Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

I about had a conniption when I realized last week that I had forgotten (after much anticipation prior to the magic day) about the release of this year’s epic. Thanks to the fine folks at Andy’s Carryout on High St. I was able to secure a few bottles (after what was beginning to look like a fruitless search). Exceptional nose of dried fruit, berries, brown sugar, anise, wheat, and some smoke. The brew pours with a lovely cascade that resolves itself into a mostly lasting stiff, creamy tan head. The brew is dark brown with ruby highlights. Kaboom! One of a kind flavor. What else would you expect from the twisted monkeys at Stone? The brew is mostly malty with a typical Belgian presence however, a slight hops zing unveils itself in time for the meandering finish of bitter flowers. The medium body is soft & creamy.

I thought this was only fitting for my 500th beer rated. Poured to an opaque jet black color, with thick tan head that lingered throughout most of the drink and left good lacing. Aroma was a malty dark fruit (grapes and figs) with a hint of alcohol. As the beer warmed, the alcohol became more prominent, but not enough to obverwhelm the fruit. Mouthfeel was tingly and sweet, and the taste was a pleasant continuation of the same malty dark fruit as was found in the aroma. This blend led nicely to a nice, long warming finish. The bottle said it was best to wait until 12-12-2012 to enjoy this; howver, it was just fine now. Beware....Quite a buzz just from this bomber, so be careful if you let it sit 5 more years!!!

[Bottle, thanks Nuffield] Pours dark brown with a small light tan head. Aroma is sweet, malty nose with some yeast. Taste is roasted malt, a lot of yeast, and something else that I couldn’t identify. Medium mouthfeel. Definitely not one of my favorite dubbels.

The flavor here seems the best of the epics yet. The yeast is better incorporated with the alchohol and I think this is a bit sweeter. Nutty and bready, not as much perfume.

A very curious beer. It was very fruity and complex, but I am not sure what I would call the beer. Of course it is some kiknd of belgian style, but I enjoyed it more than I do other belgians as it was not completely to style.

Bomber-Trade w/after4ever-Poured a dark brown w/almost no head. Sweet floral aroma. Somewhat sweet flavor up front-dates & raisens, Caramel & yeast. Has a malt finish to balance it out. Had some good carbination to it, somewhat chewy-very smooth, easy drinking brew. Alcohol was well hidden. Long sweet finish, fairly comlex brew.

Spiced plum, caramel, cloves, and a hint of banana in the aroma; pours a bit dark for a dubbel, fleeting head retention; peppery, roasty, sweet malt with some date and raison flavor, some chocolate and molasses or brown sugar notes; medicinal pheonelics; pretty sweet, but somewhat bitter in the tail end. A little too spicy and sweet right now, but good.

A pretty atypical dark brown colour with some fizzy carbonation that produces a large and inviting soda like head that has some very good staying power. It produces more of a film than it does a lacing. I detected something between warm gooey chocolate and caramel in the aroma. There might be a hint of clove or banana, or both, in there too. Kind of an unsweetened chocolate taste with some dryness that reminds me of tobacco leaves. Medium bodied at best with little carbonation despite its semi boisterous pour.