Stone 20th Anniversary Encore Series: 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA
In the 15 years since we entered the craft brewing world, change has come not in a straight line, but as an exponential curve. The craft brewing movement has long been called a "revolution." But today the air is so thick with revolution, it’s palpable. No longer is it only an awareness among the faithful; the unconverted are beginning to feel it as well. Denial and ignorance are disappearing in favor of opened eyes, curiosity and the sense that there’s something larger out there. For far too long we have been lied to. For far too long we have been oppressed by the notion that dumbed-down-lowest-common-denominator-mediocrity was all that we could, and should, expect. You might think we’re talking only about the world of brewing, but we’re not. There is a myriad of products out there masquerading as cheeses, coffee, chocolates, breads...hell, there is stuff pretending to be ’food’ that our great grandmothers would not recognize as such. Yet the craft brewing movement, together with the artisanal food movement, is making much progress. Where the industrial companies can’t dismiss or bury us, they are attempting to copy us with cheap facsimiles. Yes, chances are if you are holding this bottle, you understand these things to be true about the world of brewing. You also likely understand the importance of our fight at Stone against accepted ’norms’ over the last 15 years. We believed that America was ready to embrace things made with artistry and passion. You have spoken. Your response has been clear. We are not merely consumers to be spoon-fed whatever commodities need to be unloaded for a profit. We have only just begun to move the needle of this revolution, & mediocrity still reigns. Consider that when you reject dumbed down, industrialized food and drink, you also support craft brewing. The line is nearly seamless; we are fighting the same battle. We will not win in our lifetime, as the powers are too entrenched, and the masses too…fooled. And shackled. However, this is a revolution of ideas and of taste, and we will win. How do you want to be viewed by your children, and your children’s children? As a hero, or as the oppressed? (Those that don’t think they have been oppressed are already lost.) Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide. We hope you’ll stand with us. Strong and unyielding. You are needed. This bottle and its glorious contents are a celebration of you, brothers and sisters, and your importance in this fight. Cheers to all we’ve accomplished together in the past fifteen years, and cheers to the adventure ahead!
Re-released as part of the 20th anniversary encore series in 2016
Re-released as part of the 20th anniversary encore series in 2016
3.9
744 reviews
Escondido, United States
Community reviews
Bottled. Pours black, tan head. Aroma is pine, orange, grapefruit, roasted malt, dark chocolate, nice balance, slightly hop forward for a black ipa. Still retains that ipa character which is awesome. Flavor is very roasted, lots of bitter coffee, pine, very long bitter chocolate finish, grapefruit rind, citrus is nice. Great mouthfeel. Silky smooth. All around a great black ipa. Actually one of the best I’ve had.
Bottle. How can I compete with the brewery description? Pitch black, rife with licorice and prunes, this is a big, chewy BIPA. Don’t bring it weak. Lives up to the original, all the way. #6392, 11/1/2016)
Earlier Rating: 11/17/2011 Total Score: 4.3
Draft at Taphouse. How can I compete with the brewery description? Pitch black, rife with licorice and prunes, this is a big, chewy BIPA. Don’t bring it weak. (#4355, 11/17/2011)
Poured from a bottle. Black. Beige head that leaves a lot of lacing. Aroma of roasted malts and hops. Taste of coffee and pine.
(Bottle) Think black body and big brown head, nice lacing. Dark roasted malt aroma, dark chocolate, earthy, fruit, pine and grass, hint of coffee. Full bodied, creamy/oily body. Flavor is sweet and nutty; chocolate; long bitter finish with acidity.
2016 re-release, opaque black beer, big, almond colored head, heavy lace. Aroma is grilled grapefruit, cookies, malt and caramel. Taste is cookies, grapefruit, marmalade, coffee, touch of spruce. Palate is rich, but not syrupy. Carbonation moderate. Alcohol hides under that malt and hops, but you feel that warmth early down low. This is nice.
