Pow! Now this is hoppy. Great sickly sweet hop aroma, big bitter hoppy character, and I mean big. Ive never had anything with this much hop in it. Almost too much hops % I don't really like barleywines but this wasn't bad. % Aroma: Slightly sweet strong almost scotch-like aroma. % Appearance: Light-medium offwhite head, moderate lacing, dark brown/red body. % Flavor Profile: Strong and thick, big yet smooth. Classic barleywine flavor with nice smooth vanilla and oak aging supporting it. Not too bad. % Overall: Still not crazy about barleywines, but this one is pretty good. % Appearance: Hazy rich amber color with a thick offwhite head and light lacing. % Aroma: Hoppy and mildly sweet, like a slight touch of apple. % Flavor profile: While it certainly is delightfully bitter, compared to the standard Stone IPA it seems less hoppy. That might be because its not quite as dry although it does have that crisp finish the IPA has. Its a little sweet with some hoppy but mellowed (for Stone) hops. A little smoother and fuller than the standard IP, also a little sweet with some of the malts they put in. % Mouthfeel: Easy on the mouth, but not watery. Somewhat smoother than the normal Stone IPA as well as stronger. % Overall: A pretty good IPA, but given the talk-up the bottle label I was expecting mroe. I like the regular Stone IPA better, but the Alesmith IPA best of all. % Had it shortly after release and just realized I hadn't rated it yet. % It has a nice smooth thick texture but the flavor is kind of mellow and uncertain. Perhaps this one would be better aged for a year or so. % Not bad, but not what I expect from Alesmith. % Appearance: Pours a nice deep gold/amber that has a nice fluffy thick white head that dissapates easily and leaves a heavy lace. % Aroma: Balanced citrus with a hint of pine and very smooth hop note. % Flavor profile: A smooth, very hoppy but balanced flavor with a little cinnamon and honey make up the initial flavor profile with a nice malty sweet aftertaste that also hints of vanilla. Big mouthfeel and flavor that is very balanced. % Palate: Thick and smooth, goes down very nicely, very quenching and very rich. % Overall: A supremely balanced, hoppy, smooth IPA. This might be my new favorite as it excels on every level, I've passed this alesmith up in preference for other alesmith or other IPAs that I love, but now no longer. % Go plaza liquors! % Thanks to "The B Line" I have gotten this on tap close to a dozen times. It is truely the king of beers. % A nice surprise here. % Appearance: Light bronze, small but boisterous offwhite head. % Aroma: A nice hoppy smell with a touch of apricot. % Flavor palate: A nice clean crisp IPA the way I like it, but with something extra. A nice flat mildly bittersweet apricot guest appearance. Not really sweet, balanced just right. % Palate: Crisp and dry, smooth and inviting. A new favorite I will be seeing more of. % Got this one courtesy of the best liquor store in Tucson, nay, the world, Plaza Liquors. % Appearance: Slightly reddish hazy yellow, almost copper in color. % Aroma: Subdued hop and a little sweet. % Flavor profile: Moderate hop, very sweet, very thick and syrupy. Somewhat potent taste and a bit of alcohol burn. % Palate: Thick and rich, syrupy, not too sure what I think about this. % Overall: I was expecting a shock and awe bombardment of hops overwhelming my senses and sending me to a hop nirvana only matched by its bitterness. Instead I got something that was probably quite hoppy and bitter but an overpowering sweetness permeated the entire taste. Perhaps this one needs a good amount of time to age but an Imperial IPA it is not. % Had this on tap at my new favorite and unlikely beer place in Tucson, The B Line. % Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden hazy color with a mild offwhite head and minimal lacing. % Aroma: Spicey, tiny floral note, sugary. % Flavor profile: Sweet, coriander, spiced, belgian yeast, some banana and maybe a touch of something more tart like a peach or pineapple. Had this in a bottle and I wasn't impressed. On tap is a different story and it becomes a truely wonderful beer. % Palate: Thick rich and wet, but not overly so, goes down very smooth. % Aroma: Light, malty and sweet. % Appearance: A hefty dark golden color, reminds me of light honey. % Flavor: Mmm a bock. A little heftier than a doppelbock but still sweet. Malty, balanced, with a touch of apple? % Palate: Good weight, good alcohol level, smooth and light but sitll quenching. A little oily in a good way, goes down nice. % Light