Spotlight Series: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale
Stone Brewing

Spotlight Series: Imperial Mutt Brown AleSpotlight Series: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 8.01%
Reviews:
130
Ratings:
501
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 25, 2019
Added:
Apr 10, 2015
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  116
First Release: April 2015
Stone brewers Drew Neldon and Steve Via won this year’s annual in-house Stone Spotlight Series brewing competition with this hefty brown ale—an impressive result considering that one of them had never encountered a brown ale he liked before tasting this one. Given layers of flavor from Vienna, Victory and Chocolate Wheat malts, and warming, refined sweetness from Honey Malt and turbinado sugar, it’s a rich and soothing beer brewed with respect to traditional English methods and New World innovation. The British-American bulldog of the craft beer world? Perhaps. Best in Show? Absolutely.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gagnonsux:
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Rated by Gagnonsux from Texas

3.69/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

May 20, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Feb 25, 2019
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Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2015 bottle.. never had this fresh, but we’ll see how it’s holding up.

Deep, opaque murky brown color. Still decent carb, with a thin ring of off-white head settling around the glass. No lingering lace.

The nose is sweet, oxidized. Hints of off tartness, but a predominance of toffee, caramel, and a chemical touch in the finish.

Flavors holding up better than the nose. Aside from the slight fruity tartness in the finish, a predominance of caramel, malt, bitter chocolate, and molasses round up a fairly balanced flavor profile.

Medium body, sharp carb and a warming finish. Not too viscous, and overall holding up well.
Feb 10, 2019
Photo of AdmiralOzone
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

4.24/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear deep dark brown with a thick tan head that leaves great lacing. Aroma is dark roasted malts and chocolate. Flavor follows the nose with some sweet honey flavor to boot. Feel is medium to full bodied with adequate carbonation. Overall a tremendous beer that someone left in my fridge downstairs after a Saturday night poker game for me to enjoy.
Sep 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by fisherbray from Florida

Jul 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by DeanCHS1980 from Kentucky

Mar 09, 2018
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Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3/3/18 bottle (2015 vintage)
Mar 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.53 by GratefulFC from Arizona

Jul 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.05 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

May 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

May 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by BeccaH from Florida

Apr 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.71 by AlaskaAg from Florida

Apr 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by Griphon from Florida

Jan 21, 2017
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Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania

3.87/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sampled January 2017 from 22 oz bottle in pint glass. Drank it about 8 months after the bottled date on the bottle.

Appearance: Very dark brown color, medium size dark tan head that lasted for a long time. Thick lacing and remnants on the side of the glass from the head.

Smell: Sweet & malty with strong toasted coffee aromas, also some hops. Some nut and caramel aroma as well.

Taste: Medium-bodied with nice balance of malt and hops and alcohol. Dominated by caramel, chocolate, coffee and burnt malt flavors, but with a little bitterness and kick from the hops. There are also sweet flavors like honey. Overall an interesting combination, but dominated by the sweet flavors.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, but very smooth. Matched 9.0% on the label.

Overall: Nice brown ale. Easy to drink, but still has some interesting flavors.
Jan 08, 2017
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Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

4.44/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottled bomber style
Pours a very dark body with full, thick tobacco stained head
Aroma is full on cocoa
Tastes like an irished up frappe, creamy l, chocolatey and a hint of coffee
Perfect mf
Big bold and beautiful
Dec 02, 2016
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.04/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Belgian snifter.

Appearance: Pours with a clear dark brown body and a decent, off-white head. Limited lacing.

Aroma: Dominated by toasted grains with roasted nuts and caramelized sugar notes. Potency is moderate.

Flavor: Largely follows the aroma, with caramelized malts, roasted nuts, dark bread and chocolate malts.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is medium-light. Body is medium-full. Alcohol presence is very light for ABV.

Overall: A tasty, rich brown ale with good balance and well hidden alcohol.
Dec 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Nov 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Oct 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.66 by Mark-Leggett from Missouri

Oct 05, 2016
Spotlight Series: Imperial Mutt Brown Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 501 ratings