I was glad to get a chance to try this at Stone’s taproom in Richmond, and I was curious to see if I’d find it to be different from Sublimely Self Righteous, the regular release version of this recipe. Maybe some of it was in my head, but I thought this beer was quite different from SSR. I liked it enough to bring home a crowler, and that’s what I’m enjoying right now. This beer still pours brown with a thick, tan head and average carbonation. The aroma is still hop-forward, of course. Pine and grassy notes, but I didn’t really think I picked up on the rye-like notes that I notice in SSR. The taste is where I really detected a difference. There is a rush of chocolate and coffee on the finish that I just do not get out of SSR, and it’s delicious. Really wonderful. Hops in the nose, hops on the front of the tongue, and then sweet, rich smoothness at the end. As much as I love Sublimely, I do like this more. I’d buy this often if I could.
I had trouble finding this one to rate it. Drank it a couple weeks ago so details will be troublesome to recall but I noted 5 stars to help me. I found it very flavorful and full bodies with a great aroma which pulled me straight in. I remember thinking wow, I sure didn’t expect this!
Pours a near black color with a tan head. Dank hop, roasted malt, caramel, coffee, chocolate, toast and biscuit aroma and flavors. Medium full body and moderate carbonation. Chocolate, roasted malt, caramel and dank hop finish.
Poured from the bottle of a bomber 4-pack pours oily jet black with rust collar. This one was strong coffee bean, hops, a bit of sweet from the chocolate, really strong, different flavors all over the place, but your taste buds can dry their tears with the high alcohol.
Black with a tall beige cap. Powerful grapefruit, roasted malt, resin, cocoa notes throughout. Finish is slightly chalky and highly bitter from both the hops and burnt malt. Not a fan but purely because I don’t like the style.
Pours a deep, dark coffee brown with a thick, mid-sized head. Roasted malt is particularly strong in the aroma, along with some coffee, chocolate. Flavor is a mixture of anise, chocolate, coffee, some citrus, some banana. The alcohol is noticeable. Finishes quite sweet. Like an imperial stout crossed with an IPA, with the stout side in the forefront. This one is really good.
Earlier Rating: 12/20/2011 Total Score: 4
Pours a deep, dark coffee brown with a thick, mid-sized head. Roasted malt is particularly strong in the aroma, along with some coffee, chocolate. Flavor is a mixture of anise, chocolate, coffee, some citrus, some banana. The alcohol is noticeable. Finishes quite sweet. Like an imperial stout crossed with an IPA, with the stout side in the forefront. This one is really good.
22 ounce bottle into signature tulip glass, bottled on 8/17/2016. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a 1-2 finger dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of huge grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, passion fruit, peach, papaya, mango, lemon/orange peel, pine, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toasted dark bread, light char, herbal, and floral/grassy/roasted earthiness. Incredible complexity and balance of juicy citrus/tropical hops and moderate roast/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, passion fruit, peach, papaya, mango, lemon/orange peel, pine, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toasted dark bread, light char, herbal, and floral/grassy/roasted earthiness. Moderate pine/citrus rind and roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, passion fruit, peach, papaya, mango, lemon/orange rind, pine, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toasted dark bread, herbal, and floral/grassy/roasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of juicy citrus/tropical/pine hops and moderate roast/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and zero astringent hop/roast flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from hop/roast bitterness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/sticky/resinous, and slightly chalky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is an incredible black DIPA. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of juicy citrus/tropical/pine hops and moderate roast/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to sip on for the big ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.
On tap at Elizabeth Station on Stone 20th Anniversary event. Pours an almsot black with with a brown head. Aroma is roasted malt and some veggie and meaty notes. Taste is pretty the same with high level bitterness aftertaste. Meaty/veggie notes, really? :-/ Despite that quite good.
Pours two fingers of tan head on a black body. Aroma is pine and roasted malt. Some coffee. Taste is smoky, dark coffee and pine bitterness. Texture is softer.
I know I had this 5 years ago, but here we go with a fresh bottle. Black pour, tan head, good lace/retention. Aroma is grapefruit, darker fruit, licorice, chocolate, alcohol. Medium bodied, moderate to high bitterness, moderate to high alcohol. Looking back, it’s an interesting take on the style. It’s focused more on dried and darker fruits and less on hop bitterness/flavor while being quite alcoholic.
On tap at World of Beer (Charlottesville, VA). Dark woodsy, earthy aromas, some blueberry, light roast. Almost black with a fairly lasting tan head. Mostly dry, some sweet fruity grapey flavors, very roasty. Medium-full bodied.
