Schultsc (482), Henderson, Nevada, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 | Aug 12, 2006 Pours out very dark and the familiar aroma of Stone’s Belgian yeast strain is immediately evident. The usual clove and banana are present as is a good amount of smokey roastiness and some muted dark fruit richness. That, however, is contrasted by a surprisingly light body which works both for and against this beer. The high alcohol content is evident though well balanced. Another enjoyable beer in the Epic series--will taste again in six months. PilsnerPeter (2612), Flushing, New York, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 16/20 | Aug 11, 2006 Updated: Aug 26, 2008This beer was frustrating, because it was so close to being really good, but it was just pretty good. The malts are nice with a creamy and dark roastyness. Very sweet, with a brown sugar sweetness, and an abundance of belgian yeasts. Maybe too much yeast for this style, in my opinion. The finish stretches out the roasty/sweet malts into a slighty bitter, roasted malt finish. (Needs more hops). frankenkitty (1900), Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
| 3.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 3/5 | 6/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 | Aug 11, 2006 Deep cola-like appearance with a quick-to-fade, fizzy head. Sharp nose with anise, clove and smoky alcohol notes. Thick mouthfeel, a little dirty, with a spiciness that both lifts the flavor and dries out the mouth. Flavors are a bit hot. Clay and caramel with a fruity, Belgian character, but an overall confusing flavor profile. My associates and I agree that this really needs to age, and I hope we are all still around six years from now to enjoy one of my other bottles at maturity. (The beer’s maturity, not mine.)
<font size=-4>Puchased at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/indiana/highlan Liquor Stop, Highland, IN... shared with the <a href=http://www.workinlate.com/LoSBD.html>Lo 08/06/06.<font size=-1>
DuffLover (48), Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 | Aug 10, 2006 From a 22 oz. Aroma is malt and spice. Appearance is a dark reddish brown with a moderate light tan head. smooth - Flavor is malt with some caramel and mild spice. Palate is very smooth and thick with fairly mild carbination, which I like. An excellent beer. Stone puts out some great brews! wish (14), California, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 4/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Aug 10, 2006 aroma of Belgian yeast... suprisingly smooth taste with a lingering tingle of hops at the end. quite refreshing for a darker beer. recommended. merlin48 (511), New Tazewell, Tennessee, USA
| 2.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 5/10 | 3/5 | 5/10 | 3/5 | 10/20 | Aug 10, 2006 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. mj (4998), Colorado, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Aug 10, 2006 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. TChrome (1299), Bedford, Texas, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 | Aug 10, 2006 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.
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