Thanks to Boolshot for a great trade. 22oz bomber.

This is not the best beer that I have had from Stone – not by long chalk. The main problem here is with the style. In a Brown Ale I’m looking for a simple, malt based (low hop presence) easy drinking beer with some sweet notes and probably a pretty low alcohol. This fails on three counts and as a result the drinkability is low. There is a high alcohol taste combined with a hoppy note, all amongst a chocolate-cocoa powedery mouthfeel. A poor combo under any circumstances but in a Brown Ale it’s even worse.

Alcohol in the nose too – it’s all a little too much.

Stone is a great brewer whom I have a lot of respect for and I love most of their beers, but this is not one of them. A blip.