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20th Anniversary Encore Series: 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- English IPA
- ABV:
- 8.9%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 9.07%
- Reviews:
- 52
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 08, 2021
- Added:
- Oct 20, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 18
For our 14th Anniversary Ale, we traced our inspiration to British IPAs of the 1800s, creating an imperial, nay, Emperial IPA using all-British hops, malt and yeast. We even adjusted our Southwest U.S. water to summon that ageless IPA chemistry and royal sense of place. Cheers to an Encore reign for this mighty British-by-way-of-California-West-Coast IPA.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Giggy:
Rated by Giggy from Michigan
3.69/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 01, 2017
3.69/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 01, 2017
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV 8.9%. Cloudy deep yellow to orange colour, moderate white head. Very hoppy aroma, catty and resinous notes, also hints of blackcurrants and grapefruit. Hoppy and very bitter flavour, sharp and nearly medicinal in the finish. Clearly overdone on the Target hops, but nice (in a weird way) anyhow.
May 08, 2021Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
5/5 rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Whatever Stone brews will turn to gold - I thought when started drinking this beer. Really, literally WHATEVER they make is outstanding.
I had a few very well done English IPAs, many from the old world but I must say that Stone just conquers them all! Funny though that although I recognize the English hops and the difference in their taste, in the end it turns into a trademark Stone West Coast IPA in a way. And it is outstanding.
Super earthy hops in the nose. Amazingly rich hops in the mouth and a sudden, fresh bitterness in the aftertaste - and all of this even one year after the bottling date! Imagine this what a bomb could this have been when fresh!
A great W-IPA - regardless how English it was supposed to be, turned into a magnificent West Coast IPA (for me).
Oct 07, 2017I had a few very well done English IPAs, many from the old world but I must say that Stone just conquers them all! Funny though that although I recognize the English hops and the difference in their taste, in the end it turns into a trademark Stone West Coast IPA in a way. And it is outstanding.
Super earthy hops in the nose. Amazingly rich hops in the mouth and a sudden, fresh bitterness in the aftertaste - and all of this even one year after the bottling date! Imagine this what a bomb could this have been when fresh!
A great W-IPA - regardless how English it was supposed to be, turned into a magnificent West Coast IPA (for me).
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.23/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Cloudy glowing copper golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head leaves great lacing.
S: Dank citrus... tropical fruits and bitter hops.
T/F: Big malt character... biscuity with some sweetness gives way to a bitter citrus forward hop slam. Lots of grapefruit and tropicals... dank and floral with excellent balance. Oily on the tongue... finish is bittersweet citrus.
O: Another great Stone IPA. Still quite tasty a bit past it's 'best by'.
Jul 01, 2017L: Cloudy glowing copper golden pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head leaves great lacing.
S: Dank citrus... tropical fruits and bitter hops.
T/F: Big malt character... biscuity with some sweetness gives way to a bitter citrus forward hop slam. Lots of grapefruit and tropicals... dank and floral with excellent balance. Oily on the tongue... finish is bittersweet citrus.
O: Another great Stone IPA. Still quite tasty a bit past it's 'best by'.
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22 oz. Bomber
Pours a very nice slightly hazy golden yellow color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, which leaves some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, slight malt, citrusy. The taste is pretty nice, hoppy, kinda malty, nice citrus note. Medium body, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty tasty brew. Nice to see it around here.
Apr 02, 2017Pours a very nice slightly hazy golden yellow color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy one-finger off-white head, which leaves some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, slight malt, citrusy. The taste is pretty nice, hoppy, kinda malty, nice citrus note. Medium body, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty tasty brew. Nice to see it around here.
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina
4.13/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L- Hazy, orange-amber w/ slight foam head
S- Hops, slight malt and wheat-bread-esqe
T- Typical of the style, dry w/ slight bitter finish
F- It's an IPA...
O- Bottled on 10/22/2016...so outside the preferred 90 day range for an D/IIPA. With the "Drink Fresh" mantra in my head, I can't help but wonder how it would have tested 30 days ago...and if it would matter. BLUF, it's Stone, it's an IPA...what's not to love?!
Feb 26, 2017S- Hops, slight malt and wheat-bread-esqe
T- Typical of the style, dry w/ slight bitter finish
F- It's an IPA...
O- Bottled on 10/22/2016...so outside the preferred 90 day range for an D/IIPA. With the "Drink Fresh" mantra in my head, I can't help but wonder how it would have tested 30 days ago...and if it would matter. BLUF, it's Stone, it's an IPA...what's not to love?!
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri
3.47/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
3.47/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a cloudy amber color. 1/3 inch head of white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong citrus hops, alcohol, slight sweet malt, and a hint of piney hops. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a strong bitterness and dryness. Tastes of strong citrus hops, alcohol, slight floral hops, hint of grass, slight resin, slight sweet malt, and a hint of piney hops. Overall, good appearance, simple aroma, complex body, but feel is too bitter and dry.
Feb 25, 2017Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
3.59/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From the 650 ml. bottle that is dated 10/22/16. Sampled on February 9, 2017.
The color is a murky looking orange-amber with a cream colored head that leaves lacing as it fades.
