Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Big frothy head that smells of bourbon, chocolate and wood... a really excellent smell and not one I can find any faults with. Flavor is similar: some chewy chocolate and some maple, woody malt character, reminds me almost of Midnight Sun M with the yeast flavor. One of my favorites from Stone.

Good for the style, and definitely tasty, but rather ordinary for a one-time seasonal release; this is the definition of a good ale but does not push the envelope in any way. Almost too much going on but not enough of any single not to rave about. Drinking this, I could taste nearly everything I thought of, though the chocolate and caramel tones were most obvious. A must try, and I’m saving one to go with the other ’verts, but not what I’d hoped.

Bottle. Pours a dark but clear rusty red. Thin light brown noodle. Great expanding aroma as it warms. I got nothing initially then the beer just open up to me, rich caramel malts, spicy bitter hop notes, sweet banana spices, and earthy alcohol bite. Nice medium body, delicate but not overbearing creaminess, chocolate notes, just wonderful soothing deep earthy musty basement notes. I found utter enjoyment while quaffing this beer over an hour period. Quite exceptional.

Pours a light brown but parks in the glass a dark cherrywood tar with a low watt lamp glow. Firm, yellow-tanned creamy froth sits about a half inch tall, folds down to a light skim and skinny collar. Microcosmicly thin sheeting is placed ever so lightly around the edge with some normal looking ink blobs sticking in a few areas. Aroma is airy and pleasantly rounded in a soft display of tootsie roll chocolate, tender black licorice spice, plum, pale raisin, and the lightest of light hint of raspberry. Taste plays a little bit different then what the aroma leads to with more of a pale nut and light enduced roasty realm mixing with a milder tone of dark fruity malts. Banana, dull plum, even more so dulled raisin, slender nut bread and doughy hints of sweetness with puffs of dark cherry, licorice, and anise on the back end trailing into very deep and dark tanged molasses hangs on to a dry airy roast of an empty coffee can. Very subtle flavors continue to emerge and layer into some fairly complex characteristics as slick dark chocolate mingles into some of the flavors once it warms, as does alcoholic esters and dry yeast effects. Beautifully subtle and soft. Feel is about medium with just the right amount of give and take on the carbonation as its mildly effervescent and malty rich with smooth, soft, and slippery tones. Ghostly dark in character without giving away the farm with over abundant flavors. It subtlety is amazingly complex and rich with style. Damn good stuff! Appreciation is in full mode for this finely crafted brew.

A dark ruby, translucent brewwith a small, tan head. A vague, earthy aroma as the glass approached the lips. The first sip had a mouth fulling, sheeting effect. The initial taste was that of a robust, roasted grain. This was followed by a slight sweetness which had fruity aspects but whose components were hard to identify. Then the hops came in to give the balance and leave an aftertaste. This lead to an immediate second sip to savor and try to identify the contributors to the complex flavor. Unsuccessful. I leaned back and just enjoyed the remainder of the big bottle.

I didn’t find it all that epic. Overpoweringly molasses flavored. There is a great yeast profile, especially for an American Belgian, but the malt is pretty boring and sweet. Plenty of chocolate/caramel and a little roast. I guess my personal aversion to molasses is holding my rating of this one back, but I didn’t enjoy it too much.

Pours dark ruby with a long lasting tan head. Really good appearance. Smell had toffee, lemon, banana, chocolate, orange and cranberry . The cranberry was very good in the flavor. The flavor was like a Tripel with cranberry added to it. This is really pleasing. I am raving because I like it so much better than the 04. I’m glad I have another one to age.

Dark ruby color, bright at sides, with a long-lasting, creamy tan head. Nice. in the nose: ah...warm, soft, fruity, rich, malty, toffeeish, enticing...delicious...alive and invigorating...much appreciated. ...and smooth and tasty on the tongue, as well. Big, fat malty taste, nary a squeak out of hops...molasses, hint of anise, caramel...richness at play on the palate. Damnably tasty! And the high abv keeps quiet, at least, so far... I’d love it if this were a regular brew, that I could down anytime I felt. It straddles a special place between abbey dubbel and baltic porter, with a kiss of coffee/chocolate/oatmeal/nut brown stout...if you know what I mean...yummy!