Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

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

22 ounce bottle from Table and Vine in Northampton, MA (fall 2005), consumed at cellar temperature from a Dieu du Ciel! tulip. As with the previous two VEs, the bottle pops with an audible (though faint) hiss, ahh it hasn’t died. It pours a similar luxurious, lasting head with thick lacing (this time dark tan); the body is the darkest yet, nearly black, translucent and quite cloudy....the nose too is "dark", strong chocolate and burnt caramels, a bit of molasses and perhaps the tiniest hint of port, moderate yeastiness; a sort of caky dubbel; unlike 03 and 04 this doesn’t really seem oxidized, aromatically at least....the flavor too is that of a luxurious dubbel, dark chocolate cake and hazelnut fondant, a hint of cherry, perhaps a faint touch of caramelized banana.....carbonation is low to moderate, moutfeel is silky at first but gradually turns a bit gritty, as a light metallic/mineralic component enters the picture, along with light tartness and dark yeasty breadiness, faint dry hoppy bitterness.....in the end, a tiny bit more carbonation, a slightly lighter texture, might’ve made this a masterpiece; as is, very very good with not a hint of degradation yet detectable to me.

Dark porter look. Dark chocolate brown with a razor thin tan head. Sweet bubblegum esters. Tutti fruiti w some dark malt character. Gives a bit of roast, some minor chocolate and definite prune/ raisin. A full creamy mouthfeel with relatively average CO2 w the slightest bit of syrupiness (appropriate). A raisiny sweetness, less outstanding than the nose, though still very good indeed. Alcohol comes up a bit with some oxidized dark fruit, hints of chocolate, and roast. Really good balance. A dry lingering roast w some dark fruit. a bit creamy up front. Reminds me of an aged barleywine. Rather vinous, I wish I had more!

7/22/05 - I sure hope some kind establishment (Bottleworks) will hang on to all of these so I can taste them after they’ve matured a bit, I just lack the foresight. Strong yeast as always but a bit more sour/bready than dry. The Belgian yeast lacks much depth while still young, but a very nice balance.

What a dissapointment. I was so looking forward to cellaring a bunch of these until 2012. Unfortunately I’m not too optimistic. Virtuallly zero head, though good lacing. Body was clear with an anlmost black color. Not much in the way of aroma. Mostly raisin and dark cherry. Very sweet flavor with a very long finish. Maybe a bit of coffee. Texture was watery and flat carbonation. I was unimpressed. It’s not very good now so I don’t see how it will get any better.

Courtesy boboski. Pours a cloudy brownish red with a small white head. Smells of sweet fruits, caramel, and dark malts. Tastes slightly bitter sweet, very malty, berries, raspberries, and just a touch some caramel in the finish. Leaves a nice sweet taste in the aftertaste, nice on the palate. A little yeasty, nice flavor. I like the sweetness and fruitiness to it.

Roaste malt nose with a hint of molasses, dark amber color, sticky clingy head. Syrupy body with hints of dark fruit, subdued hops. Heavy texture. Nice one.

bomber courtesy of Saarlander from a trade almost a year ago. what better day to open this than on its second birthday, 05-05-07. pours a very dark brown with a great looking cap of 1/2" tan foam, fading to spotty lacing. aroma is slightly yeasty with some spiced fruit. flavor is fruity, mellow caramel with some peat notes lurking around. palate is rich and smooth. not quite what I was expecting, but still good. thanks Aaron.

Deep dark brown with a thin head. aromas of caramel, raisin and sugar. Smooth on the palate. Roasty, sugar and some alcohol alng with deep fruit. Nice malty characteristics also. A very enjoyable ale to be sure. Quite impressive.