Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

citrus zest is initial element, followed by solid porter backbone, and vanilla bean in the finish. not picking up the belgian yeast. overall, very nice and complex.

(Bottle) Pours dark brown, almost black in the glass. Light brown head. The aroma is smooth with lots of creamy yeast, caramel/chocolate malt and fruity esters. Oranges, banana and mango. Mild spicy undertones of vanilla - both from the oak and the spices. Hints of (wood) tannins. Tones of caramel and (brown) sugar alongside a mild coconut note from the oak remind me of coconut milk. A whisper of black malt provides the nose with coffee. Roasted nuts. Laid back malt, the yeast is mild yet fairly complex but the hops (grassy/herbal and resinous) are maybe a bit too raw fore my liking. Almost no phenols = I like. The flavour is light sweet, medium bitter, and light acidic. Tones of chocolate, coffee, dark bread, citrus, light fruits, wood,earth, resin and subtle spices. Hops are high alpha but typical European in style. The mouthfeel is smooth, soft and round. The finish is to citric and alpha-aggressive. Medium to full bodied. I am not always a big fan of Stone, but the aroma is fantastic, as well as the malt recipe.

Bottle (bomber) from Systembolaget. Black with medium beige head. Fruity, caramelly, and sugary with some roasted notes of salmiak and gunpowder. Very little belgian character. Medium bodied and smooth. Dry with bitter and a bit salty finish. Quite mediocre.

Bottle. Seriously bitter beer. Lots of coffee and pine. Huge bitterness in aftertaste.Can’t really see what’s belgian about this strong ale.

(bottle). Black color. Medium tan head. Strong malt aroma with light alcohol. Strong roasted malt flavor. Avg duration. Light alcohol finish with lasting roasted flavor. Slick texture. Soft carbonation.

Bottle. Pours black with a firm and long lasting head of rather big bubbles. Lots of coffe, some rosted malts and pine. A bit to light bodied to carry all the flavours.

Bomber. Pours deep, deep brown, nearly black, with a one-finger tan head that diminishes quickly. Aromas of milk chocolate, vanilla, coffee, some hops, roasty notes, raisins and berries, and a little smoke. Belgian yeast and pepper as it warms. Roasty and smoky flavor, cocoa, caramel, bitter espresso notes, and a bit of oak. A touch of alcohol in the finish. Ah, the slightest hint of orange rind is present in the finish as well. Rich, creamy, and smooth, with medium carbonation. Some spidery lacing is present. I’m not getting much citrus here, however. I would not have pegged this as a Belgian strong ale; it’s more like a porter, or a milk stout. I like this beer very much.

Dark brown, close to black with a small off-white head. Aroma is weak of chocolate, vanilla, subtile esters and a raw ryebreadish note. Flavour starts very sweet with oak character, light chocolate and vanilla with some fruit but ends on a dry very harsh "peel-bitter" note. Mouthfeel is very smooth with a perfect amount of carbonation, the best aspect of this rather unbalanced beer. However it might come together with some age, at the moment it’s both too sweet and too bitter at the same time.