RateBeer

Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
97
overall

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3613.78/5.03.76/5.0Special8.5%91.5Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
A new Vertical Epic will be released every year, with the goal being to collect them all and have a Vertical Epic tasting once the final Epic is released on 12/12/12. Each new Stone Vertical Epic Ale will be release one YEAR, one MONTH and one DAY apart. This time around, we used no spices in the brewing of this beer. If you've tasted the beer before reading this, that may surprise you. The special Belgian yeast we used adds a distinctively spicy aroma and flavor. Roastiness, clove, hops, fruitiness, and those other great and funky phenols abound in the nose. What's in the flavor? You certainly get some dark roasted malts and alcohol overtones. What else? Hints of earthiness, chocolate/cocoa, hop spiciness, maybe even anise, and ... the incredible variety of complexities from the classic brewing ingredients of barley malt, hops, yeast and water, when applied with an artistic brewer's talent never ceases to amaze.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 nahthan (129), Oakland, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/517/20
Jun 30, 2006  
I bought two when I saw this on the shelf last October. The first I remember being quite hoppy and very double-IPA like. I’m glad I waited to open the 2nd until now. A nice spicy marriage between the alcohol and hop flavors - a hint of clove, plum, toffee, dried apricot and slight mango. Very clean alcohol flavors. Nice citrusy and piney hop bitterness that has mellowed out and a bit in the background by now. I think it would taste even better a year from now. I should have bought three. Absolutely delicious.


 JoeMcPhee (5000), Jackson Heights, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/515/20
Jun 25, 2006  
22 oz bomber. Dark brorwn with garnet highlights. Sweet malty aroma, plums, dried cherry, brown sugar, toast, clove and even some banana. A bit of chocolate and some leathery/tobacco like notes. Flavour is quite sweet up front with massive plummy notes all over it. Quickly shows off chocolate and licorice throughout the middle before the earthy hop flavour kicks in. Strongly roasty for the style and quite hoppy as well. As it warms there are some more decidedly non-traditional piny hop resins. Intensely flavoured and quite unusual. I found myself ready to dislike it at first, but once I got through the first 8 oz, I couldn’t wait to finish the rest. The different elements really came together and accentuate the positive in one another. Another year of age will help smooth out some of the rougher edges, but this is a seriously tasty beer even now.


 burpfrank (292), carpinteria, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/514/20
Jun 18, 2006  
This looked perfect with a nice,lasting head and black color,but the aroma was a sour malt flavorThe taste was a sour malt flavor.slightly metallic.I don’t like this style,so I am rating it lower than a lover would.I won’t buy again,but I;m sure some people would.


 Rockinout (945), Kent, Ohio, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 15, 2006  
Opaque dark brown, tan head. Chewy molasses, caramel, dark fruits, not sweet though. Finishes on the bitter side.


 sersdf (1000), chicago, Illinois, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/103/515/20
Jun 14, 2006  
smells just awesome. tons of dark fruit, a little alcohol, very malty. most importantly, it just smells great. looks pretty good, but i demand more out of the head than this. taste is easy but unchallenging. pretty alcoholic for an 8.5.


 nhorween (639), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/516/20
Jun 14, 2006  
Bottle. Great coffee color with a white head. Aroma has notes of toffee, prunes, and alcohol. Flavor is bitter all the way with a strong finish - has a smoky, burnt, bittersweet chocolate flavor. Mouthfeel is a tad watery and lightly carbonated.


 sliffy (1966), Columbus, Ohio, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/516/20
Jun 5, 2006  
Bottle on the eve of the 060606 release: Dark red pour with a medium light tan head that faded quickly. Aroma has dark fruits, some spices. Flavor, more dark fruits, some roasted notes, a touch of chocolate. Nice full mouthfeel, a little warming from the alcohol. This is doing pretty well right now, but I don’t know if it’s got another six and a half years left in it.


 hellomynameis (794), Mayer, Minnesota, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Jun 5, 2006  
I quite enjoyed this one. Has that red/amber/orange like colour that seems to be previlant amongst west coats beers. Pretty tall fluffy coarse head that was mostly white. Nice belgian yesty aroma that gives of the cursory dark fruits and lets slide some spice. Mostly, I noticed the advertised clove (my nose isn’t too good). I liked how this tickled my tongue with its lively carbonation. This wasn’t quite thick and chewy, but had a good body to it. Sweet flavours with some caramel, a bit of roast. Certianly there are dark malts in here, with some more spice notes



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC