyone at Stone for a great 10 years!
4.4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Poured a clear amber color with a moderate off white head. Aroma is quite pleasant, and should be used as a showcase for the beauty of american hops. A bounty of citrus and as the brewers noted pineapple and mango. There is also a slight rubbing alcohol burn that would probably fade with some conditioning. There is a very sweet and malty base with plenty of crystal malts but is no match for the amount of hops used. Wonderfully resiny and piney with carmelized orange syrup and mangos. There is not a huge amount of bitterness, though there is plenty, just tons of aroma and flavor hops. Mouthfeel is full but mixed with the amount of hops this beer has, it is very enjoyable and satifying. Very good job by a company that I was starting to loose faith in.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Hooray! Delicious. Strong as all, get out. Which is what I like. The nose is floral, the taste is smooth and rich. I feel like I’ve been backed into a corner by hops and then sucker punched from all angles. I’m glad this is readily available as I see myself drinking lots of this stuff. Can’t wait to sit at a bar stool and have a go at some pints of this. Especially at a particular happy hour that serves obscenely cheap pints of the goodness.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
22oz bottle poured a clear amber color with a nice long lasting off white head. Aromas of awesome piney hops and large amounts of caramel malts. Taste has a nice bitterness and a good malt balance with a huge alcohol warmth. Overall another great anniversary brew from Stone, definitely want to stock up on this one for the cellar.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: SEP 4, 2006 22 oz. bottle - Pours a clear deep amber color with a good size off white head. The head leaves some nice lacing on the way down. Aroma is sweet, citrus, fruit, and resiny. Very nice. Flavor is heavy. Lots of fruit flavoring to go along with the hops. There is some residual caramel malt sweetness. No unpleasant aftertaste. A somewhat smooth, full bodied beer. An excellent beer.
After 4 of of these, I felt the numbers should be raised a bit. This is a damn good beer. Dreadnaught isn’t the king daddy anymore.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
UPDATED: OCT 4, 2006 In a word, perfection: Dark amber, copper color. Smells great. This is NOT your typical Stone brew. In fact, this is actually a rare breed for a San Diego brew. Maltier & very hoppy, but a more mellow hop flavor. The mouthfeel and taste remind me of a hopped up 90 minute IPA. Somewhat akin to Southern Tier UnEarthly. First sip is sweet and thick, but somehow, the beer quickly mellows and thins on the tounge, and ends with a wallop from what I assume is simcoe hop. I think this is a beer that is going to be loved by the masses. It’s hoppy enough to make us West coast people happy, yet it’s balanced and not overbearing. A true winner.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Gold dark appearance – nose hop, hard citrus, malt, brown sugar and mint- nice hops bitter, sweet, prunes, grapefruit, malt, baking chocolate, alcohol – medium/thick body- bitter/sweet lingering aftertastes – unexpected taste for a imperial ipa thick and heavy like a strong ale
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
This Imperial IPA pours a deep copper color form a 22oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is piney hops, mango and pineapple, somewhat sweet with some herbal and peppery notes. A Full bodied Imperial IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet, with lots of fruit flavors, pineapple and caramel. Hops are piney, grapefruity, herbal and peppery. Ah.. Summit hops. It tastes more like a barley wine at the start and then the hops kick in and it could not be anything but an Imperial IPA. Nicely balanced. Good carbonation. There is a touch of alcohol hotness, but its not that bad. This one will only get better with cellaring. Awesome. Once again a very cool etched bottle. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is bitter.
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