Weekly Beer Reviews

Stone Matt's Burning Rosids Cherrywood-Smoked Saison

This was the biggest question mark of the entire trio that we tasted this week. A highly alcoholic Saison (10.5% ABV) that is smoked with Cherrywood sounds like it could go either way. The nose is interesting with thick aromas of sour grapes, cherries, charred oak, and orange juice. Lighter aromas of apples, hot dogs, and floral notes popped up as well. The flavor has just the slightest hint of smoke before being overpowered by thick flavors of bruised pears, pine, grapefruit, and bologna. It starts to become bitter towards the end, and really picks up in the finish. Flavors of dill, cantaloupe, and light ash finish off this flavorful beer. It is especially well done as the alcohol is practically non-existent in the flavor.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.5/10


Stone Smoked Porter w/ Vanilla Beans

We move on to the dark beer of the bunch. Stone's Smoked Porter is a very solid Porter. While it doesn't have much smoke flavor compared to the likes of the Class of 88 that we had up recently, it would normally stand up well. The infusion of Vanilla Beans takes this from a solid Porter to a must drink. The nose is phenomenal, with thick aromas of oatmeal, milk chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla, coffee, and raisins. It definitely smells like a thick Winter dessert. The taste is thick with chocolate of all kinds ranging from chocolate syrup to hot chocolate. Silky flavors of vanilla and caramel intermingle to form a wonderful flavor. A strong bitterness accompanies the finish and brings flavors of dark chocolate, cream, coffee grounds, and ash. This is a lovely way to finish off the last few cold weeks.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10


Stone Grapefruit Slam IPA

We end this section with another of Stone's new IPA's, this one with grapefruit peel added. Needless to say, we had high expectations with this one...and Stone met them. The nose can only be described as the sun shining through a pine forest in Heaven. Thick aromas of Spring Air, pine, grapefruit, lime zest, and sage form a nose that any IPA would be proud of. The taste is distinctly herbal with flavors of basil, tarragon, and sage. Flavors of perfume, grapefruit, and mint leaf burst out after the initial herbal explosion. The finish is intensely bitter with flavors of perfume, dill, grapefruit pith, pine, and sage. This IPA leans towards the bitter grapefruit and pine flavors, but I find that to be a refreshing change from the heavy influx of tropical fruit IPA's.

Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.5/10