Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Dark Cola with ruby edges, almost opaque with thich tan head. Aroma of deep raost, carbon, sweet berries, dark chocolate. Thin mouthfeel with medium carbonation. A small bite on the tip of the tongue to start, woodsy hop bitterness. Develops into deep roast, carbon, dark bitter chocolate, very woody, bitter chocoate and toffee finish. Alcohol is peppery, but not overpowering.

Pours dark black with a white head. Good aroma of coffee, vanilla, and some traditional Belgian aromas. Slight banana on the aftertaste. Strong heavy beer that has some burnt, woody characters with a good balance of hops. The first glass was rather heavy but started really enjoying it on the second glass. Great relaxing sipper, maybe with a nice cigar to finish it.

22oz bottle-pours a big rich brown head that laces and black color. Aroma is roasty-dark malt, orange peel, spice/wood hops. Some chocolate as it warms. Taste is chocolate/roasty-dark malt/bready, orange peel, spice/wood/earthy hops. Thanks JWC for sharing.

Release date 9-09-09. Pours with a fingering tan creamy large head. Black , Black , Black in color with flavors of dark chocolate, cocoa, and cream. Bitter sweet and divine. A wonderful dessert like beer goes great with a cigar.

Release date 9-09-09. Pours with a fingering tan creamy large head. Black , Black , Black in color with flavors of dark chocolate, cocoa, and cream. Bitter sweet and divine. A wonderful dessert like beer goes great with a cigar.

Although a fan of the Stone ’stable’, this one came up a little short for me; alas, I am a Belgian Abbey/Duble/Triple/Strong Ale fanatic. The appearance was fine - nice bottle conditioned, tight-bubble structure with thick, foamy head. The aroma showcased coffee, chocolate, toast, orange, vanilla and the standard yeast produced banana notes. As taken in the nostrils repeated on the tongue. This brew had all the right makings to be ’da bomb’; however, as a whole, it came up short in the areas of balance and finish. Perhaps this will get better in the bottle as time goes by? That reminds me - I better go buy another to store away for a future rating....

22 oz bottle. Pours a surprisingly dark black with thin beige head. The aroma is roasty with some ash, earth, vanilla, toast, and tobacco. The flavor is also quite roasty at the first sip, followed by pumperknickel, cocoa, oak, and mixed nuts. There is a somewhat spritzy overtone to it with some lemon and chalk notes, while some dark and earthy tones lurk in the background. The finish is semi-dry with nuts and chocolate and maybe some spicy yeast here and there. Decent beer, but not spectacular.

~Aroma of vanilla, coriander, yeast, white pepper, chocolate malts come out more as it warms up. ~Pours jet black with small creamy brown head with good lacing and head retention. ~Yeasty flavor with bitter chocolate malts and coffee. White pepper spiciness. Beer is too young, should have aged it. Malts are very bitter and yeast lingers. ~Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Dry feel, bitter finish. Slight alcohol warmth. ~Yeasty bitterness is too much. Should have aged this one to mellow out a bit more.