Beer – #211 -Stone – Cali-Belgique IPA (Cali-België)
I know right, what madness is this – Stone Cali-Belgique IPA (Cali-België). Brewed by Stone Brewing Co. in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) in the exotic sounding Escondido, California USA.
When reading the name “Stone Cali-Belgique IPA”, “Cali” hints that it is a California style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word “Belgique” (which is how Belgium’s French-speaking population says the word “Belgian”; the Dutch speaking Belgians say “Belgie”). We carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply Stone IPA.
The result is both completely new and different, while still being recognizable as a Stone Brew – and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.
One US pint (600 ml give or take) of a 6.9% ABV beer, or about 3.53 standard drinks.
This really sounds like a Frankenstein monster of a beer, with it’s roots in IPA and it’s heart in Belgium, but it came highly recommended, and even if it wasn’t the idea of this would have made me buy it.
Sort of then expecting a hoppy and fruit malty beer, I think. Who can tell until it’s opened. The brewer may have thought this through and this is a real thing, or the uncharitable might think that they wrongly got delivered, or ordered the wrong yeast, but no it’s a real thing, on the list of beers available all year round, said their website.
The opening aroma is a mixed and very pleasant experience, hops and sweetness. Cloudy coppery pour with a nice head that doesn’t sit for long, aroma is more of citrus than anything.
Nothing up my sleeves
Wow!
That’s a bit awesome.
Tart hoppyness with a really warm maltiness. Decent carbonation. Really nice bitterness and a strong finish to the softer malty notes.
That is a seriously nice taste profile, and what the brewer has done seems to defy logic and argument. It’s very clever is what it is, but must be more difficult or too left field for others to have attempted.
It’s happiness makes it IPA, there is no alcohol astringent note, but the Belgium malt sweetness is undeniably here, with both the pine and the lemony citrus notes thrown together.
The pdubyah-o-meter says 9.9, and you should check it out for yourself. Not at 10? Well no, it’s magnificent and all that, but it is in a league of it’s own. Shall I compare thee to a summers day….
This stands up will to any examination of being an IPA or a more Belgium style ale. The aroma is great, the taste profile is a joy, but it is just to clever for itself. I’m in awe of this, it’s something I’d talk about in company, I feel mean for not making it a whole round number, but I’m going to enjoy and enthuse about it all the same like I did.
Oh and I’m getting another if they have any left in the store.
Related articles
- The Beer Hunter: Stone Cali-Belgie India Pale Ale (moviesandbeerblog.wordpress.com)
- Stone IPA (thebittersandthesweet.wordpress.com)
A life just as ordinary 
I love Stone! It’s a great brewery in Escondido (northeast of San Diego, CA).
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It was a bit special, and a bit weird, I’m hoping that the importer has more of their beers that I can buy.
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Stone is awesome! I tried their beer for the first time a few ago and fell in love with them. Have you tried many other Stone brews?
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None at all. They’re not that easy to come by, and I’ve been sidetracked by those nice beers from Rogue in the meantime. I’m certainly 1 for 1 and am looking forward to the next one I buy already
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