Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Had this beer on 9/22/2006. Aroma is a rich sweet malt scent with hop back tones. Color is deep purple, almost black with good carbonation and thick tight head. Taste is rich and smooth. Starting with a full body it goes down with a smooth feel. Finish comes on bold with a rich malt flavor that is sweet and roasted then is backed by a nice bitterness. Overall this brew is wonderful. Its well balanced, full of flavor, bold and rich, without being overbearing. I look forward to the next in the epic series on 07/07/07.

22 oz bottle. Dark brown with lighter head. Complex spiced aroma. Medium body with a complex flavor. Some hops, but well balanced. Overall one of my favorite brews.

Rated 11/10/06: Stones take on a dubbel is well received, this is an "epic" brew that will only get better with age. Incredible dark brown pour, little light passes through this one. Poured down the center of my goblet the huge tan head fizzes for a while and ultimately vanishes save for a mild ring around the edge. The coolest visual is a trippy tan galaxy that appears while I swirl the glass. As it warmed up a bit the aroma really comes through: hearty malt with some wheat and also generous scents of dark fruit, black licorice, banana,clove, and star anise. Mouthfeel is rich and full nice light alcohol burn that evaporates. Flavor is outstanding touching on all of the flavors found in the aroma with a more prominant alcohol accent. There is also a nice smokey flavor that comes through really helping out with the malt and dark fruits. A familiar yeastiness is also tasted letting me know that this was carefully brewed by Stone. Great beer, I’m a touch sad that I missed the first handful of installments for the Vertical Epic Series, but be sure that I will not pass up the ones to come.

Bottle. I was afraid that this brew had past me by, but alas, Liquor Stop in Highland, IN still had it when I was down that way for Dark Lord Day 2007 in late April. I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Belgian qualities in the aroma with banana esters. Dry. Almost fully opaque body, with some faint red hues sneaking through when held to light. Large, light tan head that is lasting. Foamy. Excellent lace. Flavor is all Belgian. No American notes to speak of like most other American brewers attempts at the Abbey styles. Perhaps a little lightly carbonated for a Dubbel, but this doesn’t detract from it at all. Dry, but delicious. Alcohol presence grows as it warms. Extremely well done. Not sure how good it will be in 2012 despite promises from the label that it was "designed" to last that long. Eminently drinkable now.

This offering pours a dark brown almost black with a thick tan head that leaves this brew quickly. The nose is strong plum, figs, prune, dark chocolate, coffee, brown sugar, wheat, just lots of sweetness in the nose. The taste starts mildly bitter with a grapefruit crack of bitterness, this is very interesting....it feels like a fruity Belgian beer combined with west coast pungent hops finished with a porter’s roasted barley like quality. The taste continues with a prune sweetness that is balanced by a citrus rind bitterness. The alcohal is minimal this is a quality brew that will def become more complex with age.

this was better than i was expecting. spicy fruit and malty reminded me of rabbid rabbit from fff very good and will enjoy in future.i would not pass up

Pours dark opaque brown with a medium sized creamy tan froth that lingers for a bit. Aromas are medicinal with new leather and smoke. Full nectar with soft and creamy effers. Flavors are fruit filled and strong with malted pine leather and medicine with accents of iodine, raisons, dried stone fruit, melon, botrytis, chewing tobacco, and smoke. The finish has a peachpit bittering with a long medicinal occupation. I like it better as it warmed. This brew needs time in the cellar. I can tell it’s got the right stuff for the long haul. Overall: a complex brew that needs time to develope. It reminds me of an Abt Quadrupel more than an Abbey Dubel. It is very apparent they want this one to be in good drinking condition on dooms day 2012. REVISION 8-6-06 flavors of black unsweetened chocolate are starting to show thru. Becoming more dense and chewy. **REVISED** 9-20-06** Aroma has turned to bubblegum and beef jerkey. I hope all that medicine goes away. **Revised**1-28-2008 It’s really starting to come together. A pronounced chocolate and roasted coffee bean character is emerging nicely. The medicine has left the building.

Poured from a 22oz bottle a deep maghogany with a small tan head. Aroma was of hops molasses and oak. Flavor was a bit sweet yet spicy at the same time with a good hop bitterness and a wonderful alcohol warming.