and sweet, bready which I like, decent body, some sweet malts with a little fruity body to it. Clean and dry finish, refreshing, quenching, makes you drink it quickly. % Eh. I've had better, but I've definately had worse. Very light and easy to drink, not bad on a hot summer day (it was 105f out while I was grilling some steak and drinking one of these). Slightly sweet, A touch of honey and sweet malts, almost no hops, a tiny european earthiness. If I disliked anything darker than an amber this would be a solid beer. % Appearance: A touch past golden. White head, moderate lacing. % Aroma: Big banana/yeasty/lime leaf aroma, its taste is more subtle. % Flavor profile: Creamy malts, smooth almost undetectable hops, a nice kick of beligan yeast, and a banana/lime leaf undertones that come out in the aftertaste. Light and crisp overall, definately worth of the word epic. % Palate: Light and crisp as aforementioned, very refresing, heavier than most beers but relatively light for Stone. % This beer was night perfection. I will miss it greatly. % Picked up aged nearly 3 years. % Appearance: Dark hazy amber with a light offwhite head that fades quick. % Aroma: Bready heavy thick aroma with a slighty sweet note to it. % Flavor: Rich thick bready main profile, with some fruity notes coming out strong. Very hoppy and rich malts, like a light barleywine. The aging has made this exceptionally smooth. % Palate: Thick and wet, big alcohol bite that smooths out. % Overall: Not exactly my style, but not bad. I probably wouldn't have liked this fresh from the brewery. % Appearance: Nearly opaque dark ruby red, you can just barely see through it if you hold it up in front of a light. A moderate offwhite head, mild lacing. % Aroma: A light candied plum, a dash of spices, belgian yeast, light roasted malts. % Flavor Profile: Rich but not too thick, structured flavor profile of fruitiness, which is candied plums, bananas and I think dark cherries. A little sweet, but also supported by some matching roasted malts, a little bit of hops and some complimentary sugary chewy belgian yeast. A touch of cocoa and earthiness aftertaste. VERY nice brew. % Palate: Thich like all of stones fine brews, weighty, but refrains from going overboard. I'd put its weight on part with the arrogant bastard. % I imagine when this baby ages it will be one of the greatest blended beers ever concocted by the hand of a man. % This is a stout? Very forgettable, hardly stoutish at all with a very small flavor profile. % Apperance: dark amber, no head, minimal lacing % Aroma: slightly spicey yeasty sweet % Flavor profile: Very malty sweet, light with low hops, a touch of yeastish spiceyness. Very smooth and tasty. I like it. % Overall: Must try % October 2002 edition % Apperance: A nice dark reddish brown hue, with very little head that faded quickly. % Aroma: It is an english style so its somewhat mild, but its got a little spiceness that reminds me of coriander but not quite. % Flavor: Rather mild and unassuming at first, as it warms a little bit the malt and sweet toffee comes out, and I'm pretty sure theres a touch of coriander in it, which is unusal for a strong ale style, but welcome. Slightly wet/oily and refreshing finish. Its high ABV was well hidden but the effects could be felt by a little warming at the end. % Overall: At first I didn't think much, now I think this is pretty decent stuff. One of the finer ESA's I've had. % Appearance: black as night, light lacing, moderate dark tan head % Aroma: Coffee and chocolate, surprisingly strong for a plain looking stout % Flavor/Palate: Big malt, big coffee, big chocolate, with a tiny cherry vanilla hinting in the aftertaste. Very creamy slightly oily texture. % Overall: A very very fine stout in an unassuming looking bottle sold in 6packs for low prices. Consider me impressed. Highly reccomended % Apperance: almost copper brown color, a little apparant carbonation with moderate head and moderate lacing. % Aroma: Sweet, slight carmel and banana, coriander and sugar cane, some other spices. % Flavor: Rich but balanced, a slightly fruity sweetness. % A nice sweet golden belgian with lots of delicious belgian yeast, balanced with the perfect combination of hops and malts. Sweetness comes from banana esters, and then some coriander and belgian candi sugar, with some carmel/brown sugar mixed in. % Palate: Full, creamy, smooth, very satisfying. % Overall: I think I found my new favorite beer, VERY good. % Wow nobody has rated this yet. It is a local beer though. Had it at Old Chicago in Tucson on