Stone 9th Anniversary Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Doesn’t seem to match up with their description on this site. Instead of a jacked up wheat beer, it tasted like a strong Scotch ale. Moderate hoppiness with an overwhelming, intense malty character. Very alcoholic. Maybe this one was sitting out too long.

Courtesy of WBC. Clear gold with a small, but very dense, white cap. Nose is dominated by resinous, floral hops with some light fruit undertones and a bit of soap as it warms. Taste is like a grainy IPA up front with a tangy wheat finish. Pine, more light fruits, and some subtle spiciness, also. Even at one year old the hops are overpowering anything else that might be there. The second half of the bottle adds some spicy yeast notes to the flavor and dries out the finish. Both are much welcomed. Hops still dominate. Should be an interesting brew a couple years from now. Medium/full body, balanced. A little syrupy at times. Very tasty but not exactly what I was hoping for.

Sept 2005 bottle (obviously because this is their anniversary) tasted same day as this review. Aroma of sweet malt, spices, alcohol, and that aroma that every other stone has (you know what I mean). Medium to dark golden color with off-white creamy head. Flavor is fruity with caramel, spices, piney hops, and a bit of an alcohol finish. Good beer, but honestly not that great for a stone.

I picked this up on a road trip thinking that the place still had it from a year ago and expected little from this. Then I saw this at many other shops in multiple states, so I’m guessing Stone is still sending out stock of this to go to shops. I don’t really know why unless the only reason is to make a quick buck. This isn’t horrible, but it tastes like any other American strong ale that’s been on the shelf too long. Pours fairly clear dark orange however there is a confetti like substance in suspension in the brew. There is a small white head. The aroma is musty / dirty caramel malt - smooth and rich and some light ABV. Thick body with a good amount of carbonation for the age. Taste has lots of dusty caramel that was on the aroma mixed with butterscotch - sweet and rich. The finish gets sweeter and has some alcohol burn with light spicy hops. For the life of me I can not understand the obsession ones have with this brewery. They release some good beers, but the rabid following they have is insane. I would gladly take hop heavy brews from Alesmith, Bear Republic and Founders before Stone.

The nose gives note of Bastard like aromas. Slightly cloudy bright golden and nice fluffy head. In many respects this really tastes a lot like a Maibock/Weissenbock even though the brewing style makes it an ale and it is hoppier than those styles.

This is OK. Looks great in the glass. Flavor is not as fantastic. Lots of hops. I thought I tasted amarillo, and the site’s notes confirm this. Full bodied. Spicy and peppery. Fruity in all sorts of ways. Pear sounds good, particularly with the alcohol. Lots of alcohol, actually, considering the abv. Somewhat similar to a tripel in certain characteristics. A little apple flavor in there as well. really just an OK beer. I like the fact that Stone is willing to try new things, but a high alcohol (or even a medium alcohol) wheat beer just doesn’t do it for me.

hazy yellow. aroma citrusy and piney. flavor is a dry sort of hoppiness with sort wheat tang to it. different but ok

Pale yellow, hazy. Medium white head. Citrus and pine aroma, overall its pleasant but I detect a hint of catpiss. Medium body, bitter and hoppy. Basically like an IPA with wheat in it. And the wheat doesn’t actually contribute that much...overpowered by the hops. Cat-piss gets stronger as it warms. I like most stone products, but I have to rate this one like I see it. Its not a dumper, but its basically a poorly made DIPA.