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San Diego County Session Ale
Stone Brewing

San Diego County Session AleSan Diego County Session Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.99 | pDev: 12.28%
Reviews:
270
Ratings:
376
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 06, 2016
Added:
Aug 07, 2010
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  20
Collaboration with Ballast Point Brewing and Kelsey McNair
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by lacqueredmouse:
Photo of lacqueredmouse
Reviewed by lacqueredmouse from Australia

4.04/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I only have a single bottle of this, so I can't really test out the bold claims it makes in its name, but we'll see how it goes nonetheless.

Hazed mild golden colour, with a lot of streaming carbonation and a full, but pocked head of off-white. Body looks very light, as is to be expected. Head only leaves vapour trails of lacing. Not bad, but not that exciting.

Nose is wonderfully full and hoppy. Clean green fruit characters with plenty of zesty citrus. Really lovely sharp, fresh lemon and lime notes, very potent and very heady. The sharp nature of the fragrance cuts through whatever malt there may be there, but my guess is that this is not a very full-bodied beer anyway. Lovely fragrance though.

Taste is, yes, lacking in sweetness somewhat, and also hoppiness, but the palate manages to stay pretty much in balance. Light crisp hop characters on the front, with a mild and faint candied orange or light sugar character that feels very thin. Bitterness lingers on the back, but not because the bitterness itself is particularly pronounced—more that everything else drops out.

Tasty brew, and one with plenty of character. It does feel a bit weak and empty on the palate, but that's what you get for a 4.2% beer, and given the advantages of the low ABV, this hits what they were going for spot on.
Jul 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.29 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

May 06, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.06/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Old review from notes.

Yellow beer with lots of clarity. Nice white 1/2" head. Aroma seemed like a great mix of newer style ipa hops. Amarillo seemed to jump. Plenty of citrus and pine. One of the first session ipas I've come across. The price at $3/12oz was a little heavy, but if they could drop it to $2 a bottle, I think it could work.

This beer stays very light on its feet while packing plenty of flavor. There's been better ones going on lately.
May 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.91 by Greatczar

Mar 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by MwPack87

Jan 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by chcfan from California

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by nomisma from Massachusetts

Aug 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Aug 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by BigV from California

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by GClarkage from California

Jul 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by LakerLeith from California

Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

May 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by user785335 from Florida

Apr 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by afsdan from Colorado

Apr 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BostonPhilly from Massachusetts

Sep 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by heytomcat from Minnesota

Aug 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by vermilcj from Ohio

Aug 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

Aug 01, 2013
San Diego County Session Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 376 ratings