studentofbeer
09-24-2004, 07:19 PM
there's already a thread (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4398&highlight=stone+anniversary) on this beer with some tasting notes, but i thought I'd post in the main tasting forum, and people could move their notes over or re-hash it for those of us who don't read all the west coast topics.
the beer pours a nice brown/red with a light tan head that isn't very big, but seems just right in my imperial pint glass. Head falls quickly, but leaves a nice ring and very small cap for most of the beer.
smell is nutty, with rich, slightly musty hops and ripe fruit. Nice, though not super aromatic.
Taste is good-- much more restrained than I was expecting. Light body, pleasantly toasty, sweet malt, though nothing standout there, and a healthy hop bitterness that plays off the toasted characteristics in the end. Very lightly carbonation adds to the English-style.
Personally I found this a very enjoyable beer. Easily drinkable despite the high abv, and in the English mold of subtle but tasty flavors--though you definitely get the stone hop kick that goes above and beyond the style. like they say, a mild on steroids--or more likely, an imperial brown. Nothing wrong with that. It may not be as out there as other stone products, but it's gentle and calming--overall a good brew that I would sample again.
the beer pours a nice brown/red with a light tan head that isn't very big, but seems just right in my imperial pint glass. Head falls quickly, but leaves a nice ring and very small cap for most of the beer.
smell is nutty, with rich, slightly musty hops and ripe fruit. Nice, though not super aromatic.
Taste is good-- much more restrained than I was expecting. Light body, pleasantly toasty, sweet malt, though nothing standout there, and a healthy hop bitterness that plays off the toasted characteristics in the end. Very lightly carbonation adds to the English-style.
Personally I found this a very enjoyable beer. Easily drinkable despite the high abv, and in the English mold of subtle but tasty flavors--though you definitely get the stone hop kick that goes above and beyond the style. like they say, a mild on steroids--or more likely, an imperial brown. Nothing wrong with that. It may not be as out there as other stone products, but it's gentle and calming--overall a good brew that I would sample again.