It's time for another BREW-REVIEWOn an accidental visit to A Taste of Tops Tuesday night (yes, it's possible to 'accidentally' visit a bar) I got the chance to try Stone Brewery's 13th Anniversary Imperial/Double Red Ale (quite a mouthful!). With loads of craft beers on tap TOT makes it very difficult for a beer lover to sit down and enjoy ‘just one’. However time was limited so I enlisted the help of a pro in picking my libation. Capri, Top’s bartender and perpetual smiler, suggested that if I were to have just one, it should be her current favorite, the Stone Brewery13th Anni. I obliged.
The first thing that struck me was how dark the beer was. It was somewhere between a deep shade of wet brick and the color of dried blood (not thirsty yet?--stay with me!). The color of the head was fantastic. It was a beautiful burnt tan color that reminded me of making S’mores as a kid (I was very patient as a child and--as I do today--understood the value of the finer things. I’d spend a full hour, if necessary, tending my marshmallow, rotating it, moving it from hotter to colder parts of the campfire, just to insure that my ‘mallow was cooked to the perfect level of toasty-ness necessary to create a proper S’more).
The two flavors that came through most predominately when I sipped the beer were vanilla, and cherry. Upon second sip the cherries persisted, but richer, heartier flavors of dried spices and toffee also made an appearance. The flavor experience culminated with a pleasant sour finish on the end.
So, how do I rate it? Well, I have to say, the Stone’s 13th-Anni is a whole lot of beer. It has mucho hops, mucho alcohol, and MUCHISIMO flavor! It’s complex and balanced (I love it when brewers do that!) and although the alcohol is high, with the amount of flavor they packed into the recipe, that didn’t take away from the overall experience. By the numbers I give it a 7 out of 10. [Flavor 7/10, Balance 8/10 Complexity 6/10].
Oh, and I almost forgot, what did Capri have to say about her favorite beer? “It’s my favorite thing to black out on”. I think I’ll take her drink recommendation anytime!
-Prost!
D.Lux
PS I will be doing a BAR REVIEW of Taste of Tops soon-STAY TUNED!
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