Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Lovely dark brown pour with a one finger tan head that is foamy with some larger bubbles scattered about. Aromas are heavy of roasted malt with some dark fruit peeking through. Flavor centers on dark malt, anise and clove spice, a peat-like character that may be attributable to the hops and alcoholic flavors that come through just a bit. Alcohol blends nicely and does not overpower. It definitely warms a bit as it goes down, but is rather thinner bodied that I would expect with this much going on. Nice. I’ve got one more that is going to wait six more years for its moment of glory.

Dark brown color with faint hints of red. Very little head present. Mild floral yeast aroma with some roasty notes. Palate is just right. Taste is a moderate meld of hops and raosted malt flavors with a dry finish. Very pleasant to drink and nice to see Stone do a brew that is more subtle but still great.

Very dark pour with a thin cream head. Aroma is licorice, anise, attractive. Flavor is mooth and well blended. A very easy drinking dubble. The body is right, the finish is right. Nice job. I think they did a nice job with this belgian.

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...

22 oz bottle. Dark brown with some frothy tan edging. Nose is caramel, banana, anise and wood with fairly prominent alcohol. Medium-ish body with a tingle. Tatse is smoky raisin with an alcohol bitterness.

Now I didn’t have this fresh but I would say it is has aged beautifully. Dark rich pour with a small head and some lacing on the glass. Aroma has dark chocolate, some roasted grains and coffee with a bit of dark fruit and cream. Flavor is similar. Has some fruit and creamy chocolate and finished smooth and clean. Balanced and delicious. Maybe I just love old beer.

22oz bottle. Randomly scored from keg n bottle in I.V., sitting next to the 777 and hadn’t noticed it before. Deep dark brown like the depths of hell... ok thats the only satanic reference I’m going to make... maybe. Brown sugar, prunes, and molasses in the aroma. The flavor is pretty sweet, but not out of control. Almost reminds me of a doppelbock with some nuttiness to it. Just a little bitterness from the roast, and a little yeast in there too. An enjoyable dubbel, but I’m not getting the complexities that I love about westmalle or rochefort. Definite bonus points for the name; I had Iron Maiden playing in my head the entire time. I didn’t get to try it fresh, but a year and a half of age may have blended the flavors a little much.

Clear, brilliant purple with streaks of brown laying beneath a very thin tan colored head. The aroma is sweet and malty with cocoa, caramel, banana, molasses, roasted grains, bubble gum, beautiful yeasty esters, coriander, plums and cherries, anise and mildly spiced clove. The alcohol is noticable, but not out of balance by any means. The body is thick and smooth with lively bubbles tickling the tongue. The sweetness of the heavy malts, toasted grains, chewy bread and mild spice are clearly the emphasis here. The alcohol and moderate hopping come in to give an unexpected dryness at the finish, that really increases the drinkability. This is definitely one of the better Belgian Style beers that Stone has produced and much more suited to this Vertical Epic series than some of the previous examples. Quite tasty.