Stone Cali-Belgique IPA | Stone Brewing
Brewed by:
Stone Brewing
California, United States
stonebrewing.com
Style: Belgian IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
A California-style IPA with a Belgian twist
AKA Stone Cali-België IPA
First Release:
September 2008
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA features a complex and surprising combination of flavors, but behind the fancy title is the simply delicious Stone IPA. The addition of a carefully selected strain of Belgian yeast adds banana and spice notes to the hoppy brightness of our flagship IPA. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.
Added by gpogo on 07-23-2008
HISTOGRAM
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Ratings: 3,447 | Reviews: 1,112
4.29/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This Belgian IPA pours a golden color with a fairly small, but tenacious, effervescent white head. The smell is more Belgian than IPA with a malty banana scent. The initial flavor is all Belgian with classic flavors of banana bread, clove, cardamom, and a little pepper, though the spices are milder than in a full Belgian. In the aftertaste the IPA flavors (hops) kick in with both some pine and grapefruit elements. This beer is incredibly well balanced as I think many good Belgian IPAs are, which is why I’ve really come to love the style. Further this one walks a perfect line between the two being pretty much 50/50 belgian and IPA. Though I truly love many Stone beers I have to say that many are pretty intense in flavor and I wouldn’t want to drink too many of them in a row. This beer though, I could drink all day. Really this is one of the better Belgian IPAs that I’ve had and I think that California has quite a few good ones. My only complaint would be that some of the very elite push the alcohol limit a little higher and maintain good flavor as well. Even so I think this definitely deserves to be rated better.
1,135 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This Belgian IPA pours a golden color with a fairly small, but tenacious, effervescent white head. The smell is more Belgian than IPA with a malty banana scent. The initial flavor is all Belgian with classic flavors of banana bread, clove, cardamom, and a little pepper, though the spices are milder than in a full Belgian. In the aftertaste the IPA flavors (hops) kick in with both some pine and grapefruit elements. This beer is incredibly well balanced as I think many good Belgian IPAs are, which is why I’ve really come to love the style. Further this one walks a perfect line between the two being pretty much 50/50 belgian and IPA. Though I truly love many Stone beers I have to say that many are pretty intense in flavor and I wouldn’t want to drink too many of them in a row. This beer though, I could drink all day. Really this is one of the better Belgian IPAs that I’ve had and I think that California has quite a few good ones. My only complaint would be that some of the very elite push the alcohol limit a little higher and maintain good flavor as well. Even so I think this definitely deserves to be rated better.
1,135 characters
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass
A- Clear gold with a very, very slight orange tint.
S- Belgian yeast all over the place. Fruity esters, slight banana and spice. Some underlying lemon/orange rind hop notes.
T- Very belgian forward. Drinks like a tripel with some light lemon/orange rind hop notes.
M- lighter side of medium, ample carbonation
O- A very good representation of the style.
406 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass
A- Clear gold with a very, very slight orange tint.
S- Belgian yeast all over the place. Fruity esters, slight banana and spice. Some underlying lemon/orange rind hop notes.
T- Very belgian forward. Drinks like a tripel with some light lemon/orange rind hop notes.
M- lighter side of medium, ample carbonation
O- A very good representation of the style.
406 characters
3.5/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.5/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.77/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016-05-25. On tap.
A: Clear gold.
S: Slightly lemon, coriander, and grainy. Moderate Belgian fruity esters.
T: Moderare lemon citrusy. Moderate coriander. Medium bitterness. Dry.
M: Light bodied. Medium carbonation.
O: Balanced Belgian spices addition.
255 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016-05-25. On tap.
A: Clear gold.
S: Slightly lemon, coriander, and grainy. Moderate Belgian fruity esters.
T: Moderare lemon citrusy. Moderate coriander. Medium bitterness. Dry.
M: Light bodied. Medium carbonation.
O: Balanced Belgian spices addition.
255 characters
4.19/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
355ml bottle poured into a chalice.
