Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (Cali-België)

22oz bomber (Best by 09 05 09) served in a shaker. This beer poured a glowing amber with a light haze and a lasting one-finger thick head of beige foam. Excellent lacing. The aroma had tangerines, tropical fruit, and pine accented by some spicy and fruity yeast esters. Also some strong toffee and graham cracker. The flavor had crisp citrus and tropical fruit on top of strong graham cracker. Also a bit of pepper and spicy yeast. A nice, even bitterness. Medium-bodied mouthfeel with light carbonation. The yeast definately brings some tripel characteristics into the mix, but the heavy-handed hopping leaves no doubt that this is an IPA. I like it.

golden pour slight fizzy head. fruity hops and some subtle yeast and spice. Very fruity backbone - peach and nectar - hoppy and nice bitter finish. nice and refreshing. very good.

Clear amber pour with a small white head. Aroma relates quite nicely to the commercial description; very reminiscent of Stone IPA, with citrus, nectar, and floral notes, but that addition of the yeast is subtle but evident, with a definite spiciness. Flavor is similar to the aroma, and wonderful- apricot, citrus and floral hop, and a bit of caramel malt. Really nice palate, drinks absurdly well. I really dig this brew.

Pours with a similar foam and bead to base beer. This girl wears the same perfume as her sister, the nose is piney and somewhat sticky. Ah, a touch of soft fruit emerges. It softens the usual clipped malt structure, almost a touch of cream and banana gum perhaps? Am I making that up? The hop and malt, are in deft balance, even for the hop-forward style of the brewery. I think this places well in the pantheon of Stone Brews. But, I should recommend trying this in tandem with original to polarize the differences. Had this slightly Chilled in a large Pinot Noir glass. Should provide nice porch enjoyment. 90

On tap 6/25 @ Stone Brewing & World Bistro: Pours a clear golden color with a medium off-white heat. Has a sweet fruit aroma and sour flavor that finishes dry and bitter.

Medium gold pour with a creamy white head which quickly settles leaving lots of lacing. Smells of pine, peach, some pear. Slight sour favor with predominate bitter hops. Dry floral finish with clove coming through. Crisp feel with a full body..

Bomber into a pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy gold with a small, rocky, cream head that has very good retention and leaves some good lacing. Very nice aroma of honey, grapefruit, herbal hops, caramel, Pina Colada! Taste is heavy on the piney and resiny hops and then quickly turns to a dry, cardboard, Brazil nut, bitter finish but with the Belgian yeast aspect making it very similar to a weizenbock. I think the combination of Belgian yeast with my third favorite IPA of all time sounds like a shoe-in for one of my favorite beers. But this really disappoints. I wish that Stone went all out and made a true, hoppy weizenbock with a big rather than subtle yeast presence. I know there is an unflitered version of this but it likewise has obtained low scores.

Bomber into pint glass. Nice light golden pour with an enticing and dense white head that holds and laces respectably. The aroma is all belgian - belgian yeast, banana, and cloves, like a wit. Only a hint of hops on the aroma. Definitely more hops on the flavor than the aroma. Tastes like an over-hopped (given the traditional guidelines) belgian wit or maybe a german hefe. Dry resinous finish. It takes a while to get used to, since it is two conflicting flavors combined, but it is pretty enjoyable on the whole. Medium to light bodied with medium carbonation. Overall: interesting and pleasant.