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What's 15 Years of Arrogance Taste Like?

I remember the early days of Stone Brewing Co.’s regime and the small street-fair type of celebrations that came with each passing year. Back then, those little get-togethers at their old San Marcos facility on Mata Way (currently home to Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey) seemed so big. That was before Stone started holding one of the most massive and much-anticipated annual beer festivals in the county on the sprawling green of CSU San Marcos campus.

Another tradition that’s gotten bigger with time is Stone's anniversary beer. With the exception of their 12th-anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, these brews are always forward on the palate. This year's entry is no different. An onyx brew with a creamy head that’s downright chantilly like, the beer looks like an imperial stout but brings all the hop Stone fans enjoy. In an homage to the city that houses Stone’s massive and soon-to-be expanded brewing facility, the celebratory brew, which comes in at 10.8% ABV and 100 IBUs (International Bittering Units), has been dubbed an Escondidian Imperial Black IPA.

The beer delivers bold, dark-cocoa notes on the front palette, much like a chocolate stout. After that, a combination of roasty warmth and floral hop contrast register simultaneously. It’s a two-pronged attack on the senses and quite enjoyable. Each sip ends with a black-licorice finish and a lingering hint of bitterness. It’s an impressive beer and available only for a limited time.

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Making Love to Goats, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar

I remember the early days of Stone Brewing Co.’s regime and the small street-fair type of celebrations that came with each passing year. Back then, those little get-togethers at their old San Marcos facility on Mata Way (currently home to Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey) seemed so big. That was before Stone started holding one of the most massive and much-anticipated annual beer festivals in the county on the sprawling green of CSU San Marcos campus.

Another tradition that’s gotten bigger with time is Stone's anniversary beer. With the exception of their 12th-anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, these brews are always forward on the palate. This year's entry is no different. An onyx brew with a creamy head that’s downright chantilly like, the beer looks like an imperial stout but brings all the hop Stone fans enjoy. In an homage to the city that houses Stone’s massive and soon-to-be expanded brewing facility, the celebratory brew, which comes in at 10.8% ABV and 100 IBUs (International Bittering Units), has been dubbed an Escondidian Imperial Black IPA.

The beer delivers bold, dark-cocoa notes on the front palette, much like a chocolate stout. After that, a combination of roasty warmth and floral hop contrast register simultaneously. It’s a two-pronged attack on the senses and quite enjoyable. Each sip ends with a black-licorice finish and a lingering hint of bitterness. It’s an impressive beer and available only for a limited time.

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Iron-Fisted Vista Regime a Year Old and Going Strong

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San Diego's best IPAs, sours, browns, reds, session ales, and pales

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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