Stone Xocoveza Imperial Stout

Out of pumpkin ale season and straight into chocolate stout season.  And the always dependable Stone Brewing has one of the tastiest.  The 8.1% ABV Xocoveza pours black with a foamy tan head and smells of chocolate with hints of cinnamon and pepper.  The flavor is more roasted chocolate with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and pepper.  It's a tasty concoction that's way stronger than it lets on so don't go crazy.

Visit the brewer.

Stone & NOFX Punk in Drublic Hoppy Lager

At the grocery store the other day, strolling through the beer aisle, searching for something tasty for the weekend, and i was juggling a handful of different brews, all the while the inner '90s teenager within my brain screaming at me to get the NOFX beer.  So, i got the NOFX beer, and true to form from the longstanding Stone Brewing, it did not disappoint.  The Stone & NOFX Punk in Drublic Hoppy Lager, named for the punk band's 1994 album of the same name, pours a crystal clear gold with a foamy white head.  Aromas of grass and bread prevail with some herbal hints and maybe some pine notes in the mix as well, while the flavor of this 5.8% ABV brew is akin to something like a strong pilsner, a mesh of bready malt, spicy hops, and a hint of citrus all with a crisp and bitter finish.  This is an awesome spring brew, and i'm looking forward to cracking open a few more of these in the near future.

Visit the brewer.

And watch the old video for NOFX's "Leave it Alone" below.

Stone Xocoveza Imperial Stout

What's that you say?  Stone makes an imperial stout brewed with Mexican hot chocolate?  Well, happy holidays to everyone then.  The Xocoveza comes in at 8.1% ABV and pours a dark black with a brownish head.  The beer smells of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, and spices, those flavors all noticeable in the brew, with chocolate, malt, and hint of chili spice in the forefront.  This is a fantastic winter brew, and definitely worth your taste buds' time.

Visit the brewer.

Stone Tangerine Express IPA

It's a holiday weekend, and while i may be working through 2/3 of it, my off time sure gets a tropical lift from the Tangerine Express IPA from the always dependable Stone Brewing.  The 6.7% ABV beer pours a nice, hazy gold with a minimal head and lovely aromas of hops, fruit, and citrus abounding.  The flavor is a sweet and bitter mix of tangerine, pineapple, citrussy hops, and some floral and herbal notes.  It's the perfect elixir for a hot summer day.

Visit the brewer.

Who You Callin' Wussie Pilsner

The fine folks over at Stone's Arrogant Brewing division have used their know-how and arrogance to craft German-style pilsner...and it's a damn fine one too.  The wonderfully named Who You Callin' Wussie Pilsner comes in tallboy six-packs, just as God intended, and clocks in at 5.8% ABV.  The brew pours a light, crisp gold with a white and frothy head and smells of grassy, floral hops with hints of bread and lemon.  Tasting like a strong and classic pilsner, the beer finishes crisp and dry with some lingering hoppy spiciness on the tongue, and perfectly compliments a day at the ballpark or an evening cooling off after mowing the lawn.

Visit the brewer.

Stone 2016 Imperial Russian Stout

With all of the craft breweries and that have sprouted up over the last half decade and all of the lovely brews all of those startups have offered us in that time, it's nice to go back and visit one of the original independents every now and then.  Stone Brewing has been giving us excellent beers for years, and their latest limited release Russian Imperial Stout is about as tasty as they come.  Pouring black with a brownish tan head, this thick, 10.8% ABV brew smells of coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and roasty malts.  The flavor is heavy on roastiness, but still smooth even with its high alcohol content, the coffee and chocolate notes easing everything down in a delicious swirl.  This is a damn good beer.

Visit the brewer.

Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2015

I was in San Diego.  Of course i was going to drink some beer from Stone Brewing.  I'd be stupid not to.  Anyway, cheers to their 2015 Classic Release Imperial Russian Stout, a thick-bodied and tasty beer that's as black as my dark soul.  Midnight black with a tan head, the beer smells and tastes of chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, and dark fruit with some nice and subtle hop notes to spice things up just a tad.  As thick and heavy as the brew is, and with it's 10.6% ABV, this one's a post-dinner treat, a night-ender sitting on the porch with your friends.

Visit the brewer.