Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale

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

OK, it’s way to early to sample this, but what the hell: Perfumy nose (not quite enjoyable, but I imagine this would improve greatly with age), shimmering gold color and a tall fluffy head. Fruity start: orange maltiness that turns to a more grapefruit-like taste once the hops kick in. Medicinal ending and a odd bitterness - like an orange peel. Alcohol not really present. This should turn out to be an amazing beer in 8 year.s

Deep golden color with a hint of orange. Initially large off white head that settles to a small lid after a short period of time. Fruit salad with a dash of floral perfume in the nose. Touch of cobwebs weaves its way into the aroma. You can tell this is hiding something. Light sweet spice greets you. Cloves and coriander. Middle is full of fruit, from oranges and bananas; to limes and plums. Fairly smooth with quite a effervescence late. Lime leaf really seems to come out in the finish along with a touch of tobacco. A touch disjointed but it has many qualities that intrigue me and a couple I’m not sure about. It does remind me of some strange brews out of the Netherlands. Anyone catch the vanilla late in the linger? Most intriguing brew. Wait now it smells like bleu cheese and pears.

Yellow with a white head. Baby powder aroma? Fruity and malty beer. Belgian like. Ok beer. needs to age.

Well balanced for a Belgian. The yeast is definitely the forefront flavor, but I’d say that Stone did a good job balancing it against the honey malt and mild spiciness. A touch bubblegummy but well done.

Hazy golden in colour with a tight white head leaving a thick sheet of lace. Nose is spicy, yeasty with a strong character of banana and lime. Flavour is same, just fantastically complex and yummy.

Hazy pale golden yellow color, finger high, tight foamy white cap, resides to an ever present skim and the lacing sticks in moderate stringy patches. Aroma is quite nice with a dried pepper toastiness over the base of lively citrus of lemon and lime skins. Strong and pleasingly persistant nose on this one. Complexingly layered flavors within every sip, quite a nice brigade of dried pepper and clove spice, maybe a pinch of salt too, make for a pleasing finish. The forefront is built up of a solid mild citrus fruit salad of lemon and lime zest mixed with some banana underneath. Feel is about medium bodied with a firm carbonation thats not overly biting, which I like, most triples have either too much ot not enough. This is just about right, a bit more creamy feel and body and it would be terrific for me. I really enjoyed the finish on this, spicy of pepper and citrus zest thats drying yet the body remains wet and firm. And has just enough alcoholic/ethanolic kick to keep you in check. Nicely done. All in all, this is one well put together, spicy little Abbey Triple. A bit out of the realm for Stone, but bless their hearts for being such pioneers of trying new dimensions in the brewing universe. Hmmm....no matter how hard I try, I just can’t be as wordy as their back labels, always a fun read!

Yellow with a white head. Phenolic aroma, baby powder? Fruity, malty Belgian-like triple flavor. OK brew, and maybe will improve with age, but definitely needs more character.

Thanks to my pal up in Philadelphia, dberger624 for trading out this 04 Brew!

Yeah, this is what I’m talking about, Baby!
You know how I like the Triple style… yep- yep!
Pours a Marvelous golden / orange body, and a most bountiful cotton mound of head! The aroma is walking into a Florida flower nursery mid spring! A bouquet of floral notes, jasmine, citrus blossoms, gardenias, and magnolias! The flavor is rather tropical sweet…suggestions of tangerine, papaya, and big bananas... Definetly noting a great deal of keylime pie, butter crust and all.. lovein it!! A yeasty-ness in the finish that is quite entrancing…. Slick WD40 palate! Great beer!
I’d love to have another for the cellar!