The Perfect Crime
Stone Brewing

The Perfect CrimeThe Perfect Crime
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 14%
Reviews:
188
Ratings:
650
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 20, 2020
Added:
Nov 13, 2012
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  47
Collaboration with Evil Twin Brewing & Stillwater Artisanal

In a masterfully orchestrated collaboration of the minds, Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø of Denmark's Evil Twin Brewing, Brian Strumke from Baltimore's Stillwater Artisanal Ales, and Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele crafted a beer that cleverly exploits the definition of a saison.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by mpenske from California

Jun 20, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by smi69 from New York

Nov 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.39 by evanwoertz from California

Jan 24, 2017
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Reviewed by descobar from Florida

3.1/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
muddy ruby brown with a thin tan head with low retention. on the nose, roasted malts, caramel and toffee. some spices and earthy yeast notes. medium body, rich texture, moderate carbonation, some astringency in the palate. taste is where the age of this beer shows up. mostly roasted malts, muted bitterness. the expected smokeyness is nowhere to be found and the fruity esters are absent. its mostly dry and just not much character left. but... no off aromas or flavors. finish is dry with a lengthy bitterness. still drinkable but kind of faceless.
Nov 17, 2016
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Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

3.2/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Bottled October 26, 2012. Consumed July 26, 2016.
Jul 27, 2016
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Reviewed by Bierliebhaber3 from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer is described as a black smoked saison, which I have never heard of and thus found intriguing. As to the first point it is definitely black with a thin effervescent white head. The second point, however, is as false as the first point is true. I taste no smokiness here though I think that is probably for the best since I don’t know how well that would go with the summery taste of a saison. It has a strongly aromatic, banana smell reminiscent of a Belgian beer. The initial flavors are some spices common to saisons such as a strong coriander and grassy notes, however it also has some Belgian flavors mixed in (fruit and yeast flavor). This beer is drier and a little hoppier than the average saison also. Really a pretty solid though heavily Belgian influenced saison I would say. Not as exotic as the name had me believe and I don't like it as much as most Stone beers that I've tried, but I still enjoyed it more than the reviews would have me believe.
Jun 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.47 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by Poloplaya from Illinois

Dec 24, 2015
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Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

3.97/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smokey, bitter and big roasted malts. Light and delicate for a dark saison. Not bad. Note: This is one of the first beers I started out with the idea to cellar beers way way back in 2012. The smoke must have dies down, because this had just a hint of it that added another level flavor.
Nov 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by Domvan from Texas

Oct 26, 2015
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Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
While I certainly know I had this beer fresh when it was first released, I've also had a bottle aging in my cellar since then and got the urge to crack it open tonight. This beer pours a very dark, clear amber color with deep ruby highlights when held up to the light and a nice tan head that is about an inch thick when first poured and that settles to a very nice thick surface coating of foam with excellent lacing. Aromas of roasted, smoked caramel and bready malts, hints of cherry, and some citrus hops. Flavors of roasted, smoked caramel and bready malt sweetness starts out this baby tastewise along with a nice cherry hint that adds just a touch of tartness and also a bit of a chocolate sweetness. Rounded out with a decent hop bitterness. On the one hand this beer is surprisingly hoppy considering the fact that it has been in my cellar aging or 2 1/2 years, but then again being that it is Stone and friends who make this the hop presence is not surprising since we all know Stone loves hugely hopped beers. Has a slightly crisp and prickly, mainly smooth and frothy, medium bodied mouthfeel with minimal carbonation. Very drinkable and quite tasty indeed. Another very solid effort from Stone and friends. I hope they resurrect this one again at some point because I'd sure like to have this one again!

Eric
Aug 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.27 by skaboom420 from Pennsylvania

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by JayPeso from California

Jun 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by aussiebeer from Illinois

Apr 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by sheenisgod from California

Mar 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Feb 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.72 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Feb 07, 2015
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Reviewed by TastyFoodAndDrink from Maryland

2.86/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On sight, "The Perfect Crime" pours a pleasant deep chocolate brown with just a hint of off white head. The nose is one of smokey espresso with a hint of spice and hop. Perhaps time in the bottle has robbed it of some complexity.

On the palate it opens with the same smoked flavor, but then gets a little bit funky. The medium and smooth body carries spice, but not in a discernible way. The roasting almost takes on a piney-herbal note. It ends rather slowly with a pine-chocolate smoke flavor that, while not bad, isn't something that asks for you to come back. Perhaps two years ago this was more entertaining, but now it seems little more common place, calling to mind Back in Black from 21st forcibly.
Jan 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.56 by paresis from Massachusetts

Dec 20, 2014
The Perfect Crime from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 650 ratings