15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA, which is on limited release, is brewed by the Stone Brewing Company of Escondido, CA. The Imperial Black IPA is a new style of beer and is also referred to as an American Black Ale. This beer was brewed to commemorate Stone's 15 years of brewing.It pours a very dark brown, with a small, fizzy tan head. It looks like a stout. The aroma hits you like your head is in a bag full of hop nuggets. Pine, fruit, cirtus and hints of floral hops with notes of the roasted malts hit your nose enticingly. The taste hits you with the nose - strong cirtus & pine hops supported by the florals and fruits, but it gives way to the sweet roasted caramel malts and coco. It has a big ABV, but the alcohol doesn't pop-up in the flavor too much. It has a thick body, with a nicy creamy or oilyness to it that brings all the flavors home.
This is a really good beer and is a Must Have It. I've had other black IPAs that just can't seem to pull it together, but Stone did really well here. It's a limited release, so be sure to get it soon. I'm also happy that they dry-hopped this with my favorite hops, Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand.
I agree with the Must Have It rating. Although some of their more widely distributed beers have fallen off a bit in recent years, i.e. Stone IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale, their seasonal and anniversary brews are an absolute must.
ReplyDeleteThe 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA has a nice presentation with a smoky citrus aroma with hints of coffee. It's flavor is a wonderful blend that I can only describe as having the best attributes of a stout, an imperial IPA and a belgian ale mixed into one bottle. Plus, the finish is lovingly smooth.