Pours a very dark brown with chocolate brown head that is lasting and leaves good lacing. Aroma is coffee and caramel, with some overripe dark fruit. Muted, since this is right from the fridge, so we’ll let it warm a little. Taste is roasty all around, with some coffee and toffee up front, some chocolate in the middle, then a more bitter hop finish. The palate dries out at the end and what’s left is a nice rich roasted aftertaste with a little heat from the high alcohol content. Not bad! Not sure I could do the whole 22oz; this one is better shared with a friend.
On tap. Pours black with a thin brown head and good lacing. Aroma is of coffee, burnt toast, and grain. Taste is similar to aroma but also has a strong alcohol flavor along with unsweetened chocolate. Bitterness level is mild to medium.
Bottle to a tulip. The beer is an opaque black with a thick mocha head that retains beautifully and leaves outstanding lacing. Aroma is citrus, chocolate, vanilla, roasted dark malts, pine, oak, and floral hops. Taste is bitter citrus fruit, roasted dark malts, cocoa, soy sauce, oak, pine, and dark coffee grounds. A bit thicker and complex with a lingering dry finish. Outstanding beer.
Bomber poured a black hue w/ large lasting tan head. Mild to moderate roasty aromas. Initial flavor is light sweet w/ a moderate bitter finish. Tastes are dark toast, soy sauce, dark breads, piney hops, and peppery rye. Full bodied and creamy mouthfeel.
On draft at the brewery. Pours black with a tan head. Aroma of dark stone fruits. Flavors of toasted grains and citrus. Intense bitter finish. Best of this style I’ve had.
650ml bottle from Ray’s in Tosa as part of the anniversary pack, shared with bananabi11. 8/17/2016 bottle date is less than one month old. Aroma has chocolate, dark malts, and citrus. Maybe licorice Taste is of black malts, chocolate, tangy pine. Nice solid blend. Medium to full bodied. Little alcohol presence. Finishes tangy bittersweet, not leaning strongly either direction. Very tasty for style. Not quite to the level of self righteous, but quite good. 14.6
Pours dark brown. Citrus, pine and some roasted malt in the aroma. Flavor is heavy bitter followed by a strong hoppy taste combine with a roasted touch, also some light dark chocolate notes.
On Tap at BitterCreek, Boise Very deep dark brown, with a massive and dense mocha head. Very bitter and hoppy, resinous and roasty. Thick viscous and sticky. Very big bitter chocolate and roast. Truly obnoxious.
nice looking 1" brown head... nice lacing and retention. The brew is not quite black, but close.... pretty highlites appear when held to a nearby light. Swirling stains the glass brown.
Nose is bright pine and pithy grapefruit zest.... slight roastiness reminds us of the dark malt... a bit of EtOH in the aroma.
Big and bitter up front.... the hops come out swinging almost immediately... grapefruit and pine needles.. a minor blast of roasty malt .. even hints of bittersweet chocolate come out with a little warmth... a bit boozy, but I’m not really complaining.
Seems thicker than I was expecting, but smooth with a good small bubble carbonation.
Like a very bitter porter. Hoppy, dark chocolate. ---Rated via BeerBuddy for iPhone.
Aroma of malt, and molasses, pours a dark black with a lasting brown well laced head. Full bodied, thick feel taste of malt and molasses with a trace of hops and a phenolic finish.
From old notes.
Deep black roasted tar nose which is intense and penetrating. Jet black and at least a half inch of light brown glossy head. interesting how it pours seemingly headless only to form something big and beautiful in just a few seconds.
Taste is intense of dark liquorice, dark 100% cocoa chocolate, some silky earth which is superbly earthy dry and yet supported by deep pine. A vibrant TCP monster of measured intensity. Some slight fizzy gas as the end does not distract from this potent glass of superb lethal jet fuel. Bit of a predator. with large talons.
Keg at Wicked Weed Funkatorium, Asheville, 17/02/15.
Black with a decent tan covering.
Nose is bitter roast, spice, charr, earthy bitter streak, dirt, earthy hop presence.
Taste comprises dank hop tones, charr, spice, pine needle, booze tunes, light cocoa strains.
Medium + body, fine carbonation, semi drying close.
So so for style and ABV in terms of depth of character. Glad to have tried this one but me thinks it’s sat around way too long!
Old rating. Loved this one. Dark black pour. Nice mixture of piney fresh tasting hops and spiced licorice flavored coffee. Big body and big taste