Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

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.

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....

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.

The aroma is just a slight malt with a slighter touch of vanilla and chocolate. The taste is interesting, cascading through flavors as it warms in the mouth. It starts as a chocolaty malt, moves through some vanilla, touches on hops and citrus, and ends slightly bitter and warming. This is rich and interesting, a nice addition to the vertical collection. I can’t wait to see how it ages.

Called a Belgian porter at the pub. Draught. Poured dark brown with medium white head. Much lacing. Complex aroma, citrus, malt, chocolate. Vanilla and chocolate notes in the malt flavour. Finish hard to describe, every sip was different. Stone is back on their track. This is a winner!

Dark Cola with ruby edges, almost opaque with thich tan head. Aroma of deep raost, carbon, sweet berries, dark chocolate. Thin mouthfeel with medium carbonation. A small bite on the tip of the tongue to start, woodsy hop bitterness. Develops into deep roast, carbon, dark bitter chocolate, very woody, bitter chocoate and toffee finish. Alcohol is peppery, but not overpowering.

Pours dark black with a white head. Good aroma of coffee, vanilla, and some traditional Belgian aromas. Slight banana on the aftertaste. Strong heavy beer that has some burnt, woody characters with a good balance of hops. The first glass was rather heavy but started really enjoying it on the second glass. Great relaxing sipper, maybe with a nice cigar to finish it.

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.