tap. % Apperance: burnt orange/coppery apperance, light head and light tan lacing. A fair amount of carbonation. % Aroma: A pale ale / light bitter with some spices mainly ginger. Interesting. % Palate: Light and sweet, playful and somewhat smooth. % Flavor profile: A simple pale ale with some hops, meaty malts and a bunch of spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon come to mind and then the ginger. Lots of ginger, a little bit of whipped cream? An interesting concotion for sure. % Overall: Not a favorite, but definately different. It doesn't get more winter holidays seasonal than this, pretty good. % Apperance: Dark brown nearly no head, just like every other sammy smith. % Aroma: Very light, nutty and malty. Much like every other sammy smith. % Flavor profile: Light, subtle, slightly nutty and malty, much like every other sammy smith, not much like a porter IMO. % Overall: Not bad, but it tastes not the same but very similar to the sammy nut brown and their stout. A brewer thats just not for me maybe. % Appearance: orange/amber, almost totally white finger head and moderate lacing. % Aroma: spicey, belgiany, a little on the lighter side. % Palate: Light, crisp as advertised, very refreshing. % Flavor profile: Kind of like a belgian mixed with an english bitter, in a good way. Not quite as dry as a english bitter and a slightly bigger profile. Overall still a lighisht ale, slightly hoppy, mainly spices with something else. % Overall: Pretty good, I imagine in the heat of summer this thing is the ultimate refreshment. % Appearance: Pours a nice gold with light head and moderate lacing. % Aroma: Definately belgian, with a little spice and a fruity touch here or there. % Palate: Full yet light, moderate dryness, smooth feel but not too thick. Very nice. % Flavor profile: Similar to the Stone Vertical Epic 04, some hops, lots of belgian yeast, some peach and bananas, nicely spiced, touch of honey and sweet malts. % Overall: Pretty good, I will probably get this more regularly as it is quenching, not too expensive, tasty and just the right amount of alcohol. % Whats to say? Its a pretty decent Oktoberfest. Comes in the bigger 500ml bombers, and is pretty amiable all around. % First off, not normally a fan of ESB's, but I've loved everything Alesmith has made so I had to give this a try. % Bomber bottle. % Appearance: A dark copper/brown color, light fast dissapearing head with moderate lacing. % Aroma: A little pine, a little apple, touch of malt, very subtle. % Flavor profile: I was expecting really bitter, but this is surprisingly not so. A nice light hop/malt backbone, with some carmel and apple flavors poking through. Its got a sweet kind of flavor without really being sweet. Light but not watery mouthfeel, really smooth and quenching character to it. % Overall: This is pretty good, I'm sure if you love ESB's you'd really dig this. % Appearance: Dark brown, almost opaque with a ruby red showing through. Poured with no head and some minor lacing. % Aroma: Very light, some milk chocolate nose. % Flavor profile: Light and simple for a porter, lots of milk chocolate here, some cappicino, a little roasted malt, very clean and refreshing. % Mouthfeel: Light mouthfeel for a porter, somewhat thin but it accompanies the flavor well making it refreshing and extremely drinkable. % This is the kind of porter I like, but its flavor profile is a little on the weak side. If the recipe was kept the same, but doubled, I would praise it as the best porter ever. Not bad as it is though. % Appearance: A nice brown / slight ruby appearance, Stone seems to favor this, looks good in my book. % Aroma: A nice toasty malt flavor, pretty mild for stone though. % Mouthfeel: A delicious dash of some very tasty roasty malt with a pinch of hop aged with oak chips for about 6 months, very nice. A very light, refreshing and smooth mouthfeel mixed with a moderate alcohol level makes this one an excellent mild. % Overall: Compared to the arrogant bastard / double bastard this is hardly a strong ale by stones standards. Very subtle, very mild, some of the tastiest malts I've ever had. % Appearance: A nice copper/dark amber color with no head just some minor bubbling. % Aroma: A very nice sweet aroma with some slightly blended fruity scentes going on, exquisit. % Flavor profile: Sweet sweet belgian. The nice chewy belgian yeast mixed with delicious belgian candi sugar with some wicked spices make up the main flavor combining with a minor amount of well blended sweet banana esters, coriander, and a touch of something