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Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
97
overall

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

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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?  
chadzter (94), huntsville, Alabama, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/515/20
Jan 28, 2006  
Great Beer. Pours with a thick head that thins ot to a dark brown tan color. The beer has a very dark brown color most likely from the chocolate which also gives it a strong sweet chocolate aroma. It has a very smooth and creamy texture. I thought the hops added to this beer giving it a bit of bitterness at the end.


 MrManning (1643), London, Ontario, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Jan 24, 2006  
Thanks DrJay for the sample! Dark mahogony body topped with a thin mocha ring. Plums, brown sugar, yeast and hops in the aroma. This beer is sweet, sugared fruit and candy, with an approriate spicy profile to balance out the sweetness. Slight acidity, bitter/sweet finish, leaving a spiced malt aftertaste. Pretty damn good.


 Boutip (2347), Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/102/513/20
Jan 23, 2006  
Bottle: Poured a black color ale with a huge foamy dirty beige head with average retention. Aroma is quite hoppy which was kind of surprising for a Belgian Ale but then again I’m starting to get use to different with beers from Stone. Taste is a mix between roasted malt, caramel with a big heavy dose of citrus hops at the end that IMHO don’t mix very well with this beer. Body is above average and alcohol is not discernable. Overall, I guess I have a hard time with the heavy dose of hops in a Belgian Ale which is why this is not something I will seek in the future.


 DrGonzo (625), Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/105/517/20
Jan 21, 2006  
Bottle pours a deep brown color with a thick creamy tan head. Strong chocolately aroma, with some raisins, roasted. Velvet smooth body, rich and luxorious. Sweet, milk chocolate flavors, overtones of tobacco, with the chewyness of brownies. Spicy at times, like pumpkin pie with gingerbread crust. A delicious beer, better aged for several months than I remember it being at its release.


 GreatLibations (1441), Last Supper, Arizona, USA
5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/520/20
Jan 19, 2006    Updated: Feb 12, 2007
It’s a dark, strong ale that explodes on the palate. Full nectar with flavors of spicey hops and slightly sweetend meaty earth. A well seasoned porterhouse steak in a blender would be an accurate discription of this very hearty brew. Alcohol is well hidden. Well balanced to boot. Like a good woman it left me with nothing to be desired. This is my first in the series so I can’t compare to previous vintages. One of my all time favorites. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recomended.


 CMUBEERMAN (415), Madison, Wisconsin, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/514/20
Jan 15, 2006  
This is a bit more malty than the other stones I’ve had...and I’ve had a bunch of them. Honestly it doesn’ty taste like a BSA at all right now. I know it is supposed to be good in six years, but screw that. Not too impressed when considering style...and mediocre when considering it’s Stone couterparts.


 Immy (1912), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jan 12, 2006  
Pours a deep dark brown with a beige head. Roasted malt nose, becoming more complex as it warms, when a distinct dark fruityness comes to the fore, lightly spiced with clove. Flavor is big! Bready, malty, spicy, but with a rough edge. Hops are apparent. Obviously will benefit greatly from aging, as I expect all the flavors to soften and merge. This is going to be a winner in 2012, but is great right now, too! I’m buying a few to sample over the next six years, just to follow the maturation process.


 chargerfanjess (116), San Diego, California, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/104/518/20
Jan 10, 2006  
The special Belgian yeast was the KEY It really did add a distinctively spicy aroma and flavor which was incredible. Roastiness, clove, hops, fruitiness, and those other great and funky phenols characterized this beer exactly like the description.Dark roasted malts and alcohol overtones, hints of earthiness, chocolate/cocoa, hop spiciness, describe the structure of this great cervesa!



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