Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

22oz. pitch black with tan head. nose of low crystal malt and dark malts. moderate carbonation for the style.. noticeable but pleasant bitterness followed by low crystal malt and a perfect amount of black malt with some chocolate notes, some spice comes through mayve from the hops and some really nice yeasty esters. overall, it tastes like a hyped brown porter that is a little more fruity from the belgian yeast, i have heard some detractors of this brew, but i really like it. very nice

Dark brown beer sits below a tan head that leaves some nice lacing. Mild aroma of sweet malts with a hint of caramel. Flavor is the same, sweet chocolate and caramel malts with a bitter coffee finish. Flat feel to it. Maybe a little more porter than belgian. Barely medium bodied and nothing to really speak of as far as the palate goes.

Pours a very dark brown with a tan, moderately full, pillowy, creamy head which is somewhat lasting, and leaves nice Belgian lace rings. Nose is pleasant but still a bit premature; chocolate and spice are most prominent (pepper, cinnamon), some anise, light charred wood, faint restrained roast, some orange peel notes, and a light toasted caramel. Flavor is much of the same with dark chocolate, charred wood, some earthy coffee roast, some orange peel notes, dusty yeast with some faint esters, cinnamon and faint clove, toasted and burnt caramel, maybe a bit of molasses. Palate is okay with a medium body, soft to lively, silky feel, and dryness from the burnt and charred notes. Finishes fairly bitter and but mostly from the acidic roast, charred, and burnt notes with some lingering cinnamon and dark chocolate. I think it could potentially be a nice beer in some time but right now, the burnt and charred notes dominate too much of the beer and hide the more Belgian notes. The tangerine comes through but subtlety, the vanilla and French oak are complementary and create some nice toasted caramel notes (odd that I did not get any vanilla?). I would love to see what happens to this one in a couple of years when the body can build up and the Belgian yeast can take more of a presence. For now, it is just fairly good.

On tap at Three Floyds served in a snifter. Shiny black pour with a thin, lasting tan cap that left excellent lace. The aroma had chocolate, spicy yeast, vanilla, and a hint of fruit. The flavor had bittersweet chocolate, smoke, a touch of vanilla, spicy and fruity yeast esters, and also some heavy roast. Full-bodied and creamy. Light carbonation. Interesting and tasty. Much better than the last couple editions. Well done Stone!

Bomber into Unibroue tulip. Looks beautiful: pretty much pitch black with a towering dark, rocky, dense, tan head that has completely insane retention and leaves sheets of lacing. Aroma is a bit of dark chocolate, molasses, smoked bacon/ham moving to a vinous, candi sugar complexity. Taste is semi-sweet chocolates, cafe latte, some burnt toast. Very much like a smoked or stout. Huge bitter finish. Not sure how cellaring this would bring out any improvements.

Bomber. Poured deep brown with a thick, lovely cap of dark tan head. The aroma picked up semi-sweet chocolates, molasses, and candied caramel laced with sweet, smoky earth, spicy yeast, and a touch of orange zest.. warm and welcoming on the back of the nose. The flavor opened with tangy tangerine and charred oak with rich cocoa and darker chocolates rolling onto the middle.. dark spices, yeast, and more oak surrounded.. citrus and tasty chocolates on the finish. Medium-bodied with tight carbonation on the middle and a looser feel around.. the oak and warmth were both a bit abrasive at times.. overall a decent feel and a tasty beer.

22 oz bottle from GM Liquors. Nose is smoke, chocolate, light vanilla, and background caramel. Black with a medium, long lasting, lightly lacing, cinnamon tan head. Flavor is strong smoke, some oakiness, and chocolate. Finish is smoky, more smoke than I like and I like smoked meats, too much in beer overpowers the other complexities of the beer.

This stuff is great. Deep complex smokey flavor.....tastes nothing like the other belgians I have had. Will try to get a case ASAP. Have no idea how/where to find the earlier ones....hint hint.....anyone?