Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale

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

First of two bottles from the cellar, Dec ’09. Gotta say I don’t think this one is going to make it to 12/12/12. It’s already on the way out, if you ask me. Sweet, dark malty belgian style, hop presence almost completely gone, somewhat hot for sub 9%. Not really very dubbel-like; this one seems much more like a Belgian strong, maybe a christmas beer. Starting to thin, some cardboard coming in, simply not in league of good dubbels or good belgian strongs. People are charging 45 dollars a bottle for this? Damn. You can have my second bottle in exchange for an equal volume of any trappist you like!

22oz bottle. Rating #460. Very deep dark red bordering on black. Light tan head with decent retention. Sweet candy like aroma, slightly roasty and some dark fruitiness as well. Flavor was very sweet, candy sugar sweetness, but I did like it though, it was almost like rock candy, this was very tasty after 3 years. (1087)

Had this one on tap at the Blind Tiger VSK event. Great beer! Nice sweet malts with some tartness.

On tap at the Blind Tiger’s VSK3 event. Pours a clear black with a thin white head. Smoke, coffee, roast. Creamy with some good roast flavors, a hint of coffee, and some nice chocolate. Finishes up with some lingering raisin, plum, and a tart roast note.

I guess I scored as it was only $9 at Charlie Jewels. Smelled of roasted malts and tasted of Belgain yeast and chocolate, as well as anise.

35 dollar bottle from The Freakin’ Frog. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma is first and foremost oxidized caramel which works nicely, plenty of fruits with some chocolate and a hint of spice and phenols. Flavor is again caramel, fruity and roasty, and a moderate belgian spiciness. Palate is medium and carbonation has held up very well. Haven’t had this for a couple years and it’s way better now than I remember.

Bottle from Freakin Frog in Las Vegas. Poured a dark black color with small thin white head. Aroma of roasty malts, fruits and spices. Medium to full carbonation. Taste of roasted malts, Belgian yeast, spices, wood. Overall very good. Glad I got to try this rare find.

This one has been aging in the cellar for a little over a year. I remember not caring much for it when it was released but then I didn’t have much experience with Belgians at that time. This pours a dark black with and ample light tan head. The smell is estery. The taste is strong spices and licorice and a slight charred feel. I like this better than I did last year but I still have not trained my palate properly to Belgian Strong Dark Ales. Also, there seems to be less medicinal flavors which could be due to age or my palate changing. I will probably drink my remaining bottles every two years update 03/04/09 smells yeasty and malty, tastes pretty nice, licorice and kind of like a dubbel. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 08-06-2007 15:05:25