Stone 6th Anniversary Porter

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Rated in July 2016. The 6th Anniversary from the Encore 20th Anniversary 22oz bottle pours with a deep mahogany colored body that supports a thin tan head of foam. The aroma offers up roasty malts, a bit of burnt malts, some molasses like sweetness and then a faint dark fruity ester sensation. The taste is nice and bold and integrated with roasty malts, burnt malts, chocolate malts, a woody spicy maltiness and then this gets sweetened up some by a malty slightly molasses like sweetness. This has firm malt roastiness and then toward the finish picks up slivers of sweet dark fruity esters to add just that little extra something. A few more sips and it feels like there’s a faint sense of smokiness going on as well. Solid robust porter. So glad it was brewed again.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

07.23.04 Bottle thanks to Secret Santa. Black beer with dark head. Aromas roasty and grainy, some smoke, some coffee, some burnt/caramelized sugars. The flavors mimic the aromas with the addition of oak notes. The palate is creamy and thick like chocolatey coffee that’s been left on the burner all day. Thanks Santa!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 8

Black but not opaque. Nice tan head laces nicely. This one isn't as smokey as their smoked porter (a good thing) but it is still noticeably smoky. Dark malts (predominately chocolate) are dominated by the citrus peel hops a bit. Not too overbalanced though.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Big hopped up Porter! Stone hit it with this one. Big palate a hint of smokiness and a huge dose of hops that is balanced out with just enough malt. A must try!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

I first had this when it first came out, and wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. Of course, the fact that I was drinking it right after a Double Bastard may have thrown my taste buds into a "critical overload"-type of situation...! So, for all intents and purposes, this can be considered my first real taste of this most excellent porter.

First impression: coffee. I know this isn't a coffee porter, or a mocha stout, or even brewed with a dash of Folger's Instant Coffee. But to my taste buds, there are definate hints of black coffee in the aroma and the taste.

Big roasty body, with a really complex (albeit subdued) hop balance, that makes this very much a Porter, and nothing else. Despite Stone's history of pushing the envelope and making some of their beers "hybrids", this is probably one of the most authentic Porters around today (since the original Porters in the 19th Century were probably 7-8%ABV too).

One the best Porters ever made, that unfortunately is becoming harder and harder to find as time goes by. I very much look forward to the next time I break out my next (and probably last) Stone 6th Aniversary Porter.
//TB

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Dark black color, medium off white head. A BIG full-bodied porter, almost chewy. Roasted malts, chocolaty. Big chewy hoppiness. WOW whatta porter. Stone is usually over the top with their beers (this is NOT a bad thing) and this beer is no exception. Big and bold flavor with a very pronounced hop bite, yet it has a very smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter. No alcohol bite, despite an 8.1% ABV. Etched beer bottle. Look very classy.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 10

1 Aug 2004 Two years later, it's still great. Smokey, chocolatey, and some bitterness. Beautifully complex Original rating. Simply Beautiful. Explosions of coffee, chocolate & malt flavor. Smooth on the tongue, w/ a nice balance of malt & hops.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Another nice porter...Black appearance with tan head. Flavors mostly of roasted malts and a hint of smoke, with dark fruits detectable as it warmed. Thanks to my brewing mentor (and the MASTER), Jay!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Thanks Willblake. Deep dark brown in color with a nice tan head. Roasty and malty. Aroma is slightly smokey. Smooth caramel flavors. Smooth and complex flavors. Enjoyable.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

A five star for number 500. As hard as it is to believe that I have finally enjoyed my 500th different type of beer, it is harder for me to believe just how damn good this beer was. Stone does it like no other. I am a big fan of the porter style. Powerful, dark, malty,, I absolutely love it. And then they go and hop it up. A great beer for a great occasion. I also enjoyed the informative, inspirational and slightly amusing story on the back of the bottle.