Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

The aroma was coffee off the bat with chocolate and caramel coupled to a bit of a smoked character like that of smoked sausage. The backbone was malty and nutty with a Munich malt nature. The beer poured dark brown, almost black, with an off-white very low yet lasting head which did work to lace the glass. The flavor was malty with a light spice, coffee and a strong bit of smoke thrown in for good measure. The spice was not readily able to be deciphered, but had a bit of a cinnamon and clove note through the smoky and roasty phenol. The bitterness from the roasted grains and hops kept the malt from having any chance at balancing the flavor toward malt so the bittering and acidic grain properties ruled the day. As it warmed some nutty Munich malt character emerged. The body was medium full with a moderate level of carbonation and a creamy character to the mouthfeel. The finish was bone dry with lasting smoked sausage and light roast into the aftertaste and beyond. Alcohol never played a role in this beer with no apparent alcohol anywhere in the aroma nor flavor, but with just a hint of warming post consumption. An interesting beer, perhaps a Belgian Porter or Stout. 22 ounce bottle.

Nice dark brown pour with a thin head. Aroma of some fig and caramel. the flavor was of belgian fruit and spice but not extremely long on the palate. Prob better in a year or so.

Mine looked and tasted alot like a dunkel. Extremely dark brown color, but watery, with a whispy white head. Smells of yeast, dark fruit and medicine. Flavor is mild, slightly malty, very fruity with a heavy yeast flavor. Slightly bitter on the finish. Very drinkable. Rerate 5/13/2008 at Brickskeller’s Lupulin Reunulin event. Ar - 7, App - 4, Flv - 7, Fin - 4, Ovr - 15. Greg Koch called this "typically Belgian", whatever that means. Pours a nearly opaque dark brown, amber with a thin eggshell head. Aroma is peaty, sugary, sweet malt with some Belgian candy and yeast. Flavor has plenty of sweet malt, some definite funk, cocoa, yeast, rum, cane sugar, banana and some tropical fruit. Thick body, lasting slightly smoky flavor. This has aged very well, the malty is a lot chewier now than when fresh.

Mist beers either call themselves hopfiends or malt friends. This beer will bring an end to the malt/hop civil war. One word... PERFECT!

Very dark brown color, thinnish tan head that went away quickly after an aggressive pour. Belgian yeast aroma with lemon, fig, a hint of coffee malt. Taste is similar with some very smooth malt, spicy, dry finish, some alcohol, almost no astringency but leaves the throat tingling nevertheless.

Sampled from BevMo. Pour was very nice, with a generous head in a Munchen glass. Pour is dark brown. Flavor is nice with a hefty amount of hops. Worth a try while its still around, and a good stone brew.

APPEARANCE: Dark brown to black with a tan head. AROMA: Fruity, phenolic yeast notes with dark malt roastiness. FLAVOR: Clove, smooth roasted malt, mild spiciness, and some hop bitterness. A dry finish with apparent alcohol. PALATE: Medium to full-bodied, good carbonation…no astringency. OVERALL: Very full and complex…not sure how it will develop.

Bottle purchased at Whole Foods: pours a dark black, malty, dark fruit aroma, strong malty flavor, pretty good but not great.