Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

(RETIRED)

	Percentile
	97
	overall

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

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution
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Ratings	Average	Score	Seasonal	ABV	Style Pctl	Serve in
361	3.78/5.0	3.76/5.0	Special	8.5%	91.5	Trappist 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.

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jb (1034), Rochester, New York, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	6/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	17/20

Jan 7, 2006

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!

bfeldmann (1042), Wilmington, Delaware, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	8/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	15/20

Jan 5, 2006

"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."

Zeswaft (1000), Seattle, Washington, USA

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	6/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	15/20

Jan 3, 2006

I don’t know. This beer has nothing going for it. It has that damned really sweet flavor that all of the Stone beers have. It tastes nothing like a Belgian strong ale. It tastes like every other Stone beer I’ve ever had just like a montage of them all. Not good hoppy like their pale ales. Not alcoholic like their strong ales. Just a shit of everything

Sammy (3977), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	7/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	17/20

Dec 31, 2005

Initial taste very chocolate. Well carbonated, then eased off. In a blind taste, I would believe it was a Rochfort. Abundant cocoa, and bittersweet. Well hopped but not overly so. Significant anise and spiciness at finish. I will look for this again in a couple of years.

chilehead (186), Laguna Niguel, California, USA

4.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.2	8/10	4/5	8/10	5/5	17/20

Dec 25, 2005

Pours dark brown with a medium-dense frothy persistant small-bubbled pumpkin colored head. Nose is fresh smelling with brown-sugar malt notes and a touch of cinnamon and cedar. Mouthfeel is medium and silky, flavor is rich, malty, spicy with a bit of ginger and cloves. An outstanding beer!

jisaza (2), New York City, New York, USA
does not count

4.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.6	8/10	5/5	9/10	4/5	20/20

Dec 25, 2005

medium bitterness, medium sourness, full body, creamy, lively, long finish, Great beer, highly recommen it.

BrockLanders (747), Panama City, Florida, USA

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	8/10	3/5	7/10	4/5	16/20

Dec 24, 2005

Poured a translucent deep brown, a reddish brown when held to the light. Off-white head hung around for a while. Big spiciness in the nose with some caramel malts too. Smells yummy. Flavor is just as spicy with some sweet malts in there too, herbal. Creamy mouthfeel....very pleasant drink. Nice hop presence about midway through. Alcohol is persistent throughout...right up to the final swig. Very tasty...I liked it more than the 04-04-04.

jcr (1149), Jasper, Indiana, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	6/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	17/20

Dec 18, 2005

Nice translucent light brown pour with mohagany highlights. Aroma of sweet fruits and spices with hints of earth and leather. The flavor is multi-faceted with notes of sweet raisin and brown sugar and spices, a bit of clove and nutmeg. Slight tangy, bitter finish. The alcohol is bold at the end. The medium body has a crisp, clean presentation. Overall, a flavorful and enjoyable beer.

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