Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Date: September 17, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Brouwer’s Cafe, Seattle
Appearance: black, creamy brown head, heavy patterned lace
Aroma: dark chocolate aroma, sweet fruity esters
Body: creamy body
Flavor: rich sweet chocolate flavor, sweet fruity esters enhance the chocolate, hint of fruity tartness, balancing earthy bitterness, roasted along with a big hop character keeps it balaned on the bitter side, sharp spicy ginger shows up toward the bottom of the glass
Overall: a Belgian porter? is there such a thing?

Date: October 18, 2009
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
picking up more of the bitter and earthy character to overshadow the malty sweetness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *** /4

Poured a dark black color, with reddish/brown edges, and an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, licorice, citrus, spices, some roastiness, fruity, and vanilla. Tastes of chocolate, vanilla, citrus, vanilla, spiciness, and some coffee in the finish.

Pours a mostly opaque dark mahogany with a small froth of dark tan head. Aroma of toasty dark caramel and biscuity malts with some dry roasted maltiness and dark chocolate notes. Starts with good fullness and effervescent carbonation with a sweet doughy dark maltiness and some bittersweet spices and dark chocolate before a drier toasty finish. Pretty well balanced and true to style.

Draft… Pitch black ale with a small, creamy, khaki head. Good retention. The aroma is of charcoal, espresso, chocolate, light clove and a rumor of campfire smoke. Full-bodied and very silky with medium carbonation. The flavor is roasty, burnt and bitter with hints of spicy Belgian phenols. Reminiscent of a weizen bock. Lengthy, burnt, bitter finish.

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.

Draught at Gingerman. Pours dark brown with a light brown head. Smells of licorice, vanilla, some chocolate, dark fruit. Tastes roasty and sweet with some vanilla and fruity elements.

Tap at Rattle N Hum. Deep amber-brown pour with a thick creamy tan head. The nose is loaded with rummy spiciness. Lots of plum and spice and a kiss of vanilla. There is a lot of molasses in here as well. The body is quite lean and boozy. A little bit peppery. I’m not really a huge fan of this at all. Maybe it’ll be better in the bottle.

Very dark brown in color Tall slightly creamy looking aged canvas colored head. Fairly light aromas, with dark chocolate, ash, grassy to herbal hops and dark coffee. Smooth light feel. Initial sweet malt, mocha, and bit of orange juice is rather quickly displaced. MIddle is again citric, but the dark roast malt, and dark chocolate (with vanilla) come in and gradually take over. Spices noted in the finish as the acidity continues to rise. The start to finish in the brew reminds me of a pot of coffee as it seems to get more charred and bitter the long the pot sets on the burner. LInger is long and has charred malt and wood. Acidity keeps this one light on the palate, but adds to the burnt edges. Not sure how or if this one can improve, especially since I do not since a big malt depth to this one.