Beer of the Week (Vol. CIII)

Another edition of Beer of the Week brought to you by the rock solid folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who have the stones to help you explore the wide world of wine, whiskey, and beer. And when it comes to beer you won’t find many with more knowledge on the subject than Glen Lake Wine & Spirits’ new manager Mark. I met the affable young man these week and can verify that his expertise on matters beer related is both broad and deep. And we didn’t even get a chance to talk whisky or bourbon, other areas that I understand he knows well.

He also has a good sense of humor as evidenced by this You Tube recommendation:



This week we feature another selection from San Diego’s nationally renowned Stone Brewing Co (well, at least it used to be before the nano-brewery movement). Our beer of the week is Stone’s Pale Ale:

Our flagship ale, Stone Pale Ale is our Southern California interpretation of the classic British pale ale style. Deep amber in color, Stone Pale Ale is robust and full flavored. A delicate hop aroma is complemented by a rich maltiness. This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor. Stone Pale Ale is great by itself, or with food that requires a beer of character.

12oz brown bottle poured into an English pint glass. Usual Stone look will gargoyle graphic on transparent label that’s inlaid on the bottle. The design is visually appealing and its seamless nature gives it a good feel as well. $9.99 for a six pack.

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol by Volume: 5.4%

COLOR (0-2): Rich, golden brown color. 2

AROMA (0-2): Mostly sweep malt with some hops as well. 2

HEAD (0-2): Off-white color, good volume and laces nicely in the glass. 2

TASTE (0-5): Well balanced with toasty malts at the front and piney hops at the back. Flavors of citrus and honey as well. Medium-bodied, smooth, and drinkable. Not especially carbonated. 4

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Crisp finish, a little light on the aftertaste. 1

OVERALL (0-6): This is a very solid offering from Stone. It looks beautiful in the glass. The flavors won’t blow you away, but they complement each other nicely and this a well-rounded beer. More character and depth than you find in many pale ales. The flavors build on each other and my appreciation for Stone Pale Ale grew with each sip. 4

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 15