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Stochasticity Project: Grainiac
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Red Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 9.23%
- Reviews:
- 66
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 20, 2022
- Added:
- Oct 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 69
This hoppy, deep amber-hued beer was created to shine a light on rare, unexplored grains seldom used in the brewing world. In addition to barley, wheat, rye and triticale, we added malted millet and malted buckwheat to bring the total unique grain count to nine. The earthy, nutty notes of granola found in this experimental multigrain malt bomb are complemented by the citrusy, piney flavors of four classic American hops. We dry-hopped the beer with Cascade and Centennial hops at the end, adding more citrus notes and rounding out the grain bill’s rich, bready character.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SaxmanRick:
Rated by SaxmanRick from Minnesota
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 27, 2016
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Mar 27, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
3.9/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
A: Murky ice tea pour with a dark golden-khaki head that was fizzy and short lived. Clean vessel walls with a small amount of erratic carbonation bubbles within. A dark, grainy forward presence true to its name.
S: Lemony grains, fresh oats and grains on the nose. Some grassy-cascasde dankness of hops interlude. Spicy touch of black pepper with some pungent flowery columbus hops, only for the die hard old school hop head to appreciate. Toast, and breadiness, dank herbal moments with some whole pear slices and spicy cola to boot. Nice fresh grain base, spicy, toasted, and very forward is complimented by a small dankness of the hops but is never overshadowed. Hints of cinnamon stick.
T: The flavor was very boozy forward, bourbon soaked cinnamon sticks, dank citrus and bready malts are fulfilling. Dank columbus hops give a flowery pungency that few will probably appreciate. Spicy pretzel bread, baked grains, sweet toffee and a peppery citrus spicing that was sharp and pronounced. Grassy pine hops compliment, dank herbal, with a spicy rye influence of bourbon and anise. Things conclude with a flowery hop bite and dryness.
M: Thick and malty mouthful, with a quiet sense of carbonation. Milky depth and boozy spicy peppery warmth on inner cheeks.
O: Overall love the complexity and marriage of hops and malt, while still letting the malt be the main showcase. Stone, well known for its hop forward beers, shows it can be more then a one trick pony and make not only malt forward beers, but ones that are well balanced as well. Spicy and peppery nose and flavor, with boozy bourbon accents. Love the use of the four "C" hops, particularly the lesser utilized Columbus which brings a dank and pungently flowery bite like no other and perfectly round out this malt forward bomb.
May 09, 2020S: Lemony grains, fresh oats and grains on the nose. Some grassy-cascasde dankness of hops interlude. Spicy touch of black pepper with some pungent flowery columbus hops, only for the die hard old school hop head to appreciate. Toast, and breadiness, dank herbal moments with some whole pear slices and spicy cola to boot. Nice fresh grain base, spicy, toasted, and very forward is complimented by a small dankness of the hops but is never overshadowed. Hints of cinnamon stick.
T: The flavor was very boozy forward, bourbon soaked cinnamon sticks, dank citrus and bready malts are fulfilling. Dank columbus hops give a flowery pungency that few will probably appreciate. Spicy pretzel bread, baked grains, sweet toffee and a peppery citrus spicing that was sharp and pronounced. Grassy pine hops compliment, dank herbal, with a spicy rye influence of bourbon and anise. Things conclude with a flowery hop bite and dryness.
M: Thick and malty mouthful, with a quiet sense of carbonation. Milky depth and boozy spicy peppery warmth on inner cheeks.
O: Overall love the complexity and marriage of hops and malt, while still letting the malt be the main showcase. Stone, well known for its hop forward beers, shows it can be more then a one trick pony and make not only malt forward beers, but ones that are well balanced as well. Spicy and peppery nose and flavor, with boozy bourbon accents. Love the use of the four "C" hops, particularly the lesser utilized Columbus which brings a dank and pungently flowery bite like no other and perfectly round out this malt forward bomb.
Reviewed by jngrizzaffi from Texas
3.39/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.39/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Bottled 11/8/2015. Pours a very cloudy brownish red color with a thin foamy head. Head retention is mild. Lacing is decent. Grainy aroma with some slightly toasted malts and caramel sweetness. Taste is very grainy. I think it has lost any hint of citrus. Some caramel sweetness at the end but also is bready and has some bitterness. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. I think this one has sat a little long.
Nov 10, 2018Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
3.66/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from the 22 oz. bottle into a Cycle Brewing goblet.
A: Dark copper and very hazy, with good visible carbonation and a half-finger of tan head that fades quickly.
S: Toasted malts, citrus and resin hops, and a light caramel sweetness. Orange zest in the background. Nothing impressive here, and the more I smell it, there’s maybe a touch of oxidation even though this is a fresh bottle.
T: Resin and oily hops. Toasted malts with accompanying sweetness and a bit of caramel flavor. Some citrus rind hops. There’s a fair amount of alpha bitterness in the hang with just a touch of citrus rind and fading caramel flavors.
M: Average carbonation sensation, and the alcohol seems a bit more prominent than expected. The body is typical for a hoppy red ale.
O: Pretty “meh” overall. Not too much to complain about (aside from a boring hop profile) but there’s not much exciting either. Maybe there's something a little bit different in the graininess of the malt bill, but it's subtle.
Oct 28, 2017A: Dark copper and very hazy, with good visible carbonation and a half-finger of tan head that fades quickly.
