Stone Limited Release 6Pk

Stone Limited Release 6Pk — Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA is a 8.7% ABV Black IPA from Stone Brewing, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. Originally released in 2007 as Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this beer holds a 94 score on BeerAdvocate across more than 6,100 ratings, cementing its reputation as one of the style's definitive examples.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.7%  |  IBU: 90  |  Origin: California, United States  |  Style: Black IPA / Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Stone Brewing

Production & Heritage

Stone Brewing, founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, has long championed aggressively hopped ales. Sublimely Self-Righteous was first brewed in 2007 to celebrate the brewery's 11th anniversary, and its success prompted a recurring limited release. The recipe features a trio of American hops — Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo — layered over deeply roasted dark malts, creating the seemingly contradictory union of a pitch-black pour with the aromatic intensity of a double IPA. At 90 IBUs, it stands as a pioneering effort in the Black IPA category, predating many imitators that followed in the early 2010s.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: An initial wave of pine resin and citrus — grapefruit and lime in particular — gives way to roasted coffee and a subtle dark chocolate warmth. The interplay between aggressive hop aromatics and malt-driven darkness is immediate and striking.

Taste: Strong pine hop bitterness leads the entry, followed quickly by char, cocoa, and molasses-like malt sweetness at the mid-palate. As the beer opens up, orange-raspberry hop fruit emerges, with earthy, dank hop resin balancing the roasted grain. The 8.7% ABV provides body without tipping into boozy territory.

Finish: Long and decidedly bitter, with roast and hop bitterness intersecting in a lingering, dry close. Faint chocolate and coffee linger beneath a resinous, piney fade.

How to Drink Sublimely Self-Righteous

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at 50–55°F to let the hop aromatics open fully while keeping the roasted malt grounded. This is a beer designed for deliberate sipping rather than quick drinking. For food-forward occasions, it pairs exceptionally as a standalone complement to grilled meats, sharp aged cheeses, or rich chocolate desserts — treat it like you would a big stout that happens to have IPA-level hop intensity.

Best For

• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who appreciate boundary-pushing styles
• Pairing alongside a backyard barbecue with heavily smoked or charred proteins
• Gifting to a hop-forward drinker looking to explore darker, maltier territory
• Adding to a curated tasting flight comparing Black IPAs side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sublimely Self-Righteous taste like? It leads with bold pine and citrus hop bitterness, then shifts into roasted coffee, cocoa, and molasses-like dark malt, finishing long and dry with interlocking hop and roast bitterness.

How does Sublimely Self-Righteous compare to Firestone Walker Wookey Jack? Both are benchmark Black IPAs, but Wookey Jack incorporates rye malt for a spicier, slightly drier profile, while Sublimely Self-Righteous leans heavier on pine resin and roasted malt sweetness with a higher ABV of 8.7% versus Wookey Jack's 8.3%.

Is Sublimely Self-Righteous good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its complexity rewards slow, attentive drinking from a proper glass, and the layered interplay between hops and dark malt reveals new details as it warms slightly.

Where is Sublimely Self-Righteous made? It is brewed by Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, one of the largest independently owned craft breweries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Sublimely Self-Righteous? Smoked brisket or ribs match its roasted intensity; aged cheddar or Gruyère complement the malt backbone; dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa notes; grilled portobello mushrooms mirror its earthy, savory character; and spicy black bean chili stands up to the assertive bitterness.

What sizes does Sublimely Self-Righteous come in? This limited release is available as a six-pack of 12 oz bottles; availability of other formats may vary by release.

Is Sublimely Self-Righteous worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release craft beer, and its 94-point BeerAdvocate score, 8.7% ABV, and status as a style-defining Black IPA give it strong value within the specialty six-pack tier.

Why Sublimely Self-Righteous?

Few beers can claim to have helped define an entire style. Sublimely Self-Righteous debuted in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, arriving before "Black IPA" had settled into the craft beer lexicon. Its 94-point BeerAdvocate rating reflects years of consistent praise for the way it resolves the apparent contradiction of its style — aggressively hopped with Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo yet anchored by genuinely rich dark malt character. At 8.7% ABV and 90 IBUs, it remains one of the most intense and rewarding expressions in the category, earning its limited-release status with every batch.