Silphium (4308) reviewed IPA from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Nicely, crisply hoppy but balanced by malt presence. I tried the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA recently, and Stone IPA holds up well. Smooth and refreshing, Stone IPA is a nice example of the style. Although, for the record, I do believe diversity and original interpretation is tough to come by in an IPA.
jgb9348 (11828) reviewed IPA from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9.5
Well, for me a hop-lover living on the east coast, this was one that I really needed to try and isn't always readily available. I bought two bottles, a 12 ounce and the normal 22 ounce large bottle. This rating is from the Large bottle. Pours a orange colour with golden highlights at the bottom. Little head, but it was poured from the first half of the bottle, so an adequate head couldn't be formedd. The aroma is purely hops. If you continually smell this beer ever thirty seconds, your mouth will literally water. The taste is purely hoppy as well. A great mouthful, not too much, not too little. The aftertaste and palate of this beer is great as well...lingering hoppiness and subtle floral elements as well. This is truly an IPA winner and should be sampled by everyone regardless of their beer preference. One of those beers where 'hop heads' go crazy for.
Silphium (4308) reviewed Imperial Russian Stout from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
(new 2003 release) Poured jet black (always a good sign) with a quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma dominated by roasted and chocolate notes. Nice, thick, viscous mouthfeel. Flavor is dominated by roasted chocolate, with a sweet malty backbone. Well-done. I place this a couple notches above Victory Storm King (which has a hoppier essence with a thinner body) but below the ridiculous Bells Expedition. I have to give Stone credit though: their malty, viscous beast is at least carbonated (Note to Bells...)! My experience with Stone suggests that this brewer deserves all the hype it receives. The IPA and Ruination IPA are waiting...for another day, alas. Does this deserve a poem?
Stone Imperial, thick succulent jelly
Warms my throat, mouth and young belly
Reaches my brain and causes a smile
Nice to drink an Imperial, it's been awhile.
Your chocolate notes and malt sweetness entice me it's true
Emptying the bottle, I'm afraid, will leave me quite blue.
Warming, smooth, succulent beast
My wallet thanks you, bank account not upset in the least.
Lucky me, when you're gone, another bottle's in store
A wise decision I must say, and a satisfying score.
There's still half of you left in my glass I do see
Before you're gone I bet I'll go pee!
For Stone Imperial Stout is a delectable brew
My mind has been made, my desire anew
To seek out the stout and drink of its glory
Dark, malty it's true, always good for a story.
My poem draws to a close, my pen runs dry
A warm welcome to you, stout, a tear in my eye.
Oakes (33493) reviewed Levitation Amber Ale from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Light cherrywood colour. Chocolate, caramel and citrus aroma. Bitter, woody, earthy - simple American amber.
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed Vertical Epic Ale 03.03.03 from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5
I am hoping I have the patience to get one of each of the V.E. beers to actually do the vertical tasting. This beers pours a solid amber color with a medium beige head. Aroma is spicey and malty at the same time. For some reason when I tasted it I was reminded of one of those god-awful "12 Greatest Brews of the World" monstrosities brewed by Gluek. Some kind of cardboard taste maybe? This wasn't a bad brew but I could not get the comparison out of my head. Finish is hoppy and toasty. Overall the cardboard flavor and general oilyness kind of ruined what is definitely a brew that will improve over time.
Sloefmans (15389) reviewed Vertical Epic Ale 03.03.03 from Stone Brewing 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Deep amber. yellowish head, fairly stable. Nose gives... vanilla-and-raspberry icecream??? Eeuh...yes. And diacetyl. Taste: diacetyl, damn: too young. Stone? And then I read the text on the bottle. Right, it's all there. It's me who's been the culprit. Had to wait another 11 years, it seems. Aftertaste & mouthfeel is buttery (of course) and soupy. Why - blame it on me. If I ever find another bottle, I'll rerate; points are given with reservation.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
Dark amber with red shine. White-yellow head, relatively stable. Nose gives alcohol, some chalk, dark ripe fruit, some ripe banana too. Gorgeous balance between noble hops and rich malts, alcohol, ripe fruit, dried fruit, Darjeeling tea, Armenian brandy,… WOW! THIS is what I call balance. This beer is an open invitation to start applying for a Green Card. I ought to take some 10-year old Framboise as antidote…
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Winter 2003 Release: This is a top-notch Barley Wine. Pours a ruddy dark orange color with a medium light beige head. Aroma is really nice, with sweet malt and a lot of caramel. Less alcohol in the aroma than in most Barley Wines I recall trying. Rich flavors of malt, caramel and hops that come out of nowhere. Finish is nice and tangy. One of the best Barley Wines out there.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Cloudy amber appearance with a little lacing - aroma of fruity candy and children's chewable vitamins - tastes like a dubbel, APA and wheat beer combined - alcohol burns the throat a bit - not as complex as I was expecting, and a bit out of balance as well - the hop bite in the finish seems incongruous with the rest of the flavor.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
an aggressively hopped barleywine, though not as much as some other California bw's like Bigfoot - tiny lacing - dark ruby with numerous fine floaties - big malt presence - lots of sweetness - alcohol leaves a tingling sensation on the lips - lots of fruit esters like cherry and raisin - not the greatest of barleywines, but hell, there are so many great ones out there even really good ones like this are easy to consider sub-par.