RateBeer

Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Percentile
95
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3613.71/5.03.7/5.0Special8.5%88.8Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
This is quite a complex and layered beer. Bold and smooth chocolate malt flavors combine with a Belgian yeast lending tropical fruit/banana flavors and hints of spiciness, all complemented by citrus notes from an addition of tangerine peel. Rich vanilla beans add a nice counter to the chocolate malt - actually enhancing the chocolatiness. The finish is smooth, with additional traces of vanilla and toasted characters from French Oak. The goal for this edition of the Stone Vertical Epic Ale series is to be reminiscent of artisanal chocolates accentuated with orange.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 BierBauch (646), Cape Coral Waterfront Wonderland, Florida, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/515/20

Oct 19, 2009  
Dark black stout looking beer with a small bubbly head. Roasted malt in the aroma with black pepper and fennel. Vanilla in the background. Medium body with lively carbonation. Flavor is a smoky roated malt with a Belgian like yeast flavor. Overall don’t know what to make of it. Kind of lika a hybrid Porter/Belgian.

 ekstedt (2437), Göteborg, Sweden
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/104/512/20
Dec 6, 2009  
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.


 hirigalzkar (578), Stockholm, Sweden
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Dec 5, 2009  
Bottle. Seriously bitter beer. Lots of coffee and pine. Huge bitterness in aftertaste.Can’t really see what’s belgian about this strong ale.


 jbye4334 (710), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Dec 4, 2009  
(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.


 finol (502), Nacka (Stockholm), Sweden
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/515/20
Dec 4, 2009  
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.


 Boliv (195), New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Dec 3, 2009  
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.


 andersand (359), Malmö, Sweden
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/515/20
Dec 3, 2009  
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.


 ante (2942), Stockholm, Sweden
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/513/20
Dec 2, 2009  
Bottled. Pours out in a hazy dark brown colour with a small off-white head. Sweetish aroma of milky chocolate, anise, oranges and banana. Medium to full-bodied with touches of roasted malts, milky chocolate, Seville oranges, mild banana, licorice and sugar. Long aftertaste of licorice, sugar, mild banana and cocoa-powder. Still not a huge fan of Stones Vertical Ales....


 riversideAK (2731), Shoreline, Washington, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/514/20
Dec 1, 2009  
Nose is full of lots of roasted malts accompanied with some banana and slight sweet spice. Perhaps a touch of vanilla sweetness as well. Pours dark brown, almost black, nicely into my thizzle glass with a good amount of fizzy beige foam and sticky lace. The flavor is full of roast that is almost acrid and lasts throughout. Other notes that add a touch of balance are banana, sweet yeasty spice, a hint of smoke, and light vanilla. Very charred and burnt flavors linger, drying the hell out of my palate. Good, but I would have preferred a little smoother drink, this could probably benefit from a little age as the assertive char might get a chance to settle in. Good nonetheless.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC