Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

aroma of Belgian yeast... suprisingly smooth taste with a lingering tingle of hops at the end. quite refreshing for a darker beer. recommended.

Pours into a goblet a dark, but clear, ruby mahogany color with a quickly vanishing beige head. No lacing. Aroma has a piercing spiciness of cloves and anise. Maltiness of dark fruits, mostly dried figs. Notes of wheat malt and yeast are also prominent. Body is medium with some fusel alcohol notes. Taste seems dominated by anise and clove. Some notions of burnt brown sugar and dark fruits are present, as well as some roasty dark malt bitterness and pine hops. Seems a bit unsophisicated for an Abbey Dubbel, at least at this young age. I have to say that this is my least favorite of the Vertical Epic series.

Dark brown and burgundy hues. Tan head. Rich and doughy toffee, mocha, dark roasted plums, molasses and some light charred malts tastes. Yeast is a little hard to fit in this beer, have to say it doesn’t work so well, but the rich toffee, molasses and stick malts are pretty nice. Not a proper dubbel by any means, but good for an experimental beer. Nose is light ash, dusty malts, with some light toffee and molasses - similar to the flavor - with some light yeast as well. A good one, but not my favorite VE from Stone.

This is an interesting take on an Abbey Dubbel. Whereas most of these styles, are pretty straightforward big malt and yeast vehicles, Stone does things a bit different here. The pour into my Orval glass is dark mahogeny color with a nice dark tan colored head that is smaller than I would like and totally dissipates. The aroma exhibits multiple qualities including nice malt, bublegum, wheat and some yeastiness. Flavor is quite wheaty with significant bubblegum, lots of spices and some yeastiness in the finish. This, to me is a cross between a wheat and Belgian style and as it is works quite well. I wonder how it will progress? Tasty.

Aroma is dark malts, spice, licorice and sweet dark fruits. Body is a a rich dark brown with a firm two finger thick tan head. Fore is pumpernickel, rye, licorice and then dark fruits, spice, alcohol and floral notes waft in. Quite spicy in the finish. Pretty damn tasty and gets tastier as it warms.

Garnet with a tan film of a head. Nose is bubblegum, anise, some smoky wheatlike notes. This one should get interesting...

Bomber. Aroma is malty sweetness, some dark malts, licorice. Some bubblegum notes. Clear, dark, ruby notes, thick tan head that last. Flavor - very interesting beer. Sweet, malty, but dominated by the belgian characteristics, especially bubblegum and clove. Overall, a very different and interesting brew--like a brown porter with belgian yeast. Sweetness might be a little much, but I enjoyed the brew.

Dark colored with a yeasty nose of baked banana and nutmeg yet hints of freezer burn and dust. Opens with a fizzy mouthfeel. Flavors weigh towards spicy yeast and have notes of custard and peppery alcohol and underlying malty sweetness. However, it’s overwhelmingly yeasty with cumbersome spice concentration.