S: Toasted malts, citrus and resin hops, and a light caramel sweetness. Orange zest in the background. Nothing impressive here, and the more I smell it, there’s maybe a touch of oxidation even though this is a fresh bottle.
T: Resin and oily hops. Toasted malts with accompanying sweetness and a bit of caramel flavor. Some citrus rind hops. There’s a fair amount of alpha bitterness in the hang with just a touch of citrus rind and fading caramel flavors.
M: Average carbonation sensation, and the alcohol seems a bit more prominent than expected. The body is typical for a hoppy red ale.
O: Pretty “meh” overall. Not too much to complain about (aside from a boring hop profile) but there’s not much exciting either. Maybe there's something a little bit different in the graininess of the malt bill, but it's subtle.
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.65/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
**
12/30/2015
Bottle to pint glass. Look is deep dark brown; creamy white head. Aroma is pine and hops. Taste is malt, bread. Hop like bite in the finish. Feel is a little flat, a little sticky, but smooth. Interesting flavors. Definitely a unique beer.
**
Aug 12, 201712/30/2015
Bottle to pint glass. Look is deep dark brown; creamy white head. Aroma is pine and hops. Taste is malt, bread. Hop like bite in the finish. Feel is a little flat, a little sticky, but smooth. Interesting flavors. Definitely a unique beer.
**
Reviewed by travolta from California
4.65/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.65/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
App: beautiful red, bourbon color.creamy puffy head with good retention and very nice lacing.
Nose: Nutty and floral with some darker fruit. Very nicely goes between dark fruit and floral/nutty.
Taste: Sweet malt and light bourbon and rum. A little blood orange and grapefruit.
Notes: In Charlottesville for Eric's wedding!!
Jun 01, 2017Nose: Nutty and floral with some darker fruit. Very nicely goes between dark fruit and floral/nutty.
Taste: Sweet malt and light bourbon and rum. A little blood orange and grapefruit.
Notes: In Charlottesville for Eric's wedding!!
Reviewed by HotDogBikeRide from Texas
4.71/5 rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Yup! Finishing up today's reviews of 3 Stone rarities/high quality bottles. This one is the darkest of the three, giving me a Hercules by Great Divide kinda look on the color but the smell absolutely taking me some place else. We got so many malts on this one I will never know this much about beer to judge or accurately compare, but let's just say the complex mixture takes you away, is inoffensive and full of character. A little more heavy bodied then some of the last couple I've reviewed.
Warming beer once again (I think Stone's beers that go over 8% are by far the best). Feels good to drink. JUST enough hops to keep these grains in check. While I am a BIG hop fan, I LOVE this beer! Mostly because I feel like they understand my need for hops to complete a beer and want to show me all these crazy malts just to give me a beer trip.
Nice carbonation to it, aftertaste wonderful, my burps are full of character bahaha. A little dark and the way I like it. Some people fuck up a malt bomb (excuse my language), and this is just not the case here. I am proud to call this one a malt bomb, and I usually hate malt bombs. Stone gets me feeling like a King making these wonderful beers.
Pairs WELL with food.. thank youuu
Dec 15, 2016Warming beer once again (I think Stone's beers that go over 8% are by far the best). Feels good to drink. JUST enough hops to keep these grains in check. While I am a BIG hop fan, I LOVE this beer! Mostly because I feel like they understand my need for hops to complete a beer and want to show me all these crazy malts just to give me a beer trip.
Nice carbonation to it, aftertaste wonderful, my burps are full of character bahaha. A little dark and the way I like it. Some people fuck up a malt bomb (excuse my language), and this is just not the case here. I am proud to call this one a malt bomb, and I usually hate malt bombs. Stone gets me feeling like a King making these wonderful beers.
Pairs WELL with food.. thank youuu
Reviewed by princessbay710 from Texas
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
4.19/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark, with slime-blob lacing. The smell caught me off guard, immensely floral and fruity. The mouthfeel helps this one go down, for the taste is.. strong. I was exceptionally excited to try this one, forgetting of course that more grain could just mean more bite. It's honestly hard to review, much too monotone, and loud in the bitterness for me. Though I'm sure this is what someone out there is looking for.
Dec 15, 2016Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
4.08/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Served in a tulip glass from a vintage bottle dated 11/13/15.
Appearance: Deep red Amber color with medium bubbles to the body. Light sediments probably because of the age of the brew. Head is about one finger's length off the body coming an off-white color. Drops pretty quick with sticky lacing.
Smell: Light citrus and hops. Smells good but so light.
Taste: Sweet complex brew consists of grapefruit and hint of orange. The sweet malts are serious, I am falling in lust with the flavor alone.
Mouth: medium carbonation, might come off a bit dry. Bread feel at the end, but very very sticky.
Overall: Had this brew for almost a year and finally had a crack at it, in sure the crew caramelized a bit from its originally conception but still super savory. Salud!
Nov 28, 2016Appearance: Deep red Amber color with medium bubbles to the body. Light sediments probably because of the age of the brew. Head is about one finger's length off the body coming an off-white color. Drops pretty quick with sticky lacing.
Smell: Light citrus and hops. Smells good but so light.
Taste: Sweet complex brew consists of grapefruit and hint of orange. The sweet malts are serious, I am falling in lust with the flavor alone.
Mouth: medium carbonation, might come off a bit dry. Bread feel at the end, but very very sticky.
Overall: Had this brew for almost a year and finally had a crack at it, in sure the crew caramelized a bit from its originally conception but still super savory. Salud!
Stochasticity Project: Grainiac from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
274 ratings
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