Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale

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

22oz bottle. Pours a cloudy copper with a huge white head. Hoppy aroma with some yeast, but not very Belgian, which is a good thing for me. Flavor is sweet and yeasty up front, but the hops kick in and give this one an awesome finish. This is a Belgian I can drink myself stupid on.

Small white head, fair retention, spotty, stringy, thin lace. Clear gold color. Nose is lightly fruity, yeasty, lightly floral and grassy. Body is lightly medium, effervescent and a tad astringent. Flavors of grass, citrus, light metallic notes, mango, dry malts, spicey with faint bubblegum notes. All in all; Least enjoyed of the VE series. Overly spicey and grassy. Not into the AmBelgique IIPA style thats seems to be running rampant in this here country. Sorry Stone but i still do love yous guys!

Pours a slightly hazy amber-orangish color. Pour creates a thin 1/2" bone white head which fades to a paper thin layer of foam. Just some spotty lacing adheres to the glass. Mouthfeel presents a touch of slickness and body, but is overall on the thinner side with a slightly elevated level of spritzy carbonation. Flavor profile begins with a sweet and slightly tart presence of green apple, apricot and citrus backed with hints of coriander, honey and clove. A smooth biscuity malt flavor is also perceived. Finishes with a typical Stone citrusy hop presence of orange peel, lemon drops and red grapefruit. A nice lighter, but warming and spicy beer for winter imbibing.

Tang-bronze color, little evident carbonation, and a ring of head. Musky and funky Belgian aromatic character with some skunk. Pepperiness toward the end. Likewise, quite funky tasting with warming phenols and a touch of black pepper or guinea pepper. Authentic old world Belgian quality. Would pair well with cheese, crusty bread, and mussels.

Bomber bought at College Liquors in Grand Junction, CO. Pours a clear copper color with a large, but quickly dissipating head. The aroma is strong banana notes, spices, citrus, some yeast too, lots of hops. The flavor is very hoppy, some citrus, spices, alcohol warmth, a bit of malts and banana. Very nice. A bit bready and full flavored.

candy sugar nose, yeast present in nuance rather then outright. super light color and light texture. hops are present, simcoe center stage, sweet citrus. btter but comes across as fruity, not hopped to typical stone levels. perhaps the lightest stone brew ive ever had.

Bottle. Golden/bronze beer with a well hopped and malty/vinous aroma. The flavour is very hopped and malty/vinous. Overall a good strongly flavoured beer.

A straw gold pour with with light white head and lace. Aroma of bannana and clove dominate. Flavor of clove, a hint of abv warmth, then a decent bitter that gives way to the clovish aftertaste. Medium/Full mouth feel with a nice aggressive carbonation for the style. A very spicey warm beer that should be released every winter. A beer I like very much.