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Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale 3.73 440

Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Percentile
96
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
4403.74/5.03.73/5.0Special8.5%90.3Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
This is quite a complex and layered beer. Bold and smooth chocolate malt flavors combine with a Belgian yeast lending tropical fruit/banana flavors and hints of spiciness, all complemented by citrus notes from an addition of tangerine peel. Rich vanilla beans add a nice counter to the chocolate malt - actually enhancing the chocolatiness. The finish is smooth, with additional traces of vanilla and toasted characters from French Oak. The goal for this edition of the Stone Vertical Epic Ale series is to be reminiscent of artisanal chocolates accentuated with orange.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 vyvvy (2092), Hazelwood, Missouri, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Feb 9, 2010  
Pours dark brown with a tan head. The aroma has chocolate, cola, roasted malt, pepper, anise and light vanilla. Medium body that’s a bit watery and has sharp carbonation. The flavor begins with roasty and charred malt, bitter chocolate, some harshness and underlying cream. The finish is charred and chalky. Nice beer.


southamptonsam (86), New York, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/517/20
Feb 8, 2010  
Lovely tan head that looks Belgian on top of a stout body. Interesting hoppy chocolate nose. I don’t normally like food with my evening beer but this screamed for me to take some cheese from the fridge with a dab of mustard. I think it would go well with a variety of foods because it is so complex yet so well balanced. Very good beer. Best Vertical in years.


 Braudog (3837), Dayton, Ohio, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Feb 7, 2010  
Bottle. Super Bowl Sunday. Stout-like appearance, nearly pitch black with a tight tan head. The aroma is unexpectedly light and grassy. Conversely the flavor is chewy, full of esther, bubblegum, prunes, and red apples. Not my favorite VE, but good. (#3836, 2/7/2010)


 manuchampions (162), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/517/20
Feb 6, 2010  
22oz bottle from 16th St.Liquor in West Vancouver. Pours dark opaque brown with a thick dense beige head. The nose is chocolate with saw dust. A bit of a raisin note with some peppery clovish character. I think I catch a bit of spruce or mint as well. A lot more chocolate flavor with quite a bit of heat. Full body and dry in the finish. Pretty tasty.


 chicagodri (1094), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/517/20
Feb 6, 2010  
Pours dark brown with a thin tan head. Interesting aroma of chocolate mixed with banana, clove, and Belgian yeast. Good flavor with chocolate, some citrus, and spices. Interesting mix, I didn’t notice vanilla though. Good beer, I came into it with too high expectations though.


 sunevdj (1832), Copenhagen OE, Denmark
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20
Feb 5, 2010  
Bottle at tasting at T&M’s 090110. Pours a dark brown with a diminiahing beige head. Mellow sweetness with aromas of toasted malts. Bready with some aromas of rye. Medium to full bodied. Medium carbonation.


 alexsdad06 (1210), Ohio, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Feb 4, 2010  
22 oz. bottle shared by Tmoney99. Pours a dark brown color with some ruby highlights and a small beige head. The aroma is roasted malts, background smokiness, spices, fruit, and chocolate. The flavor is roasted malts, chocolate, yeast, citrus (strange), spices, with some sweet thick toffee notes. Some earthy bitterness comes through at times. I didn’t get any of the vanilla as advertised. Medium bodied and fairly smooth. This is a complex beer, I’m not sure that the flavors work well together for me. I’ll check back on this one down the road.


Stuedmaster (15), San Diego, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Feb 2, 2010  
22 oz. bottle, very dark brown with nice creamy head and some lacing. Aroma of coffee, chocolate, cherry, and banana. You can taste vanilla, fruit (mixed berries), clove, herbal notes, and grass. Very complex and clean, well balanced, will improve with age.



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