Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA
Stone Brewing

Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPASublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Black IPA
Ranked #5
ABV:
8.7%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,465
Avg:
4.22 | pDev: 10.19%
Reviews:
1,990
Ratings:
6,094
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 18, 2024
Added:
Sep 02, 2007
Wants:
  323
Gots:
  835
First brewed in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this ale was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn't last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn't be any more. For us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we are now blessing ourselves, and you the enlightened, with this ale. Thusly, you may now revel in your own self-righteousness as you see fit with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure.

90 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wreckoncile:
Photo of Wreckoncile
Reviewed by Wreckoncile from California

4.12/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an Arrogant Bastard Pint Glass.

A - Two fingers plus of an almost fluffy tan head on top of an abyss of opaque black liquid. Dissapates reasonably quickly and leaves average lacing.

S - Solid nose that could be detected as I poured from a foot away. The citrusy character of the hops blends with the roasted malts to give it an almost dark fruit scent. Powerful and robust, with notes of bitter chocolate to compliment.

T - Similar to the scent, with the combination of roasted malt and hops. But whereas the beer smelled initially like a combination of the two, the taste is a little bit more of a ride. The malts hit first, with a slight bitter chocolatey note, transform into a dark fruit flavor, and finish with a pine-hop aftertaste.

M - Not overly viscous, not watered down. A good balance, with light carbonation, and an appropriately wet mouthfeel that gives the illusion of sticking a bit more due to the hoppy aftertaste character of the beer.

O - A perfectly drinkable black ale for a warm evening insofar as it offers the great combination of roasted flavor, but the drinkability of a hoppy IPA.
Jul 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Matt_W
Rated by Matt_W from New York

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is worth trying. Poured like a stout but not an overly crazy hoppiness about it. Great beer, I need to get more.
Feb 18, 2024
Photo of spectru
Reviewed by spectru from Florida

3.34/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.5
Coppery coffee, tan head recedes to thin cap; an unusual flavor for an IPA, interesting but not particularly appealing to me. Good mouthfeel. I don't particularly care for this beer. I'm glad I only had a single bottle.
Jan 17, 2024
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.41/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: It pours black with a tan head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: It has strong citrus aromas with some pine. It has some roasted elements. There are some faint dark fruit notes in the background.

Taste: It has strong citrus and pine flavors with plenty of roast. There are some grapefruit notes with hints of dark fruits. There are hints of licorice as well.

Feel: It has a medium full body with a nice bitter finish. It also has a creamy texture.

Overall, this beer is pack with flavor and complex combinations of hops and malts that work well together. I love black IPA's and this is the best I've had.
Dec 25, 2023
Photo of donspublic
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into tulip, good 2+ finger light tan head, excellent retention and great lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light passes thru. Smells of pine, and roasted malt, haven't had these 2 together in a while. Taste is , well to hell with it, taste is great, rocking pine on the front end and then a light roasted malt comes slamming into it, each offsetting the other to where it just smooths out thru the end where there is a good firm bitterness to bring it to an end. Slight residual pine on the palate, roast has left the party. They really did a nice job with this beer, hops and roast do a great job of playing nice together

Advent 2023-06
Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Nov 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by Eddiehop from Texas

Nov 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by rfreed from Washington

Nov 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

May 04, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

4.04/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours pitch black with a small light brown head. Smells of grassy hops with very slight dark roasted grain. Tastes of citrus and earthy hops, with nice chocolate notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.28 by Ananabiya

Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.72 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.29 by dms1767 from Nebraska

Oct 19, 2022
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of pine, roasted malts. Taste is dank, pine, light roasted malts, a touch of alcohol, significant bitterness. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer.
Oct 16, 2022
 
 
Rated: 4.25 by akk14 from Illinois

Sep 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.39 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 17, 2022
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours black with a couple fingers of khaki foam. Aroma is sticky resin, with toasty and roasty malts underneath. Sticky, but dark, with earthy undertones. Flavor profile is sticky resin and mild dank hops, with roasty and toasty malts underneath. Caramel and earthy flavors build as the beer warms. It's a really sticky IPA, but with dark stout undertones. Mouth feel is medium-thick with a mild velvet, fluffy texture. Very low grit. Overall, sticky dark beer, which is always a juxtaposition, but in a favorable way.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 12oz bottle. Reviewed from notes.
Jul 31, 2022
Photo of DeaconWhite82
Reviewed by DeaconWhite82 from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a six pack, pours almost black. Strong flavor that was great. Makes you feel great. Became my go to beer for about a month. Did my job to bring it back next year.
May 15, 2022
Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 6094 ratings