It's his is fairly old and it shows in both the aroma and taste. More specifically - the aroma has aroma smells like a malt bomb with its white bready characters and vague fruity characters. The hops have faded sadly.
The body is medium or better.
The taste has a hint of sweet bready malt with a tobacco, herbal, fruitiness in the hops. The tobacco is probably more related to the age of the bottle. Oh well. Wish I had it fresh.
Feb 09, 2017The color is a murky looking orange-amber with a cream colored head that leaves lacing as it fades.
It's his is fairly old and it shows in both the aroma and taste. More specifically - the aroma has aroma smells like a malt bomb with its white bready characters and vague fruity characters. The hops have faded sadly.
The body is medium or better.
The taste has a hint of sweet bready malt with a tobacco, herbal, fruitiness in the hops. The tobacco is probably more related to the age of the bottle. Oh well. Wish I had it fresh.
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a bomber from Craft Beer Hop Stop on 11/5/17 for $7.77. Bottled on 10/22/16; maintained in the beer fridge since purchase.
Beer poured a clear orange with the first glass and a cloudy orange with floating chunks on round 2.
Nose is earthy and toned down compared to what i am normally used to.
Taste is earthy with a gooseberry bitter finish.
Feel is medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a solid beer that was enjoyable but i find this not as enjoyable as American style IPA's.
Feb 04, 2017Beer poured a clear orange with the first glass and a cloudy orange with floating chunks on round 2.
Nose is earthy and toned down compared to what i am normally used to.
Taste is earthy with a gooseberry bitter finish.
Feel is medium bodied and refreshing.
Overall a solid beer that was enjoyable but i find this not as enjoyable as American style IPA's.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a Stone Brewing Co pint glass
A: pours slightly hazy golden amber with a frothy egg shell off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Interesting mix of floral, earthy, and spicy hop aromas, a little biscuity malt, a hint of citrus, and some caramel sweetness.
T: Very floral, spicy, earthy tones, almost tea like, slightly toasty biscuity/bready malt, a touch of citrus, grapefruit, orange, and lemon, faintly fruity, and a little caramel sweetness. Definitely more assertively bitter than most English IPAs I've had, but it's quite welcome and works well.
M: Medium to full body, moderate carbonation.
O: After reading Mitch Steele's book I really wanted to try this one out. Definitely different from your every day American DIPA, but really quite nice.
Feb 02, 2017A: pours slightly hazy golden amber with a frothy egg shell off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Interesting mix of floral, earthy, and spicy hop aromas, a little biscuity malt, a hint of citrus, and some caramel sweetness.
T: Very floral, spicy, earthy tones, almost tea like, slightly toasty biscuity/bready malt, a touch of citrus, grapefruit, orange, and lemon, faintly fruity, and a little caramel sweetness. Definitely more assertively bitter than most English IPAs I've had, but it's quite welcome and works well.
M: Medium to full body, moderate carbonation.
O: After reading Mitch Steele's book I really wanted to try this one out. Definitely different from your every day American DIPA, but really quite nice.
Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York
4.26/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had it on tap at Amsterdam Ale House, NYC.
Pours an amber orange color. A fingernail length white head soon recedes. It leaves a small scattering of lacing but eventually dies down.
There is so much character in the aroma, I could sniff on it all day! It is earthy, leafy and tea like. It is pungent but with a dry quality; not as bright as U.S west coast hops but still semi intense. Some fruity characteristics; orange and marmalade. There is a nice toasted biscuit quality. Oddly enough, I even detect cheese.
Like English Ales, the malt presence is ever present. It provides a sweet caramel malt like coating. However, this sweetness is fleeting and soon plays a supporting role to the hops. The hops flavor is spicy, earthy, dry, tea like, citrusy and significantly bitter. The bitterness permeates the mouthfeel and the finish, which lingers. The malt flavor keeps it in check, but overall, this one is a bit of a hop bomb.
The body is on the full side of smooth, even chewy. Prickly and spicy due to the hops. An interesting combination. A lot of English qualities, but with West Coast intensity. I liked it a lot!
Jan 31, 2017Pours an amber orange color. A fingernail length white head soon recedes. It leaves a small scattering of lacing but eventually dies down.
There is so much character in the aroma, I could sniff on it all day! It is earthy, leafy and tea like. It is pungent but with a dry quality; not as bright as U.S west coast hops but still semi intense. Some fruity characteristics; orange and marmalade. There is a nice toasted biscuit quality. Oddly enough, I even detect cheese.
Like English Ales, the malt presence is ever present. It provides a sweet caramel malt like coating. However, this sweetness is fleeting and soon plays a supporting role to the hops. The hops flavor is spicy, earthy, dry, tea like, citrusy and significantly bitter. The bitterness permeates the mouthfeel and the finish, which lingers. The malt flavor keeps it in check, but overall, this one is a bit of a hop bomb.
The body is on the full side of smooth, even chewy. Prickly and spicy due to the hops. An interesting combination. A lot of English qualities, but with West Coast intensity. I liked it a lot!
20th Anniversary Encore Series: 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
128 ratings
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