444922 Tue Sep 25 23:00:04 -0700 2007 15 35 Beer 0 2976959 Had the chance to try a limited run IPA from Stone Brewing: their Black IPA. It merges the dark color and toasty flavor of roasted barley and a potent hop kick of a proper IPA. A terrific combination. I don't see it on the Stone website, so I'm guessing it really is a limited production thing? Anyone know for sure? I had it at Library Alehouse in Santa Monica yesterday, where they apparently won't have it for much longer. Stone was featured there this past month, and the waitress said the bar's phasing out this particular product from their tap room soon. If you can find it near you, give it a shot while it's still around. Tue Sep 25 23:00:04 -0700 2007 10023 Professor Salt 1 2976978 I think you're referring to the just-released 11th Anniversary Ale. It is a limited production beer. They do one annually. Tue Sep 25 23:17:01 -0700 2007 2976959 10809 Josh 2 2976988 Yeah, I read the description, that's it. Have you tried this yet? http://www.stonebrew.com/11th/ale/ I'm gonna go find the bottled version now.... Tue Sep 25 23:23:14 -0700 2007 2976978 10023 Professor Salt 3 2977002 Yeah, I had it. It was a little much for me, honestly. I prefer stuff that's got a little more balance. Tue Sep 25 23:34:48 -0700 2007 2976988 10809 Josh 4 2977013 No, it's not middle of the road in any way. I normally choose another hop-extreme IPA (the Anderson Valley Hop Ottin) as my go-to beer, so I thought the Stone XI was right up my alley. Tue Sep 25 23:44:34 -0700 2007 2977002 10023 Professor Salt 5 2977043 Funny, I don't consider the Hop Ottin particularly extreme. It's not the bitterness I don't care for, it's just pretty heavy. I don't normally go for stuff that heavy. It's a great beer, clearly - just not really something I'd want to drink much of. Wed Sep 26 00:20:42 -0700 2007 2977013 10809 Josh 1 2977660 I'm really interested in checking this one out and see how it compares to The Alchemist's (Waterbury, VT brewpub) version named El Jefe. Its always been a good one and one of the first that I know about that combined dark malts with intense hop flavor/aroma. Wed Sep 26 07:57:31 -0700 2007 2976959 12014 LStaff 1 2980104 Oh man I loved this one (Stone 11th Anniv.). Dark roast malt blends with American "C" hops, simcoes and amarillos. What a mindf**ck it was to bring a dark brown beer to your nose and smell tropical fruit and flowers. Basically a stout body but with double IPA level pine/grapefruit hops slicing through. Sounds crazy, but Stone seems to pull it off somehow. I'd agree that it may seem intense to some, but it will be fully appreciated by hopheads. Wed Sep 26 17:29:45 -0700 2007 2976959 63942 Psychobabble 2 2983376 I completely agree. Albeit it is not up to the 10th anniversay standard (and what can be), the IX is a fantastic beer. I can't get over how hoppy is it, as the color completely throws you off. Stock up while you can. Thu Sep 27 14:31:19 -0700 2007 2980104 14367 The Dive 2 2983818 if you want something more readily available that also blends hoppiness into a stout, Victory's storm king IPA is very good. Thu Sep 27 16:53:22 -0700 2007 2980104 12853 mr mouther 2 2984308 Fantastic beer, lots of flowers in the aroma, with a real crisp bitterness w/o being overpowering. They had it on tap at JJ Brewsky's in Camarillo last week, and I was really happy to have sampled it. http://www.jjbrewskys.com/menu/beer.php Thu Sep 27 19:59:30 -0700 2007 2980104 67548 azhotdish 3 2985096 The 11 th Anniversary is pretty good, although I don't know that it was the most imaginative move Stone has ever made. After a couple different bottles, It reminds me of a stronger, hoppier Arrogant Bastard. Fri Sep 28 07:33:36 -0700 2007 2984308 66898 naven 4 2985676 I agree that it might not be too imaginative for Stone, and it is certainly stronger than Arrogant Bastard in terms of hops, but its crispness made the overall body seem lighter than AB. Still a very good beer in its own right. Fri Sep 28 10:06:24 -0700 2007 2985096 67548 azhotdish 1 2992429 I haven't encountered it, but it sounds like a vigorously hopped, strong porter or stout. So why call it a "black India pale ale," which is a contradiction in terms? For the gimmick value and the *apparent* novelty of it, I'd bet (microbrewers have been making strong, robustly hopped dark ales for decades). Mon Oct 01 08:32:39 -0700 2007 2976959 90936 Kenji 2 2996379 Actually the profile is much different than a porter or stout. It is black in color but doesn't have too much roasted/coffee/chocolate flavors and has the mouthfeel of an IPA. It really is a black IPA with the fruity/citruisy "C" hops that were used. I thought it was a great beer and one of the best Stone has ever made - it was quite drinkable despite the high alcohol %. Tue Oct 02 10:05:59 -0700 2007 2992429 12014 LStaff 1 3002838 Henry's had it for $4.39 a bottle last week, but it is likely to be gone by now. Wed Oct 03 23:53:21 -0700 2007 2976959 106260 trentyzan