Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Reddish brown, tan head, low head due to alcohol I suppose. Chocolatey nose with anise. Sour yeasty palate. That smooth lucious palate I’ve come to expect from Stone. A little hops in the finish. I liked it!

"Poured a nice dark brown color. A little brown head which left okay lacing. Smelled of spices even though there are not supposed to be any in it. Had a little nutty yeasty flavor to it. Overall nice beer."