13th Anniversary Ale
Stone Brewing

13th Anniversary Ale13th Anniversary Ale
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 11.58%
Reviews:
608
Ratings:
727
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 08, 2021
Added:
Jun 30, 2009
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  30
No description / notes.
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Ratings by StephenRich:
Photo of StephenRich
Reviewed by StephenRich from Canada (ON)

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
As if I really need to introduce the Stone Brewery by now. Only yesterday I posted an extremely positive review of their collaboration beer with Victory and Dogfish Head, the Saison du BUFF, I also reviewed another collaboration beer with Stone, Maui Brewing and revered homebrewer Ken Schmidt, the Kona Coffee, Macadamia, Coconut Porter, and one of the first beers I wrote about was their infamous Arrogant Bastard. I think I'll have to revisit that one soon.

With Stone's 14th Anniversary Beer just about to hit shelves, if it hasn't already, I decided to crack open my last bottle of the 13th Anniversary Ale; their Imperial/Double Red Ale. It has been hiding in the back of my fridge since mid 2009, and is certainly ready to be enjoyed. In fact, I should have probably opened this one fresh. But therein lies the heartache of finishing a one-off beer. I had had it a few times before, but now I was really to really sit down and focus on it.

As a bit of a background, Stone releases a new Anniversary beer every year; and surprise surprise, they are usually very hop forward. Sometimes one of these specialty beers becomes so popular that they add it to the regular line up. As is the case with one of my favorite beers that they brew, the Sublimely Self Righteous Ale, the 11th Anniversary.

The 13 Anniversary comes in a 650ml classic Stone bottle with red on-glass printing and a proud gargoyle raising a pint in celebration. So the 11th was a Black IPA, 12th was a Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout (I wish I could still find one of those!), and now an Imperial/Double Red Ale. Sounds good to me! I do love red ales, and think that they are largely overlooked by the brewing community. This Imperial version hit me much like a Red IPA; I guess that is in pure Stone fashion.

I opened the 13th up at cellar temperature around 12C (54F) and poured it into snifter. It poured very aggressively building a deep garnet red beer with huge amounts of life and carbonation. When the pour was over, and the rumbling had settled I was left with a deep and dark slightly hazy, but overall transparent beer. It shone strongly with amber reds, dark golds and blackness streaking all throughout it. A thick and frothy tan brown head lifted a good inch and a half above the beer showing great carbonation, resilience, and contrast to the beer itself.

The nose, like so many of Stone's beers, was upfront with big punches of west coast hops. Stone brewed this with a spicy and piney variety called Chinook, and also dry hopped it with Simcoe and Centennial. Fresh and bitter scents of earth, pine and citrus erupt out of the beer bringing sweet and tart grapefruit with it. Malts show big round and juicy flavors of caramel and soft toffee with a gentle hind of roast, and pale malt freshness. The 13th is 9.5%abv, and does smell madly rich.

In for a plunge and you will experience exactly that. A big rush of bitter quenching hops comes to the front beginning on the tip of your tongue and crashing all they way down the back of your throat. The hops show smooth complexity focusing on citrus peel and pine, but also bring touches of sweet fruit, earth and round, deep bitterness. Soon though, malts make they way under the hop resin and glide along your tongue and into your cheeks. Soft caramel with a brown sugar sweetness, dark cherries, apricots and blood orange show soft malts the way in.

This somewhat creamy malt sensation is nice, and needed to be there to add balance, but in comes more hops to bitter and crisp out this beer. It has got to be in the 90 IBU range, and shows much power and gusto. The hops do wave in with a significant crackle that leaves you very quenched; it left me very satisfied. The mouthfeel is authentic and full bodied showing some spice from the hops. It shows a smooth and carbonated structure with crisp edges, and a touch of alcohol warmth.

It is a big beer, and for the average beer drinker it will probably knock them overboard. But it really wans't designed for them - this is the Anniversary Ale, this was designed for the people who made Stone what it is now. It was designed for the hop heads, the brewers, the fanatics, and the fans. And I'm glad they did it! This beer was totally enjoyable and showed me great rich hop flavors and soft malt chewiness that I do love. I can't wait to try the 14th!
Aug 20, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.27/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Reddish brown colour, moderate off-white head. Unfresh aroma, notes of stale marmalade, American caramel malts and American hops. Distinct and bitter flavour of American hops, on a background of caramel malts.
May 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.14 by digitalflood from New York

May 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Apr 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by heysuz from Indiana

Apr 08, 2018
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.31/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Before there was Pataskala, there was this red ale. This was brown and red. Aroma was hoppy, but not as citrus sun drenched as Pataskala. Came off like arrogant bastard a little bit.

Its boozy, its heavy C hopped, bitter. Wasn't the greatest, pretty strong, bomber format, I only had one of these when it came out.
Apr 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.38 by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

Feb 07, 2016
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

4.46/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Taken from notes dated 5-2-10.

A deep ruby red body is very elegant as it sits in my Maudite glass. Head is a full three fingers of biscuity tan rocky foam with nice retentions. Scattered lace is left all over the top of the glass. Nose previews a nice mixture of woodsy hops and mineral based malts. It is a very appetizing aroma for sure. Enters the mouth crisp and just as rustic as the nose previewed. Hops hive a nice bite up front but are not overly dominate as the malts equally shine. the hops may have been more prominent when this brew was freshest, but it is just right for me now. Beautiful balance on this beer. Hops do come back and get a little prickly on the back of the tongue as you drink but this is quite nice. The mouthfeel it produces is wonderful. This beer really reminds me of Double Bastard which I love. Superiorly drinkable.
Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by DaveRinn from Washington

Feb 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by Recondopf from Virginia

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by trevordglenn from California

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
Photo of jdcollens
Reviewed by jdcollens from New York

3.79/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Told not to cellar, BUT I'M A MAVERICK. I had a few of these fresh a few years back and thought they were quite good, so I saved one for a 5 year tasting. Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Dark red with pretty decent head formation. Reading previous reviews, it seems the head does develop over time. The agitator in the Duvel tulip certainly doesn't hurt, I'm sure.

S: I read the 2012 reviews and saw a lot about the alcohol. I'm really only getting a little of that, so I guess the extra 2 years have really helped on that front. Some toffee and sweet malts up front, with a slight hint of currants.

T: Very, very sweet, caramel and molasses dominate. I think a year earlier would've been a better call for this, but I was bound and determined for a 5-year review. That currant/raisin flavor sticks around a bit. Decently long finish - honestly, a minute or so after the last sip is when this beer gets really interesting, with the raisins and molasses dominating.

M: Medium- to full-bodied, surprised the rest of the flavors don't stick around longer.

O: This one was pretty solid fresh (wish I would've reviewed it back then), but 5 years really is too long. I could see maybe 3 or 4 being worthwhile. I don't really get Stone's insistence that you "Do Not Cellar. Enjoy in 2009." I had this as part of a 3-year vertical in 2010, with 2008, 2009, and 2010 anniversaries, and I recall 2009 standing out above the others (and those were pretty solid fresh). I remember thinking I had a gem on my hands but I guess it was just slightly too long.
Jun 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by drew74 from Pennsylvania

Apr 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Irrationalist from California

Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jan 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by jakecattleco from California

Dec 29, 2013
13th Anniversary Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 727 ratings