Sun Jun 26, 2005 2:14 pm
It's beer:thirty here gang. I've been waiting 2 years to try this beer. Let's see if the wait was worth it. 2003 batch. Bought a full case at Norm's in Vienna, Va. Am I worthy of such a beer? Hell Yeah! 22 oz. brown bomber bottle, with a red & white gargoyle painted on it. Poured out a brilliant, clear copper color. Excellent clarity. It had a massive tan head at first, then slid back to a sticky lacing down the sides of the glass. Aromas right away are of sticky, resinous hops. Evergreen aromas, and some grapefruit hops aromas also. Malts almost overpower the hops, which is a surprize in itself. Very aromatic as far as beers go in general. Taste: Like a malty milkshake. Very thick mouthfeel. Coats the tongue with malty goodness. Hops bring up the rear, and aren't shy in the effort to overtake the malts. A battle in the mouth. Finishes hoppy, with sweet caramel malts in the mix. A really good beer from Stone. ...It WAS worth the wait. Good thing I bought a whole case of it. Next year, I'll buy two cases. May 2004 update: This beer has aged well, and the alcohol is much higher than when it was bottled. It's about 12.5% ABV by now, as it continued to ferment in the bottle. Hops are more subdued now, and the alcohol is overpowering. Cloudy appearance now, not clear as before. Would go really well with a smoked turkey, a filet mignon, or a big ole beef roast. This ain't no wussie beer. It's a manly man beer. Once again, Stone kicks ass.
