Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

22 oz bomber. Pours to a beautiful, bright, deep amber to ruby color, with virtually no head, and light carbonation. The nose on this beer is inviting, with good sweet malty, and spice aroma, paired with some peppery alcohol. The palate is soft on the tongue, with good sweet malt flavors, paired with some estery fruit, and some corriander spice flavor. This beer finishes with more good sweet malt, caramel, estery fruit, and spice notes, then finishes with a warming, peppery burn that lingers. This beer has held up better than the 04.04.04, but like that beer, I think it isn’t going to stand up to the test of time. I would not have aged this one much longer, and actually should have drank this one after 1 or 2 years of age on it.

Bottle. Reddish, bronze/mahogony with a very small off-white head. Sherry aroma with sweet malt, but the oxidation doesn’t seem to be too bad. Sweet malt flavor with brandy, dark fruit, and some earthy yeast. There’s a bit of spiciness in the background. Lingering shery malt. Finishes dry. Medium body. Not bad at all. Needs just a bit more of something and I wouldn’t want to hang on to it much longer before what’s there fades away or the oxidation takes center stage.

22 ounce bottle bought hell if I can remember where in the summer of 2003, I think, reasonably carefully stored for 4 years, and now consumed from a Dieu du Ciel! tulip at cellar temperature or a little below. A decent "pop" when the cap is removed, and the clear coppery liquid that pours forth is capped by a largish, quite stable off-white creamy head which upon receding laces thickly and beautifully.....the nose is unquestionably oxidized, quite sherryish, at first to the point of excluding all else, but eventually some fine caramel notes emerge, vanilla and perhaps some stronger spirits, rum or brandy; it’s reminiscent of some quads as much as anything....the body is quite sweet, dark caramelized malts and a bit of smokiness, burnt dried herbs coating dry fruitwoods, all floating in a somewhat thinned but perfectly drinkable mouthfeel....fairly dry, rather yeasty, and somewhat estery (bananas, baked apples) at the finish....this is still quite pleasant actually; I would imagine it was at peak about 2 years ago, but it’s still got some life in it after twice that time. Fairly remarkable job; now I really wish I had that 02.

On tap 8oz sampler at Stone Winter Storm ’06. Dark amber in color with still a nice head. Aroma of malt, spices and hops. Thin body with flavor of moderate roasted malts and still a large amount of oiney bitterness, caramel as well don’t forget those spices. I really wish I could have stayed at this event longer... I mean who really starts an event on Christmas Eve. I guess somebody who puts a large gargoyle/imp on everything.

Bottle. Sampled 5/22 at "Everybody Must Drink Stone" event at Monk’s Cafe. Poured deep amber with a small tan head. Sweet malt aroma, with raisin, spice, yeast, dried fruit and alcohol. Flavor has held up well; sweet chocolate, caramel and fruit are most prominant. Some hops present in the finish. I really enjoyed this beer.

"Everyone must drink stone" event at Monks...Smells of English malts...sweet and delicious... dark amber it seems...hard to tell in the lighting of the scene...over-ripe cherries, and other dark fruits..blackberries...all mingled to a wonderful loveliness that my buds can’t resist...malty and enveloping among the senses

Bottle. Pours a copper-ruby body with a medium-sized white head. The aroma consists of cherries, vinous oak, grass, and caramel. Big, malty flavour with toffee, sugars, and candyish caramel notes and warm spices. Finishes with very faint chocolate notes and some grassiness.
Thanks for the opportunity, radiomgb. Sampled on April 21, 2007.

bottle. murky brown color. buttery aroma. taste is earthy and muddy. the butter is also in taste. nice complex.