Stone Brewing Co.
Located in North County San Diego, Stone Brewing Co. is the brainchild of beer-lover/brewer Steve Wagner and beer-lover/business guy Greg Koch. They originally met in Los Angeles in 1989 and then again a few years later at a weekend "Sensory Evaluation of Beer" class taught at UC Davis. After the class, they discovered that they not only shared a love of beer, but also that their tastes in beer and ideals in brewing matched as well. Over the next three years, Steve and Greg kept in touch and kept talking about beer and brewing. Eventually the only possible conclusion became clear — they had to open their own brewery. Based on Steve's knowledge and experience in brewing and Greg's past successes in business, the two managed to obtain the backing of a group of private investors and, after a nine month search, the newly formed team found the perfect location in San Marcos. They moved in on February 1, 1996. On July 26th, the ribbon was cut and the first beer was tapped in the brewery's tasting room. In addition to the quality of the beer, Stone Brewing is known for its clever advertising and aggressive attitudes (most notably, for their Arrogant Bastard Ale).
Stone Arrogant Bastard AleABV: 7.2% |
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Arrogant Bastard Ale is a strong ale, replete with hops, yet enough malt flavor to offset the initial assault, making it a well-balanced and intensely bitter beer. It is a deep reddish brown color and very aromatic. In the mouth, Arrogant Bastard is rich, full and complex and not a beer for the faint of heart. |
Stone Pale AleABV: 5.4% |
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Stone's flagship beer is brewed with Magnum and Abtanum hops; this is a robust Southern California interpretation of a classic British pale ale. Deep amber in color, robust and full flavored. This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor. Try Stone Pale Ale with salami and cheese on a Kaiser roll. |
Stone Smoked PorterABV: 5.9% |
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Stone Smoked Porter is dark, rich and complicated. It has a captivatingly deep mahogany color which is complimented by a silky dark tan head. Smooth, with chocolate and coffee-like flavors, Smoked Porter is full bodied, robust and has the requisite subtle "smoky" character from just the right amount of peat-smoked specialty malt. |
Stone India Pale AleABV: 6.9% |
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Stone IPA is true to style, with a huge hop aroma, flavor and bitterness throughout. It has a deep golden color and a medium malt character to go along with the crisp hop flavors. Two full weeks of "dry hopping" give this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor. |
Stone Ruination Double IPAABV: 7.7% |
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So called because of the “ruinous” effect on your palate, this massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor with a refreshing malt base. One taste and you can easily see why they call this brew “a liquid poem to the glory of the hop!” Those who seek, crave and rejoice in beers with big, bold, bitter character will find true nirvana in Ruination IPA. |
Stone Double Bastard AleABV: 10%
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Stone Brewing's Double Bastard Ale is the "Big Brother" of its cult favorite Arrogant Bastard Ale. It features a massive malt presence and intense bitter hop flavor and delivers a taste sensation designed for only the serious beer drinker. The front of the bottle reads "Ye shall know the Bastard, and the Bastard shall set you free." The back label warns, "This is one lacerative muther of a beer.” Make no mistake... it is not to be wasted on the weak or tentative. If you purchase this bottle in a fit of foolish abandon, you will surely regret the decision. Only the “Worthy” are invited, and then only at your own risk." Available in winter. |
Stone Imperial Russian StoutABV: 10.8% |
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A big, big beer, hopped with Warrior hops and designed for aging, and like all Stone beers, this one pushes the envelope.... and then some. Brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, this beer is massive. Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate, this brew goes where few can – and fewer dare to even try. The style originated from Czarist Russia’s demand for even thicker English stouts. Expect this version of this mysterious brew to pour like Siberian crude and taste even heavier. |
Stone Old Guardian BarleywineABV: 11.3% |
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A stunning representation of all that is big and bold in beer! This beautiful, bold barleywine has a massive malt character and a near critical level of hop notes. The 2000 edition won a Silver Medal winner at the 2000 Great American Beer Festival in the Barley Wine category. The Stone brewers tweak the recipe annually. |
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard AleABV: 7.2 % |
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Same profile of the original, with barrel-aging to boot. Very Limited. |
Stone Levitation AleABV: 4.4% |
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This gravity defying ale is available year round, but perfect for the summer months. It is a deep amber ale with rich malt flavors, a big hoppy character, citrus overtones and modest alcohol. With an ABV of 4.4%, you can enjoy this delicious ale all day long. |
Stone Sublimely Self Righteous AleABV: 8.7% |
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A brilliantly hopped double IPA–providing a wake up call of floral and citrus aromas–backed up by a deliciously smooth and dark roasted maltiness. You get the best of both worlds with this black double IPA. Limited Release. |
Stone Cali-Belgique IPAABV: 6.9% |
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Stone carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply, Stone IPA. The result is completely new and different while remaining recognizable as a Stone brew—and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA, but raised in a Belgian culture. Limited Release. |
Stone Thirteenth Anniversary AleABV: 9.5% |
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This ale pours a brilliant deep red with a light tan foam. Up front, the aroma is piney, resinous and citrus hops. Upon tasting, the hops are still on the front and they are balanced with the malty, toffee-like flavors contributed from the blend of crystal and amber malts used in the brewhouse. The finish is deliciously bitter with a touch of warmth provided by the high alcohol content. This is the first time that Stone has ever released an Imperial Double Red style and also the first time they have used their popular double dry-hopped process for a bottled beer. Stone Thirteenth Anniversary is made with more hops per barrel than any beer they have ever made! This is a big, red, hop monster! |
Stone Vertical Epic 09-09-09ABV: 8.5% |
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This year’s Vertical Epic 09-09-09 is quite a complex and layered beer. Bold and smooth chocolate malt flavors continue with a Belgian yeast, lending tropical fruit/banana flavors and hints of spiciness, all complemented by citrus notes from an addition of tangerine peel. Vanilla beans add a nice counter to the chocolate malt—actually enhancing the chocolatiness. The finish is smooth, with additional traces of vanilla and toasted characters from the French Oak. The goal for this year’s release was to be reminiscent of artisanal chocolates accentuated with orange. Available 09-09-09. |
