Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Escondido, California USA

Sampled at Stone’s Winter Storm 2010. This has really mellowed. Pours dark brown. Not much bite or kick that I normally associate with Stone. Almost porter-ish. A little bit of hops at the end.

Bottle at Volo, Stone Appreciation Day. Pours slick black, with nice white head. Good aromas of anise, chocolate. Taste is rich but only average, was expecting thicker. A delivery of anise, after 3.5 years the yeast "she has gone away"

Lovely dark brown pour with a one finger tan head that is foamy with some larger bubbles scattered about. Aromas are heavy of roasted malt with some dark fruit peeking through. Flavor centers on dark malt, anise and clove spice, a peat-like character that may be attributable to the hops and alcoholic flavors that come through just a bit. Alcohol blends nicely and does not overpower. It definitely warms a bit as it goes down, but is rather thinner bodied that I would expect with this much going on. Nice. I’d be curious to see how this ages but, alas, after this long I might have already missed the peak...wish I still had another to test the theory.

Number #1500, thanks to Durhambeer! I drink this in requiem for my beloved Jets, whose mystical run to the AFC Championship game has ended at the hands of the Colts. Twas a good ride!! Dark brown pour with a thin tan head. Chocolate malt, anise, earthy hops and Belgian yeast make up the aroma. Chocolate malt, dark fruit and Belgian yeast esthers in the taste. Very complex beer that has aged well. Thanks Bob!

22 oz bottle generously sent to me by alagnak. Pour is a cola deep brown, murky with a 1/2 inch tan head that falls fast. Aroma of rich slight roast maltiness with a touch of slight cherry sweetness. As it warms some, quite a bit of esters from the yeast come out - bubble gum, light tropical fruit. Full, engaging nose. Taste is the mild char roast malt, mixed with the tropical fruit sweet element of the nose. The yeast bubble gum features as well in the longish finish. Palate is medium bodied, very soft and creamy with a lingering yeasty sweet finish. Nice one, thanks Chris.

Draft @ Blind Tiger VSK. Black pour with a iight tan head. Sugar dark fruits and roasted aromas. Flavor is of dark fruits, hop bitterness, roasted malts, sugar isn’t there, and etoh is obvi. Would have like to try this either new or perhaps with more time?

Bomber. Very dark brown with small tanish head. Aroma sweet roastedness, caramel, fruit and molasses. Taste is syrupy, medicine-like (not bad ), with light coffee and berry fruit on the back-tongue. Starts mildly sweet and ends bitter. Full bodied and badass.

Bomber. Poured rich cola brown with a good lookin’ cap of tan head. The aroma picked up toasted molasses, toffee, and darker fruit topped by a dry, peppery yeast driven by alcohol warmth.. quite inviting. The flavor was centered around the molasses and dark fruit from the nose.. cocoa and a touch of charred smoke eminated outward.. dusty banana-like influence from the yeast on the edges.. finished warm, again with the molasses and fruit playing against the yeast. Medium-plus bodied and well-balanced on the palate.. spicy and engaging with very complementary yeast. Good stuff!