Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Thanks for sharing, bro! Pours a black color with a medium mocha head which fades rather quickly and leaves lots of bubbly-webbed lacing. Aroma is cocoa, lactose, light Belgian spice, and light citrus hops. Tastes a lot like a Milk Stout or Foreign Stouts I’ve had before - light cocoa, some breadiness, Belgian spice, and some citrus hop bitterness. Meh.

Pours a black color with medium light brown bubbly head. Aroma is of chocolate, burnt grain, light coffee and light spice. Taste is more chocolate that I expected with some Belgian spice that plays nicely with the chocolate grain. I don’t pick up a whole lot of tangerine, but there is some subtle citrus. Overall, it’s pretty good, but again, like most Stone beers, they’re good, but not great.

The Dan Journal #319. Tasted 12/16/09. 22oz bomber. Rather dark, opaque hue. Skim layer of beige head. Good aromas with nuances of oatmeal and cocoa dust. Dark chocolate, fudge and toast. Full bodied but super smooth! Lower acidity and milder effervescence. Sweet malts and a dry finish. The astringency shines as it warms and brings with it a subtle coffee note. Mild dark dried fruity esters. Very nice!

I tried I bottle the week this came out and thought the hops were a little too forward and overpowered the rest of the flavors. 3 months later, I’m trying it again and the hops are much subdued and it tastes better to me. Pours jet black with a disappointing head. Aroma almost resembles a rauch, with some smokiness offset by the remnants of citrus hops. The taste is similar to the nose, but not at all overpowering and quite pleasant. The vanilla comes through at the very front and it almost seems like the smoky nose might be me mistaking the vanilla. Not entirely sure. I’m happy that I gave this beer another try, and I look forward to having it again in the future.

Bottled:
Colour is dark brown, almost black. Head is large and thick. Aroma is smoke, Belgian yeast and chocolate. Flavour is dark, bitter chocolate, vanilla and smoke. Long bitter finish with grapefruity notes.

Dark brown color/ lingering tan head. Big peppercorn, roasty malt aromas with mild chocolate. medium body. Nice roasty nutty chocolatety flavors with mild spicy hops. Very good. Bottle thanks to Juice.

22 ounce bomber - $7.99 at Bullock’s Wine & Spirits in Marietta, Georgia. Appearance: Pours out a near black body with a large, burbling head of tan foam. Smell: Deep notes of roast and smoke and wood -- it’s like strolling through a former-cabin that had an all-too tragic accident. Lesser notes of spice, fruit, and Dutch cocoa seem buried within the smoldering rubble. Taste: Roast leads to toast which leads to a resounding wooden taste and long-lasting, spicy tastes of smoked black licorice and ground pepper. Lesser hints of dark chocolate and vanilla and sweet molasses dare try to peak out from under these heady flavors. I must say, it is quite smoky throughout. Curiously arranged, subtle mix of dark fruits, banana, and citrus from those added tangerine peels. Earthy bitterness leaking out amongst all the staunch roastiness. Some alcohol warmth and further fruitiness on the spicy, drying, malt-riddled finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Fairly smooth mouthfeel. Drinkability: Hmm. Well, it’s certainly different and very complex, though I’m not quite sure what to make of it at this stage three months from its initial release. Of the more recent Epic Ale releases (minus the 08.08.08 which I still haven’t had, unfortunately), this is the one I most curious to see how it’ll age. Let’s hope for great things, eh?

As promised, a complex beer with lots of peat and resinous wood flavors, some fir and smoke then a sweet finish. attractive, modest head and some lacing.