Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale

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

bottle 22oz. a smooth ale - great citrus flavors and balance of hops and yeast. a good beer - enjoyable

Clear light amber with a fleeting head. Nice aroma is citrusy tropical fruit with clove. Medium body. Yeasty, estery flavors of bananas clove, with pale malt that’s mixed with bitter hops that doesn’t really meld very well at all. Maybe this one will develop with some time in the bottle?

Bottle, pours a clear gold with a decent white head. Aroma of pepper and spices, banana, and a little bit of the belgian yeast. A little sweet, and easy to drink. I feel like there is still a little alcohol burn to it. Overall, a decent belgian strong. I was really hoping for a little more out of the Vertical Epic though since I always have high expectations for the series.

22oz. Bottle: Lightly sweet aroma. Smells of citrus, hops, Belgian yeast, banana, hop juice, resin, and spices. Poured dark gold/apple juice in color with a small, fizzy, rocky, off-white head that lasted throughout. Lightly sparkling. Slightly hazy. Small lacing. Light to medium sweet, light to medium bitter flavor. Very complex. Tastes of lemon, hops, citrus, resin, alcohol, yeast, caramel, and spices. Medium body. Thickish, sticky texture. Average to lively carbonation. Sweet, hop juice finish is a little chalky.

Bomber: Aroma big on citrus hops, pine needles, some bubble gum, light fruit almost apple aroma, and really nicely spiced. Appearance is a really carbonated golden color with a hint of amber, and a medium head that is around for a slight bit and then leaves. Taste is somewhat dry hoppy texture that lingers on throughout the taste. spices intermingle nicely, and an overall fruit texture on the back end. Overall, this stuff is quality brew in my honest opinion. Cheers!

22 oz bottle. Pours golden color. Aroma is a Belgian, spicy, citrus, hop flavor. The flavor is quite more hoppy than I had initally expected. As it warms it gets even better, a smooth, creamy, wonderful beer. It’s better than the 07 offering and as good as the 06 one. Alcohol presence is not very noticeable until it hits you a few minutes later - will see how it is in a few years!

Ahhh, 8/8/08- My wife’s birthday nonetheless.. 22oz Bottle. Pours translucent, honey-golden, with a rather light wisp of carbonation clinging to the edges of my St Feuillien goblet. A spicy, zesty, belgian yeast hits the nose- primarily clove ; and as this beauty warms, the american hoppy citrus, and tropical fruitiness start to come out much much more, as well as the banana lurking in the background. The initial burst of flavor is sweet grainy malt, candy sugar, spiciness, stone fruits (ironic?), melon, rich green hop flavor, a hit of alcohol heat ( I mean it is a well hidden 8.6, anyhow) with a well described "refreshing bitterness" .. Indeed.. A very delicious complex beer, that I’d argue might just bunk the myth of aging-The freshness will best serve the hop character that is so pleasant in this year’s version.. I suppose time will tell, but alas, CHEERS to Stone for another unique, delicious offering. The hop character alone on this one deserves some stocking up.. Underrated?

Bottle shared with Blankboy, Jerc, Garthicus, GregClow, and Hogotwn Harry, Harry’s bottle. Medium to dark yellow, small white head. Nice aroma - very hoppy, lots of lemon, very fresh. Great taste! So fresh, so hoppy, solid strong refreshing Belgian. Loved it. #2300.