Stone Brewing Company Stochasticity Your Father Smelt of Elderberries American Strong Ale at 10.3% ABV (C$13.49 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 650 ml, bottle date 3-Sep-2015)
Appearance: ruby-brown with one finger of dense pinkish head, excellent retention and good lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark fruit, red berries, caramel, smoke, leather, herbal and earthy. (6/10) Taste: low-moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (4/10) Medium body, medium-low carbonation, herbal boozy and spicy finish. (3/5)
Stone, I hate to say this, because I love you, but: these Stochasticity beers are starting to seem like so much pretentious twaddle. This is like sucking on a leather tobacco pouch. And no, that’s not an exaggeration: that’s exactly what it tastes like, maybe with a bit of raspberry jam on top. The only reason this ranks above a Coors Light is the fact that, flaws aside, it’s different, and pretty good-looking. But I wouldn’t have this again if you paid me. On the up side, much like the gruits I’ve tried, this makes me intensely glad I didn’t live in medieval times. And it near killed me to do it, but I sink poured half a thirteen dollar ten percent beer. Happy now, Stone? (8/20)
5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
