Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Pours a deep ebony-brown with a tan, quickly diminishing head. Smells of raisins, figs, brown sugar, slightly burnt malts, and alcohol. Flavor is lots of dark fruits, burnt malts and bannana flambe. Very complex flavor and palate but seems to clash. Bit thin in the body and high carbonation.

From a 22 oz. brown bottle with a blurb and info across the back of the bottle, sampled at cellar temperature in a chalice. Made a good appearance, poured a deep mahogany with a small foamy head that settled into a thin lacing, good carbonation. Had a nose of plum and bubble gum, lightly herbal and roasted malts. A crisp, but a little rough medium bodied mouthfeel, good drinkability. A bit rough in the taste, clove, a sweet plum-like fruitiness, "anise," bare hints of chocolate, a herbal hoppiness that breaks up the taste and a dryish bubble gum and roasted malts finish, a little sweet as well. The alcohol does provide a nice warmth in the palate and, for me, only shows up in the taste at the end, in the aftertaste. Should improve with age, at least I hope it does since I purchased four bottles for aging.

Part of the 02 thru 06 vertical at YourDarkLord’s house.This bottle was my contribution to the vertical. Pours dark brown with some copper highlights. Aroma reminds me of a weizenbock, wheaty, sweet, and estery. Initial flavor of dark wheat malt, brown sugar, raisens, and a hint of peat. Caramel and yeast come through the middle. The finish is dry with a medium bitterness.

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.

APPEARANCE: Dark brown to black with a tan head. AROMA: Fruity, phenolic yeast notes with dark malt roastiness. FLAVOR: Clove, smooth roasted malt, mild spiciness, and some hop bitterness. A dry finish with apparent alcohol. PALATE: Medium to full-bodied, good carbonation…no astringency. OVERALL: Very full and complex…not sure how it will develop.

It’s been over a year between bottles and I can say that I think I like it a little bit better with some age on it. The beer poured out a mahogany brown color with a three finger thick, light tan head. Aroma has a hefty dose of roasted malts, and dark fruits with an underlying spicy/yeast character that I enjoyed. Flavors had similar tasted like the nose, but the sweetness factor was ramped up a notch or two. A very smooth beer and probably my favorite so far out of this series.

Bottle. Pours with a dark brown cloudy body and an off-white head. Aroma is sweet and bready, and the flavor follows suit. Alot of biscuits and molasses in the taste. Quite good, but not outstanding.

Bottle. Pours a brown body with ruby hues and a tan head. Dried fruit, hints of plum, raisin, and licorice. Big etoh warming and caramel with some light cinnamon spice. Good brew.