Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

Bottle. Pours with a hardly any head and a deep golden body. Aroma of raisins, bread, honey and berry. Taste is baked bread, berries, oxidation, banana and must. Tickling carbonation and a water like mouthfeel. Still quite good.

As much as people complain about eBay, I scooped this bottle and a couple of others in an auction on the cheap. Pours hazy orange. Aroma is very sweet with citrus and honey. Very sweet flavor, it is almost buttery. Good clove and sweetness. It really held up a lot better than I would have thought. I remember tasting lime when I had this fresh back in 04 (my first Stone beer) but I don’t find a hint of it now. Good stuff...how do I get a hold of an 03 now?

22oz bomber courtesy of sunnydlyte23 poured into a snifter. Pours a bright, clear golden amber with a soapy yellowish-white head that recedes to a small cap and leaves a bit of lacing. The aroma is extremely sweet with honey and some sweet citrus aromas, maybe oranges. There is a spiciness in the nose as well but the sweetness of the phenols really comes out as it warms, bananas especially. The taste has the same semi-hefe characteristics of sweet bananas and some clove-like spices. But there is a much thicker sweetness from the honey and the Belgian yeast backbone is definitely there as well. Very complex taste. The mouthfeel is on the fuller side of things with a little bit of soft carbonation. The palate gets sticky with the honey which builds up after each sip. I really enjoyed this one and it has held up extremely well over 5 years, much better than the 03 I had a few months ago. Very unique and highly recommended.

Hazy and vibrant orange pour. Fluffy off white head and drippy lace. Citrus rind on the nose. Spice, citrus, caramel and some hops. Dry finish. I thought this would be past its prime, and Im not really sure why i didn’t drink this one sooner. This is holding up surprisingly well

drank in late 08. strong aroma of barly and alcohol. taste was very crisp and had some apple sweetness in it. great drink.

Had in March 2009, days short of the five-year mark of the bottle. First impression: It can’t be a hefe, but it strongly smells and tastes like a hefe, with orange and a unique kick-in of lime taste. Marvelous one-of-a-kind. Not lasting head, lighter colour.Above average mouthfeel.

Bottle. Golden colour witha white head. Aroma is dry, spices, malt. Flavour is sweet, dry, spices, hop, alcohol, malt, flower. Nice beer.

Bomber that was being passed around at Lost Abbey’s Angels Share release. This was a really interesting one. Poured a golden orange with a small white head. aroma had lots of caramel in it...Guessing this wasn’t intended but is a product of the beers age. either way, it somehow worked because this stuff was great. Loads of fruit, caramel, and breadiness throughout. Surprisingly easy to drink. Medium to full bodied. Wish I could find more.