Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Pours deep amber. So deep in fact that it almost seems black. Foamy light brown head. Aroma is yeast, some fruits, and bubble gum. Flavor is malty with spices. Silky texture with fizziness as it crosses the tongue. Spicey belgian yeast.

Bottled. Dark reddish brown coloured. Light brown head. Sweetness, fruits, caramel, liqourice and ligth spice. Flavour has alcohol, fruits, spices and light caramel. Light bodied and quite watery. Sweet alcoholdense end.

Bottle. Clear red brown coloured with a beige head. Aroma of caramel, dried fruits and spices. Flavour of dried fruits, spices, fruits and liquorice.

A red-brown beer with a slight haze under a brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with primary notes of caramel. The flavor is sweet malty again with primary notes of caramel, but also a light roasted malt note. In the beginning it seem thin, but then the 8.7% ABV creeps up on You. It leaves a note of soy sauce on the lips. I don’t find it complex enough, but still a nice beer.

Dark clear brown with little head. Very aromatic with fig, plum, cocoa, vanilla. Sweet and spicy and mildly alcoholic. A bit thin in body. Decent dark fruit flavor. I get some astringency in the finish. Not bad but not exactly delicate.

Licorice black with a medium cap of dirty frappuccino brown frothy foam. Intricate lacing in inky stretched and straggly strings. Aroma is a bit light at first but agreeably grows and becomes nice to partake in the nose as its a bit like a fresh poppyseed muffin and some black malt mixed with black licorice, anise, cinnamon, dark sugary sweetness and some dark, herbal, spicy yeast. Taste is one complex, tender display of leveled tastes and mixtures of dark spicy fun stuff. A ride of intricate little nuances of spices, dark, dryish malt, and sweet dark sugars really balance out and make for a pleasureable, palateable treat. The flavors aren’t overly intense here, it all seems very well placed and perfectly displayed as it tugs here, pulls there; leaves here, enters there. A fun dance of flavors that are bready, sweet, dark, yeasty, and spicy. I find it to be quite nice. Perhaps not as bold or in your face as other Stone brews, but definately well crafted in the nature of what has become the growth of Stone’s own brewing palate. As in the smell, many alluring complexities await the spicy realm of dark yeasty breads with anise, clove, cinnamon, black licorice, dry black malt, rye, poppyseed, and pale woodyness. A wonderful palate full of dark spicey fun, and balanced in with with a uniquely tender little undertow of dark sugary sweetness. Oh my... A treat to behold, no doubt; yes, sure, it’s not quite the brute you’d think it would be, but in a way it has it’s edge. Edge enough for me to absolutely drink the hell out of this beer. The medium, low set carbonation and smoother, dark malten body ooze an easy goin’ flow. Yet the active spice and yeasty parts pep it up to the point of total balance and control. Plus the finish has some great little blackened banana, coffee, black malt dryness that is remarkably satisfying to the palate as it finishes slightly dry and powdery. 06.06.06 is one to savor in, even given it’s impressively easy drinkability. 8.6%? I’m sure it’s there somewhere waiting...but undetectable in most regards until the first bomber is nearly emptied. A very finely crafted brew by Stone. A true treat that I may need to seek more of...

Dark, pitch black hue. Layer of tan head. Quickly dissipating into a trace rim with spots. Coffe and plum nose. Full and sweet. Good caramel and coffee flavors. Spicy and bittersweet chocolate. Lively with a tingling sensation. Nice burn but still smooth. Cookie chocolate malt. Slight nutty, vanilla oaky nuances. Second glass holds the same hue. Fat clinging head. More of a musty woody nose. Still full. Fruity, slight raspberry maple flavor. This is great now, and can only wonder what the future will hold.

Bottle. Poured black color with a large off-white head that lasted with good lacing. Moderate caramel malty and tart citrus aroma. Medium bodywith soft carbonation. Medium balanced flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. This is another Stone standout beer.