Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

22oz. bottle. Sweet and fruity aroma, with a combination of doughy, estery yeast traits, spice, faintly roasty, toffeeish malts, plum, raisin and some lightly floral notes. Deep, dark mahogany color, clear, with a lasting, fine head. Flavor is lightly bitter and spicy to start, turning more malty, with a darkly sweet undercurrent, and finishing with a blend of berryish fruit and faint alcohol, even shows some lingering cocoa very late. Very lightly vinous and acidic. Smooth and creamy on the palate with a full body, drying out to a certain degree by the end. Really quite nice. Should be interesting to see how this one ages.

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.

Very dark appearance has ruby hues adorned with a large, frothy tan head that leaves strings of lace as it subsides. Has a sweet dark Belgian malty nose with a touch of peppery clove and bready yeast. Body starts sweet with lots of dark caramel malt and chocolate chip cookie dough flavor toward a slightly cloying bready brown sugar, raisin finish. Fairly true to style and enjoyable.

Dark cloudy brown with a medium sized tan head. Rich aroma of dark fruits, caramel, a touch of chocolate. Sweet flavor initially with a mildly bitter finish. A short blast of alcohol also. Flavor is slightly chocolatey. Some bourbon/scotch notes. I’m thinking this is going to be awesome in a few years.

Bottle. This is the 4th bottle I’ve had so far apparently I get lazy with my notes. Pours a dark brown with a large nearly white head. Aroma is still on the sweeter side with lots of dark fruits. Flavor is malty and caramel and sweet with some yeastiness, raisin, plum, and unidentified fruitiness. Finish is dry and spicy and moderately bitter and earthy. I remember it being more alcoholic when fresh for some reason, as it sits now there is a light warmth. I got more, I’ll try it again in a year.

Dark brown, with a thin head despite fizzy carbonation.

Aroma is ultra fruity, overripe bananas dominate.
Some caramel in there too, along with a few wisps of cedar. Those only come out after you let the brew sit for a bit, once you agitate it again the fruit powers back.

First sip was all clove.
When I was a kid I tried making my own clove cigarettes with crushed cloves from my moms kitchen. This kind of reminded me of that, but in a good way. Smokey, clove, tobacco, sweet and spice.
As it warmed, notes of banana crept in.

Medium body, with a lengthy dry woody finish. Will be interesting to see how this develops.

Las Vegas, Nv. - Lee’s Discount Liquors, 22 oz bomber. Very dark ruby red to black pour with a frothy mocha colored head. Fresh, srong aroma of carbona cleanser, licorice and bubblegum. Flavor has some candied sugar notes, bubblegum, cloves. Improves as it warms and develops some caramelized smoky flavors. Reminds me somewhat of Ouzo. Mouthfeel is very clean and textured well. Goes down very smoothly.

Bottle... Clear, crimson ale with a mid-sized, creamy, lightly tanned head. Good retention. The complex aroma is a swirl of chocolaty, vinous notes with a touch of burnt rubber, port, soy sauce, anise, clove and smoke. The flavor is chocolaty and toasted with dark fruits, molasses and alcohol. Decently-balanced by the hops and booziness. Full-bodied and creamy with lively carbonation. Finishes toasted and medium bitter. Pretty hot. Should age well, but I enjoyed it straight out of the Brickskeller’s cooler.