Clear gold in color with an orange tinge, 1 finger frothy white head forms up and stands with good retention before slowly sinking and leaving plenty of sticky yet refined lacing in form ring, patch and spot along with thin everlasting foamy sheet atop. There is high visible carbonation.
In a nose, you get banana, phenolic spice, clove, herbal, citrus, hint of toasted grain and bready malt.
Estery and clove spice from the yeast mingle nicely with hoppy profile. Bold on bitterness fully covering the taste buds, the hop quality is significant and wide variety ranging from herbal, citrusy, resiny, and peppery notes. Sweetness from malt is in proper amount providing bready touch. Some toasted trait reveals near the finish while hops still carry along with a clean and long-lasting bitter end.
The body is medium with smooth mouthfeel and lively carbonation through the palate, crisp and refreshing feel, dry finish.
The use of Belgian’s yeast strain adds some complexity and depth upon this. So tasty, it makes me want to continue sipping more and more, truly enjoyable brew.
1,124 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
355ml bottle poured into a chalice.
Clear gold in color with an orange tinge, 1 finger frothy white head forms up and stands with good retention before slowly sinking and leaving plenty of sticky yet refined lacing in form ring, patch and spot along with thin everlasting foamy sheet atop. There is high visible carbonation.
In a nose, you get banana, phenolic spice, clove, herbal, citrus, hint of toasted grain and bready malt.
Estery and clove spice from the yeast mingle nicely with hoppy profile. Bold on bitterness fully covering the taste buds, the hop quality is significant and wide variety ranging from herbal, citrusy, resiny, and peppery notes. Sweetness from malt is in proper amount providing bready touch. Some toasted trait reveals near the finish while hops still carry along with a clean and long-lasting bitter end.
The body is medium with smooth mouthfeel and lively carbonation through the palate, crisp and refreshing feel, dry finish.
The use of Belgian’s yeast strain adds some complexity and depth upon this. So tasty, it makes me want to continue sipping more and more, truly enjoyable brew.
1,124 characters
3.95/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.46/5 rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
4.16/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.49/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.97/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a light gold or dark yellow with normal carbonation. Little aroma, but what's there is yeasty. Taste is generally fruity from the hops and yeast, some spice from the yeast. I had trouble placing the yeast strain, at first it tasted more spicy like a saison but more bubblegum and fruit emerged as it warmed up. A little body and malt like an average ipa, versus the pilsner or light pale malt body from a Belgian pale ale. This one might have been a little too yeasty and not enough of the hops but was still easy and pleasant to drink.
542 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a light gold or dark yellow with normal carbonation. Little aroma, but what's there is yeasty. Taste is generally fruity from the hops and yeast, some spice from the yeast. I had trouble placing the yeast strain, at first it tasted more spicy like a saison but more bubblegum and fruit emerged as it warmed up. A little body and malt like an average ipa, versus the pilsner or light pale malt body from a Belgian pale ale. This one might have been a little too yeasty and not enough of the hops but was still easy and pleasant to drink.
542 characters
3.25/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. er.
Appearance - Clear amber-copper.Lots of visible carbonation rising to a small but durable white head.
Smell - Yeast, wet leather, sour apple and tropical fruits
Taste - A cross between an IPA and yeasty Belgian pale ale. Lightly funky. Moderately bitter with a bitter aftertaste suggesting grapefruit and yeast. Overly bitter.
Mouthfeel - Medium body; medium+ carbonation.
Overall: Cali-Belgie indeed, with pronounced hops and strong Belgian yeast influences.
511 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. er.
Appearance - Clear amber-copper.Lots of visible carbonation rising to a small but durable white head.
Smell - Yeast, wet leather, sour apple and tropical fruits
Taste - A cross between an IPA and yeasty Belgian pale ale. Lightly funky. Moderately bitter with a bitter aftertaste suggesting grapefruit and yeast. Overly bitter.
Mouthfeel - Medium body; medium+ carbonation.
Overall: Cali-Belgie indeed, with pronounced hops and strong Belgian yeast influences.
511 characters
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
3.96 out of
5 with
3,447 ratings
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4