Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale

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

22 ounce bottle from Table and Vine in Northampton, MA (fall 2005), consumed at cellar temperature from a Dieu du Ciel! tulip. As with the previous two VEs, the bottle pops with an audible (though faint) hiss, ahh it hasn’t died. It pours a similar luxurious, lasting head with thick lacing (this time dark tan); the body is the darkest yet, nearly black, translucent and quite cloudy....the nose too is "dark", strong chocolate and burnt caramels, a bit of molasses and perhaps the tiniest hint of port, moderate yeastiness; a sort of caky dubbel; unlike 03 and 04 this doesn’t really seem oxidized, aromatically at least....the flavor too is that of a luxurious dubbel, dark chocolate cake and hazelnut fondant, a hint of cherry, perhaps a faint touch of caramelized banana.....carbonation is low to moderate, moutfeel is silky at first but gradually turns a bit gritty, as a light metallic/mineralic component enters the picture, along with light tartness and dark yeasty breadiness, faint dry hoppy bitterness.....in the end, a tiny bit more carbonation, a slightly lighter texture, might’ve made this a masterpiece; as is, very very good with not a hint of degradation yet detectable to me.

Black with a mahogany sheen. Frothy vanilla head films the glass with sticky cream. Port, nougat, and fresh prunes makeup the aroma. Deeply buried rum, melon, and black licorice scents. Dense and soft, but with an edge of fuzz. Opens sharply sweet and medicinal, reminiscent of liquefied black licorice and meaty port, but chased by dazzlingly interlocked airy phenols and peppery tobacco. Chalky snap of deeply kilned malt offers a flash of dryness and negates the body’s softness. Bittersweet at the center, with fluffy nougat hints coupled with an elegant clove and bubblegum tingle. Sweetness comes and goes, due to the subdued bright fruitiness. Drastically improves as it goes from cellar to room temperature, though, as the malt takes on a thickset cakey richness, which blankets the alcohol and medicinal astringency. Finishes with an alcohol induced dryness over a feathery foundation of malt sweetness, as clove-infused baked pears, black licorice, bubblegum, and cocoa dusted malt hulls override the lingering medicinal viscosity. Overall, the alcohol is overbearingly hot at times. And more yeast-derived bright fruitiness would lessen the prominent sweetness. Otherwise, this is easily the best in the series, thus far, and a complete turnaround from years past.

Re-rate 5-9-05. After having another one I have to say this is growing on me.Starting to suggest a cross between Rochefort and Hacker Pschorr Weiss Bock. Odd, but it works. Original rating-Chestnut colored brew raising a 1/2 inch tan head. Nose is yeasty with some alcohol heat. First sip makes me think of a juiced up hefe, all banana and clove. then it settles into some rich maltinesss that doesnt quite fill things out. Almost like a rochefort light. Still a decent brew that should make it another 7 years(hopefully).

dark reddish brown color, head is beige and very thin. banana and some chocolate with some spiciness in the background. flavor is more banana (although not as much as the aroma would forecast), more chocolate, some spicy and earthy hops. alcohol is not overpowering. really quite good.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with thin off white head. This one has changed quite a bit since fresh, I’m down to 1 bottle now. Aroma is sweet and malty with chocolate and brown sugar. Flavor seems more mellow and full of dark fruits with cocoa and alcohol. Finish is warm and has a little black licorice taste that kind of sucks. Now to decide when to have this last bottle.......

22 oz bomber. Pours out a murky dark reddish brown, with a fluffy tan head.

lace coats the glass in a thin sheet. alcohol floats on top like a nicely aged port.

Aroma is roasty, dark fruits, some mustiness, and maybe a little alcohol.

flavor is fruity and sweet, followed by some roasty chocolate, and a little spice on the end.

Lots of flavors there but they haven’ t quite come together yet. I’ll be aging a couple 2 or 3 bottles for sure, and will re-rate in a year or 2.

(re-rate feb 07) Flavors are coming together nicely. Roasty chocolate, spicy clove, dark fruits, yeast. Looks promising. Original 7-4-7-4-15-3.7

Bottle... Very dark, crystal clear, ruby ale with a small, frothy, lightly tanned head. Spicy, fruity, yeasty aroma with notes of banana, milk chocolate and coriander. Malty sweet, spicy flavors take the early lead, but are followed closely behind by a calvary of hop bitterness which more than balances things out. Warming alcohol. Full-bodied and lightly oily with lively carbonation. Bittersweet, salty, grassy finish.

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.