Stone Pale Ale ....

Kind of hard to believe that with all the beers I have sampled this year, I have not had a single one from Stone Brewing Company - but I haven't.  So tonight I have the first of the year, their Pale Ale.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 5.4% ABV.  The web site lists 41 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thick, almost tan head.  Beer color is an amber/copper with a little more brown to it - kind of a darker copper.  The aroma has some fruity citrus, caramel sweetness, and maybe a little dark fruit.  Medium bodied.  Up front, the taste hits you with some citrusy, floral hops and a little bitterness that you think is going to build but then the malt kicks in and smooths it all out.  Nice earthy and sweet malt.  The bitterness builds a little at the end and sticks with you for the aftertaste.  Very nice.
    

Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, California

www.stonebrew.com