Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Bottle. A dark brown color with a light brown head. Richly spiced aroma with cloves, raisins, banana, candy, chocolate and bread. The spiced aroma comes through well on the palate with a light yet powerful zing on the tongue.

Extremely dark brown ruby body with a nice dense lasting tna head. Looks quite appealing. The aroma is loaded with dark fruits and plenty of sweetness. THe flavor is quite sweet with some hints of spiciness, but mainly sweet chewy dark fruitiness. The palate is very dry and not as chewy as would expect given the overall sweetness. Better than some of the past efforts in this series and one that will probably age better than some of the others as well.

Bottle. Dark brown beer with a tan head. Roasty, yeasty (mostly spice) aroma. Dark malt and roast flavor with banana, caramel, coffee, spice, yeast and some background hops. A lot of flavors, but nice balance. Fuller bodied - a bit chewy. Will age nicely.

22oz bottle pours a clear brown/black with aromas of spice and yeast. Clean flavors now with not much of a noticeable alcohol. Don’t really see how this one would get any better with much age.

For those with a predilection for imperial stouts, pleasure will ensue from this edition of the Vertical Epic line. For those like myself, however--those who find imperial stouts favorable only on certain occasions and moods--the response will vary. I find it rather typical of the imperial stout genre. Given its similarity to the likes of Old Rasputin and other microbrew styled imperial stouts, there’s not much that significantly differentiates it from other offerings. Of course there’s a perceptible difference, but to what end? Any difference is nominal, at best. To me, it seems like an inferior version of Old Rasputin, slightly watered down with excess toasted malts. The flavor is reminiscent of the scrapings from burnt toast; the only difference is that the alcohol goads one into consuming the entirety of the offering, despite the initial distaste.

Poured a midnight black with a medium coffee tinted head. Not much retention apart from the lacing around the rim. The aroma is of sweet malt with some very subltle spices. Full bodied, thick consistency, well carbonated. Sweet coffee, smoke, fruit and roasted malt flavors. There is a slight bubblegum aftertaste. The high alchohol percentage is nicely masked. There are some hints of hop but not enough to counteract the sweetness for my taste.

Dark brown- tan head- nose and taste yeast, wood notes, malt some hops – nice aftertaste

A very good take on the style. Poured with very little head, looked almost identical to coca cola minus the effervescence. A bit on the yeasty / alcohol side at the nose....this leveled out as it warmed. Nice full bodied taste with a well rounded finish. Very smooth yet bold somehow.....nice.