else. % Mouthfeel: Very creamy, very smooth, not too thick, just right. Goes down really nice, barely a hint of the alcohol, leaves a very pleasant aftertaste that makes you want more, dry but not too dry. % Overall: my new favorite beer, possibly because I have a sweet tooth., but still an awesome awesome beer. % Aroma: dark and chocolatey % Appearance: pitch black with a little head thats very dark. % flavor profile: dark chocolate/nutty with a little bittersweet chocolate. Very creamy mouthfeel with a smooth texture. % Overall: For one claiming to be a chocolate stout I didn't find much chocolate in it. Still, not a bad stout % Appearance: Dark brown with moderate offwhite head that lingered. % Aroma: Sweet like honey, touch of cocoa, and dark fruit. % Flavor profile: Complex at first, sweet dark fruit mixing with the darker cocoa's sweetness. Big mouthfeel. Very interesting but I don't like the mix. % Appearcance: Dark as sin and twice as thick. Very little melted milk chocolate head that tantalizes you of the richness to come. % Aroma: Coffee aroma even a coffee hater would love, followed by some premium dry dark chocolate. A hint of carmel? % Palate/Mouthfeel: Similar to the appearance, thick, full, velvety, almost like a melted milkshake. Its pure bliss. % Flavor: Starts with a kick of VERY fine coffee quickly followed by a smooth wave of delicious dark chocolate. Undertones of a slice of hop, a touch of carmel, and some delicious roasted malt. Something else, a touch of brown sugar? Maybe nutmeg? Delicious. % This is the king of beers, perhaps a little too rich to drink every day, but this an experience in and of itself. % The flavor so perfect, smooth and inviting mixes beatufully with the rich and velvety mouthfeel to create a truely masterful beer. I've tried all the greats folks, and this one has no equal. % Can't wait to try the barrell aged! % A solid if simple stout. Very balanced flavors of dark chocolate, coffee and malt. Somewhat sweet and a dab of hop or two along with the super smooth balance makes for an easy stout even people who arent fans of stouts will enjoy. % Pours with pretty much no head, my second glass of it I poured badly on purpose to see how much head I'd get, by the time I rasied the glass to my mouth there was none. % Awesome bottle design. % One year update % Appearance: Dark, not much carbonation, creamy but dark head. % Aroma: Very light, slightly smooth sweet oat aroma, touch of coffee. % Flavor profile: Medium body, dry but quenching, smooth oat, coffee and chocolate aftertaste. % Mouthfeel: Bitter yet smooth, sweet oat. A simple yet delicious beer. % (Draft only) One of my favorite beers, it gets better and better every time. English strong ale style, fresh malt with some nice brown sugar sweetness in it. Somewhat simple flavor profile, but when its this good thats not a bad thing, very balanced. . Dark brown/orange color, light head, slightly dry finish, makes you wanting more.. % It is now known as the Nimbus No Evil, I don't know why they changed the name but its just as good. % Appearance: Rich golden/orange color almost completely opaque. Moderate head with heavy lacing. % Aroma: Hoppy, creamy, sweet. Touch of pine. % Flavor Profile: Big crisp hop profile, yet finishes smooth and creamy. A little toffee and apple sweetness with a hint of apple. Did I mention big hops? % Palate: While it packs a big angry hop punch, it still maintains a nice rich creamy smoothness to the somewhat wet finish. Leaves a little sticky mouthfeel but it matches with the beer very well. Very drinkable. % Overall: An excellent double IPA. Big hop, big alcohol, big taste that goes down easy. % Primary chocolate flavor with some dry roasted malty mouthfeel, creamy head and body, very smooth and a bit of hoppy finish. % A very different kind of stout, pretty good but not a favorite. % High tannish head that fades fast. Aroma is rich dark chocolate and deep coffee. % Flavor profile is huge for a porter, very complex. Dark roasted malts with heavy coffee and dark chocolate overtones with a slight nutty feel, combined with a decent aftertaste kick of hops and light cherry and date accents. Very drinkable and refreshing. My #2 favorite porter. % Arrogant bastard, not for the weak. Huge hop with competing huge rich malt flavor with some grapefruit peaking through and a slight alcohol taste coming in. Maybe a little pine-y type hint underneath. % Thicker than most bears, it is a concoction that puts most beers to shame and seperates the worthy beer drinkers from the yuppies with their