Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Very unique brew. Pours opaque black, brownish head. The flavors are multilayered with dark fruits, orange, espresso, cocoa, roasted malt. The finish is very dry, almost a chalky cocoa flavor with a long lingering roasted flavor. I wish I had bought more.

This beer has it all. Pours dark brown like a porter/stoudt. Some citrus notes on the nose with a deeper lush malt base during the mid palate. deep mouthfeel shows notes of chocolate and espresso with some light hints of brunt orange. The finish is long and shows the notes of the hops.

22oz bottle. Pours a deep brown body with a finger-width, dense and creamy, brown head that dissipates slowly and leaves a pretty lacing. Aroma is quite nice and fairly complex. Sweet chocolates and toffees up front mixed with some woody roasts and berries. Behind that comes some Belgian yeast fruitiness and piney citrus resins. Some smooth vanilla and a light licorice as well. Flavor has more of a sweet citrusy, peely, Belgian yeastiness. Still plenty of dry, darker cocoas and roasts, but the sweeter peels are on top of everything. Fairly oaky with some tobacco smoke that dries this quickly as the Belgian yeast becomes even more noticable towards the end. Finishes with some dusty, chalky cocoas and a light licorice spice. Some vanilla and pine resins as well. Lengthy, dry aftertaste with a light alcohol warmth. Medium body, mouth coating, smooth, and a creamy carbonation. Overall, an interesting beer. Lots going on from the dry, oaky cocoas and light toffees to the citrus peels and the Belgian yeast. Well blended, fairly complex, and tasty. I hope to try this again in the future because I’m sure it ages with the best of them.

Bottle pours a deep brown body, opaque in the glass. Medium tan head has garnet fringes and leaves island chain lacing. Nice aroma! Chocolate, roasted coffee beans, citrusy hops, charred wood, ripe bananas, dark fruits, and a hint of licorice. Full medium body has a smooth, but solid, carbonation. Taste opens with a roasted coffee bitterness, followed quickly by notes of dark chocolate and vanilla. Malty nuttiness, citrusy hops, ripe bananas, and spicy licorice join the fray. Alcohol is nicely hidden. I don’t pick up the tangerine peel. Pleasantly complex and very tasty. One of the better VE’s in my experience.

Pours dark with a red-tinged foam. It has the aroma of chocolate and sweet berries. The flavor is dry with berry flavors.

Brown color with a small head. Aroma is sweet, chocolate and some grain with a hint of yeasty. Flavor is sweet, creamy, some light toasted oak, light spice and molasses and chocolate. Nice.

dark brown body with a minimal tan head and consistant lacing. strong chocolate aroma, some earthen and alcohol notes. solid.