Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Pours a yellow orange with very minimal head. Aroma of mostly sweet malts and some hops. Flavor of citrus, grapefruit, yeast, and hops. Medium to strong hops bitterness with a unique finish of sour fruit, hops and yeast. I may have had this one a little early so the head and carbonation was low. Still a very good beer.

Haven’t been a big fan of the VE series but this one is worthy. Bomber pours a golden hued body, radiant in the alfresco evening sun. Capped by an attractive vanilla head that has some legs, patching the goblet with sheets and patches. Aroma is fruity with grapefruit and banana esters, kissed by notes of pine resin. The medium body is accented by a yeasty chalkiness. Taste has fruity grapefruit with a hint of bubblegum, tempered by dry and bitter pine hops. Belgian yeasty notes are prominent. Finishes like a cross between a Belgian pale ale and an IPA. Enjoyable...certainly my favorite of the VE series. My first beer consumed and reviewed here on Mount Tranquility in the higher elevations of Claiborne County, Tennessee.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Golden colour with frothy, white head. Fruity, spicy nose with notes of citrus, apricots and orange peel. Fruity, spicy taste with apricots, orange peel and lots of spicy hops in the finish. Fairly sweet. Lacking something in balance, but still a nice and tasty beer.

Bottle @ Chris_o’s Pre-Beer Exposed Tasting, September 2008.
pours clear golden with a small, creamy white head. Aroma is super hoppy (pine) and wonderfully fruity. Fine, dry mouthfeel. Flavour has some forest, pine, low yeastiness. Not much maltiness behind the heavy hoppiness.

Served cold from 22 oz. bottle. Sorry, I couldn’t wait until 2012. Pours clear gold in color, with an aroma of mixed fruits. Taste combines cloves, caramel and hops. Good spice, good bitter finish. I’m a big fan of this. If someone in the LA-area wants to share one with me four years from now, drop me a line.

Crushed with Jakebra. More tripel tendencies. Not a big fan. Lots of spices and stuff going on. Not unpleasant, just not incredibly good.

9/13/08 - Bottle shared with Naka and Nate. Pours orange/yellow with white, rimming head. Nose is aFrazier Fir/Colorado Blue Spruce hybrid that was rolled in a week old litter box that hadn’t been cleaned. Taste is bread and sour lemon with big hop flavor, pine and flowers, a decently moderate bitter and slightly skunky. Interesting beer. Alcohol burn at the end. We’ll see how it holds up over time.

(Draught on 08.08.08) Pours a clear golden body with a small white head. Fruity aroma of pineapple, orange, banana, mango, passion fruit, pepper, and clove. Flavor of Belgian yeast, hops (pineapple, citrus), and spices. Nice!