Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Escondido, California USA

Clear cola-like pour. Off-white creamy head. Dry and dusty roasted nuts with some fruit and pepper. The flavor is kind of the same. Its a bit awkward... some fruity kool-aid-like malt with hints of roastiness, some nutty spices. Interesting beer, seems okay, but maybe could use a year of age.

Spiced plum, caramel, cloves, and a hint of banana in the aroma; pours a bit dark for a dubbel, fleeting head retention; peppery, roasty, sweet malt with some date and raison flavor, some chocolate and molasses or brown sugar notes; medicinal pheonelics; pretty sweet, but somewhat bitter in the tail end. A little too spicy and sweet right now, but good.

Thanks to Kevin for this beer. I love dubbels but didn’t care so much for this one. It does have some fruit and a hint of wine in the flavor, as well as sweet malt and hops in the palate. The hops however, made this too bitter and dry, causing it to stray too far from what I think a dubbel should be into a hopped dubbel with a bite I just didn’t care for. I recognize the quality here but this one is not for me.

Let us see how Stone did with this one. Got this from my Secret Santa way back when. 22oz bomber, presumably bottled 06/06/06. Pours a clear reddish brown with a minimal beige head into my Chimay chalice. First whiff kinda reminded me of a mix between New Belgium’s Abbey and New Glarus’ recently unretired Copper Kettle Weiss. Aroma of some yeast, toasty malts, bananas, some dust and dark fruits a little deeper. Taste is much the same with a little more spice and brown sugar. A little bitter chocolate in the dry finish. Alcohol is apparent (not warming), though never in a bad way. Full bodied, light-moderate carbonation. Very nice, from one of my more favorite styles. Glad to still have an extra stashed someplace to see how she ages.

Very dark appearance has ruby hues adorned with a large, frothy tan head that leaves strings of lace as it subsides. Has a sweet dark Belgian malty nose with a touch of peppery clove and bready yeast. Body starts sweet with lots of dark caramel malt and chocolate chip cookie dough flavor toward a slightly cloying bready brown sugar, raisin finish. Fairly true to style and enjoyable.

Bottle in a trade with Ross. Very dark brown, almost opaque but with a ruby glow showing through the edges. Large tan head that collapses in a few minutes leaving fair lace. Sour fruity aroma with some underlying caramel and some noticeable yeast. Smooth medium body, medium carbonation. Brown sugar sweetness, peppery spice, and a pleasing bitterness combine for a balanced and complex flavor profile. Nice dry finish.

very dark with little head to speak of. Bubblegum and caramel on the nose and a definite roasted quality. Round and sticky mouthfeel with a pleasant sweetness. Nice bitterness on the finish to round it all out. Not as great as it was described to me, but a nice glass nonetheless.

Very deep brown with a thin sticky head. Aroma is toffeeish with notes of caramel and roasted malt. Flavor is very rich - body was pretty meaty and still smooth. Kind of young, probably needs to be cellared as suggested on the bottle. Still a nice brew.