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Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale

 (RETIRED)

Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale

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 Percentile 
87
overall
A Belgian Strong Ale formerly brewed by
Stone Brewing Co.

Escondido, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
5393.55/5.03.55/5.0Special8.4%69.3 Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler P  Stats

Commercial Description:
In this year's edition we took our inspiration from two Belgian styles: Saisons and Golden Triples. As such, the Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic has a deep, deep golden hue and the flavor is spicy, fruity, complex and refreshing. We used four different malts, and a subtle, yet distinct, blend of Glacier and Crystal hops to get just the right balance. Then, for the complexity, we added in some exotic spices --- including ginger, cardamom, grapefruit peel, lemon peel and orange peel (the latter three acknowledging our Southern California home) --- and a special Belgian yeast strain. All in all this is yet another case of us drawing from classic Belgian influences and cavalierly making it our own...San Diego style!

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Beerman6686 (724), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/59/103/517/20

May 6, 2008  
POured a hazy golden color with a small off white head. Aroma was of alot of spices, candy sugar and some fruit. Taste was also fruity and spicey but very sweet and a little hoppy finish, very interesting and complex.

 shintriad (687), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/102/514/20
Sep 6, 2008  
I feel kinda stupid cracking this open without reading the "instructions." I had no idea this was meant to be aged so long. Is this why its score goes down every year? Anyway, was really surprised to notice how Belgian this tastes...the sugars and yeasts are like a heady yet gentle Tripel, but the nose contains hops, juicy pink grapefruit and candied lemon peel. A little syrupy and undercarbonated at the moment. Quite unusual and nicely done. I love the existence of hybrid beers, even if they haven’t quite learned to make them gel just yet, because it opens the door open for greatness in the future.


 CaptBier (252), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/55/103/510/20
Aug 31, 2008  
Bottled. An amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet amlty with notes of peaches, citrus, and spicy notes of especially cardemomme. The flavor is sweet matly with spicy notes of cardemomme, lemon peal, and cinnamon.


 LilBeerDoctor (508), East Setauket, New York, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/513/20
Aug 30, 2008  
Bottle. Pours a cloudy deep orange with a small ring of white head. Aroma of vegetable stew (I think that’s the ginger), pepper, and light citrus. Flavor of Belgian yeast and just tons of ginger, which really dominates the beer. Unfortunately none of the fruity notes really come out in this beer. I don’t know if it’s the age or not, but something went wrong here. It’s not bad certainly, but a little too 1 dimensional.


 fredandboboflo (507), East Setauket, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 30, 2008  
Bottle. Aroma a nice blend of the spices, notably the cardamom and ginger with rich, semi-sweet malts that seemed to have aged quite well over the past year. Flavor keeps that ginger and cardamom which, unlike recent raters, I’m rather enjoying! I had this stuff fresh and it really didn’t impress me at all, but right now the malts are nice and rich for me without ending up too sweet or too heavy. Nice mix of the malt and the spices, with some citrus sneaking in at the end from one or the other. I’m gonna disagree with most folks and say this stuff is pretty tasty right now.


 yngwie (3529), Kristiansand, Norway
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Aug 29, 2008  
Bottle. Pours a clear, golden body under a small white head. Quite lovely sweet, spiced aroma with ginger and cardamom. Fruity too, with citrus pee notes. Sweet, spiced flavor, with the same spices found in the aroma. Nice fruity and citrusy flavor too, with a decent hoppy bitterness and maybe too much alcohol, at least for a 8.4% ABV beer. Herbal towards the finish. Medium mouthfeel with a little warming feeling. For my likings, the alcohol is a bit too evident, and there’s also too much emphasis on the ginger, making it demanding to drink more than a small glass. Nice though. (080811)




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