fizzy yellow beer. % Beautiful dark appearance with a ruby red shine through it and a kick ass bottle top it off as one of the best accessible beers around. It is the measuring stick by which I judge all other beers by. % Very rich and creamy belgian, the belgian yeast balances with the hops with a slightly moist yellow cakey sweetness and a touch of spice. Complex to say the least. Consistency is thick for beer and best described as slightly syrupy. % IPA perfection. % Light and hoppy aroma belies what comes with your first sip. % First impression makes you do a double take, glorious hoppiness. Very fresh tasting hops with hints of fruity sweetness. Thick refreshing finish focusing on the malty/floraly finish as the bitterness fades. Makes you want even more. % Golden-orange appearance, finger amount of head that fades quickly. Widely available in 6 packs, this one is hard to beat! % Pretty much the darkest of the dark stouts. Very deep and complex but heavily dark/burnt flavored, which isn't a bad thing. Dark chocolate, coffee dominate with some roasted malts hinting from behind. Rich/chewy texture with a light cocoa finish. % 2004 bomber: Wow! That was my first impression. Having been a long fan of Stone Beer I had high expections but not really sure what to expect. % Aroma is a fruitierwith a hint of spiced candied fruit. % Flavor is sweeter than the arrogant bastard, more blended and balanced, an almost spiced kick behind the most delicious malt flavor ever. % High in alcohol, but not quite as prominante in taste compared to the ABA. % Once you adjust to how powerful this ale is, its pure beer indulgence. % Second bottle a few days later further improved my opinion of this beer. % Top it all off with one of the coolest bottle designs I have ever seen. % Apperance: Dark brown that is mostly opaque, and shows off a heavy haze when held up to the light. Moderate thick light tan extra fizzy head on pour that fades quickly. Also moderate lacing. % Aroma: Big belgiany phenol that smells has a little bit of a thick banana smell. Slight citric tart bite that hints of cherry and lime. % Flavor profile: Definately a quadrupel, big yeasty character, tart, and a touch of cocoa. Gets a bit smoother as it warms and the cocoa comes out a bit more and the banana phenol that was in the nose comes out. % Palate: Moderate weight, a little fizzy and rather wet, sticks around on your tongue for a while in a good way. % I'm normally not a fan of these thicker complex belgians but this one grew on me. I'll have to pick up another one and see what its like a second time around. % Pretty weak for an IPA compared to any of the 'big' IPAs like Stone, Alesmith, Great Divide, Dogfish, etc. But still, not a bad IPA, not too expensive. I could see 'beer newbs' breaking their teeth on this before stepping up to better beers. % Appearance: Pours a rusty orange color that is nearly completely opaque. Light tan minimal head that fades quick, but leaves some residual lacing that sticks around. % Aroma: Sweet malty nose, slightly pungent and rich like candied plums but not too fruity. % Flavor profile: Big sweet syrupy malt, but not overpowering. A slight understated hop smell and a bread-dough mouthfeel and texture. Big flavor, big presence, and at 8.9% its got a big alcohol kick to it. % Palate: Wet and quenching, thick but not too much, warming and overall not too bad. I think this would be a killer ale if it was oak barrel aged. % Appearance: Opaque hazy gold, thick fluffy head that leaves heavy lacing. % Aroma: Belgian Candy Sugar sweet with banana and belgian yeasty aroma. % Flavor profile: Super smooth golden belgian. Thick belgian yeast character with the candy sugar and banana flavors. Reminds me a lot of the Stone VE 2004 and the Pranqster but not as spiced. I like this one a lot! % Palate: Rich and wet, heavy but not syrupy, very satisfying. % One of my all time favorites. % Appearance: Pours a nicely carbonated dark amber with a moderate offwhite head and moderate lacing. % Aroma: Crisp slightly citrusy hoppy aroma, reminds me of Stone IPA in a good way. % Flavor profile: Big initial crisp dry hop punch with a little citrus, carmel and a hint of hearty malts to give it a nice character, finishes hoppy, bitter and clean. No alcohol burn but its 6.8% so it warms you up a bit. % Flavor profile: Smooth, light but weighty, quenching and refreshing. % Overall: This is like the brother from another mother to the Stone IPA. I think I actually like this more... I'll update this in a few weeks after I've had some more testing.