Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

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

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."

Initially tried 5/2005....I really thought this was a good looking beer. Deep Bombay mahogany color, with some cherry looking hints. Wispy off white head. The aroma was hard to place but I’d describe it as spicy with Belgian hints of clove, yeast and candy. The body is medium and slick, though it ends with a very dry mouth feel (bitter). The flavor is two fold, and I think it’s good overall. There is some initial fruity sweetness that moves into spicy pepper and perhaps clover (or some such thing). These spicy flavors are pronounced. There is also some yeastiness and some burnt malt. Alcohol is present in a good way. Really gets bitter at the end with intensified pepper. While not great now I think this has some real potential! Can’t wait to do the 03-06 release tasting I’ve set for myself next year!



I was getting a bit tipsy by the time I re-rated this one. My color notes were the same but my coments on taste and aroma lacked any of the spice I spoke about before. Any spice left in the aroma or taste were much more subdued as this point and I foudn this to be a well balanced treat. I’ve improved by taste score by three points. This is aging well.

Pronounced aroma of dates and toasted grain. Reddish brown, medium yellow with little retention. Sweet fig, apple, and malt flavor, altbierish yet belgian at the same time. Medium body. Delayed warming effect. Seems to be missing a dimension and is a little boring.

Deep brown with mahogany highlight. The aroma is choclatey with a slight burnt note and some plum sweetness. A nice balance of fruity sweetness and chocolate malts work great in the body. Smooth mouthfeel and slightly bitter finish. The yeast plays such a backseat roll, this comes off more like a Doppelbock than a Belgian. Good stuff anyways.

Thanks Santa! Pours a dark amber, small off-white head. Aroma of metal, spices, cinnamon, taragon?, nutmeg. Flavor is more spices, with a nice balance between spice/malt/hops. Alcohol is very subtle.

De facto Rating #600

~RBSG ’08~

Bottle at Stone. Pours a clear reddish copper color, with a fuzzy white head, and wet dripping lacing. Aroma is fairly hoppy, lots of floral notes with caramel and slight vanilla. Sweet malts in the flavor, vanilla, some hops, citrus, molasses, and what could be bread in the finish. Nice medium-body, easy to drink, and has aged well in three years.

Bottle shared by swoopjones. Dark amber color. Caramelized sugar and dark fruit aroma. Pears, plum and dark cherry accompanied by some toasty malts. Seems a little oxidized and a bit past its prime, I don’t think this will hold up until 2012.