Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Pours black with a four finger tan head, more carbonation than I expected for a two year old beer. Smell is fruity belgium flavors. Taste is bitter coffee with a hint of citrus. Medium bodied. Interesting but age doesn’t help it much.

Consumed on 2/15/10. Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Pours a very thick dark black. No light is getting through this beer at all. A decent-sized tan head rests on top. Great retention; left lots of webbing on the glass. Scents of chocolate malts, some yeast, mulch, dark breads, and slight booze. Great deep body here. Moderately carbonated with a rich full finish. Complex flavors including dark chocolate, black coffee, pipe tobacco, light yeast, and just hints of the booziness I found in the nose. This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it was surprising. What a treat! I’ve got another bottle I’m going to sit on awhile. I’m interested to see how some of these flavors develop.

Söta jästiga toner av övermogen banan, men dessutom choklad, vanilj och kaffetoner. Rejäl kropp med mycket choklad och vaniljkaraktär som leder till en torrare kaffe- och apelsinbesk eftersmak. Mycket balanserad och smakrik. Mer lik en snäll IS än någon belgisk ale.

22oz bottle. Pitch black small head not much retention. Nose is a bit metallic but plenty of toasted malt, coffee, chocolate. Taste follows the nose but minus the metallic. Coffee bitterness fairly prevalent. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle, bought @ Systembolaget, Hansakompagniet, Malmö.
Pours opaque black with a medium, creamy, beige head. Okay lacing. Aroma has plums, chocolate, raisins, light liqourice, mildly vinious. Medium carbonation, fat and creamy mouthfeel. Flavour is mildly sweet, fat chocolate, light roasted, softly fruity, nice cocoa. Lingering malty bitter finish. Lovely.

22oz bottle, Vintage 09.09.09. Black pour, brown head. Aroma of caramel and distilled alcohol; mainly rum. Some chocolate malts; makes this smell like a rum & coke. Any herbs, hops, or spice aromas have dissipated. Flavor is mostly roasted grains, old citrus oil. Distant oak notes, vanilla, bitter chocolate finish. Sticky texture, oily character. Very drinkable, not alcohol present except for the nose. Gonna miss this one.
Rating 3199.
My 100th Belgian Strong Ale Rating, 2499th USA Rating, and 333rd California Rating.

22 oz. bottle, pours dark brown with a small beige head. Aroma of dark fruits and floral malt. Flavour of iodine, oxidation, some dark fruits, a fishy taste and some light floral notes. Subpar - seems the age has killed it.

I dig this beer. Had it a couple years ago, but I have decided to pop open one my last two remaining bottles! Why not? The nose on this is delicious. Smells like a wonderful chocolate dessert. Nice chocolate and vanilla notes. Pours a pitch black with a retreating offwhite foam head that leaves beautiful lacing. There is a lot going on here flavor wise. Up front is your typical hefty stout flavors but these are quickly followed by delicious fruit notes and a bit of oaky spice. The finish is quite nice as this beer coats the tongue well and leaves you with a nice spicy vanilla flavor. Tastes like I remember it and unfortunately I can’t pick up on much change in this one. If you are lucky enough to find this I recommend you buy it. An excellent beer. Probably my favorite of the series.

Draught at Chez Moeder Lambic Fontainas. Black coloured. Has a light brown head, mostly lasting. Lots of aromas, coffee, sweet sugars, cognac, red wine, chocolate, vanilla. Flavor starts moderate sweet and finish moderate bitter, long duration. Dry and soft.

This poured a black color with a tan head. The aroma contains some bananas and other tropical fruits, chocolate, coffee, kind of espresso like. The flavor is slightly bitter with more chocolate, coffee, and a hint of the bananas and some spices. The aftertaste is also slightly bitter. Overall I really liked this one.