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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?  
 tennisjoel (938), Shakopee, Minnesota, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/104/519/20
Oct 1, 2005  
Dark red beautiful color. Chocolate and caramel stands out and is balanced well with the belgian yeast. Nice off-white head. Excellent lacing. Nice rich and complex beer. Another winner from Stone!


 Brewso (238), Mt Kisco, New York, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Sep 28, 2005  
Dark candied fruit with loads of belgian yeast and malt on the nose. I was surprised that no extra spices were added as spice did come through.


 Rastacouere (5552), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
Sep 25, 2005  
Big fluffy off-white head lasts over the deep brown body. Complex yeast derived phenols and esters create a well rounded nose in which a foreground blend of floral and anise aromatic components work hands in hands. They welcome greedily the nutty, toasted dessert bread malts and pour a well disciplined candyish fruit syrup on top of it. The yeast doesn’t impart anything that shouldn’t be there, the alcohol warmth is perfectly integrated. Full bodied, gentle soft carbonation. Plenty of residual sugars in there (nice life ahead), though they bring flavors out (molasses, brown sugar, candi) rather than just lending the beer a heavier sweetness than it can handle. Okay, we’re not quite talking world-class here, but this is a very successful belgian stylish ale in which the ingredients, thanks to an efficient yeast strain, have brought out a result worthy of the sum of their parts. Good stuff, bold and efficient.


 MartinT (5050), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Sep 25, 2005    Updated: Nov 1, 2005
The Lure:
Nutty roastiness and star anise floating in caramel. Berries bobbing in the bountiful bonding.

The Festivities:
Molasses and berries merge into a wealthy mouthfeel. Roasted caramel and vivid carbonation really point towards smoky Belgian scotch ales. Roasted malt and earthy hop bitterness gets more and more lip smacking as the glass is downed. This one will last a while.

Transcendence:
The princess has ordered a new velvet evening robe.


 wunderbier (1266), Tampere, Finland
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Sep 20, 2005  
Deep brown hue with maroon edges. Large, frothy, light tan head. Rye, mustard, vinegar, milk chocolate, caramel, anise, herbal aromas. Very spicy with sweet malt undercurrents. Heavily sweet, lightly acidic flavor. Moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter finish. Medium-full body, oily texture, lively carbonation. Slightly less complex than the 04 (side-by-side) but rich and tasty in it’s own right. Brown sugar flavors develop as it warms.


 BuckNaked (1204), Tempe, Arizona, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Sep 13, 2005  
Bottle: Amber-brown, clear when held to light, with a light tan head. The aroma has sweet fruits and brown sugar, old sock, wheat, raisin, and a hint of lemon. Taste is sweet overall with nuts for a quick second, lemon grass, grassy hops, brown sugar, and dark fruit. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, creamy mouthfeel.


 Nuffield (2720), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/514/20
Sep 11, 2005  
Ruby red/amber/brown, off-white head. An interesting combination of the Belgian (especially the fruity character, such as cherry and grape in the aroma) and a brown ale. Good notes of dried fruits and pale suggestions of spice. Moderately dry to my palate. Always interesting, these Epics, but perhaps this one lacked the layers in flavor as it had in the aroma.


 argo0 (6890), Washington DC, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/104/513/20
Sep 10, 2005  
(22oz bottle) Clear dark-brown body with tan head. Aroma is medium sweet, caramel, some wheat, raisin, light Belgian spice. Taste is moderately sweet, caramel, wheat, light herb. Creamy medium body.



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