Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale (Red Wine Barrel Aged)

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Growler, courtesy JW77. Pours a hazy golden color with an orange tint topped by a small and foamy tan colored head. Some thin rings of lace cling to the glass. The aroma showed notes of cinnamon and spices, some bready yeast, and oak. The flavor follows with some nice red fruits and vinous characters from the barrels to go with the spices and yeast. There is a hint of tartness as well. Medium bodied with nice carbonation and very easy to drink. This is a nice beer, but I think I was expecting something different.

Growler, courtesy JW77. Pours a hazy golden-orange amber hue with a small, foamy tan head. Thin bands of lacing circle the glass, coating it well in tiered steps. The aroma shows a clean graininess and sweet sipce, reminiscent of Cinnamon Life cereal, with an estery, Belgian yeast overtone and subtle oaking. Flavors are similarly structured, vinous from the woody barrel, with hints of orchard fruit disbursed amongst the clean cereal grain and yeasty spice. The palate seems to have thinned out a bit, but is otherwise smooth and agreeable. Very solid brew. I prefer this slightly to the non-barrel aged version.

Growler pour courtesy of JW77. Pours copper with gold edges and thin white head. The aroma is spiced red apple, yeasty spice and other softer smoother blended spices. The flavor starts off a lot like the aroma with solid spiced ripe red apple wedges and then moving into solid white wine notes.

Growler, courtesy of JW77. Thank you. I may be in the minority, but I thought the oak and wine flavors were a little more subdued than most. The yeast and spices from the original beer still gave my palate a workout. A solid beer, but I was honestly expecting a little more from the barrel aging. The tartness was fairly mild. Still good, overall, I was just expecting more.

JW77 with a major hook up here. Wow. Pours a nice amber color. Aroma is amazing. Red wine notes, caramel, spices, yeast, and woody notes. Flavor is WAY better than the regular 07VE. Red wine tartness, dry yestiness, caramel, oak, and a beautiful fruitness. Nice!!

Thanks to jw77 for opening this baby at the BB Big Sound Release. Pours brown/ amber with almost no head. Nose is vinuous- tart, dry grapes, malt, yeast, and vinegary pieces. Flavor is interesting: light malt is very subdued by the dry wine barrel notes: very drinkable beer with dry fruit, vinuous pieces and a mellow vinegar bite. Drinkable beer; very enjoyable.

cheers to jw77 for opening this rare gem. pours light brown, no head. aroma is filled with wine goodness, reminded me of a softer version of St-Somewhere Fleur. Taste, smooth and easy to drink. Some barrel elements with a lot of wine adding to a nice and velvety palate, light carbonation with hints of yeast and malts. Not much to do with the style, but it’s just so easy to drink and leaves a refreshing after taste.

Nope, didnt work. Great concept, love wine aged everything else, but the spices were so overbearing in this outing that I couldnt enjoy the little wine subtelties that did come through.