Stone 10.10.10 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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There are so many tastes in this I cant pick one out. Incredible beer. Stone has yet to let me down.

Strong belgium smell. For a 9.5% beer, it’s a great, well-balanced Belgium style beer. It has a very light colored pour. Basically no head. A little bit of palate at the tip of the tongue. Not a lot of lingering. Overall, I do like it and hope to have the entire epic series 02 to current. It could be interesting and curious to see how much difference this beer is year to year.

Pours very orange with a small head. Aroma is mostly chamomile with something sour around the edge, like old chamomile tea left too long in the pot. Some earthy, musty smells come out as the beer warms. The grapes dominate the taste, very wine-like. The citrus hops tastes come through in the end. The beer is very thick in the mouth with plenty of alcohol warmth. The flavors here work pretty well together but I found it way too sweet.

The previous poster must just despise Belgian style ales, because this is a well-crafted, multi-faceted and yet subtle beer. Not much of a head to speak of. The aroma is candi sugar and Belgian yeast with some hint of the wine grapes. The taste is where all of this beer’s ingredients really shine. The esters, grapes in front and the chamomile and triticale rounding it out with some bitter flavors. The palate is really like a hybrid between a Belgian golden and a nice white wine with a touch of carbonation. This should age beautifully.

This beer was aged for three years and wow I’ve never had the fresh version but I can’t imagine it’s better than this. The aroma is nice clean grape smell. Taste like a brett beer, good blend of sour and Belgian flavor. Very good brew, if you can get your hands on one I do recommend.

Aroma: crisp, winey, mostly subtle; Appearance: hazy yellow, going towards orange, plenty of carbonation but not much head after the pour; Taste: HEAVY clover, or, as the label says, chamomile flowers, plus abundent white wine, its like someone took a wine and mixed it with chamomile tea, then carbonated the entire thing, a very unique beer, I typically like champaign-y beers, but this one was not tart enough and was almostly awkwardly bitter, still enjoyable for the unique experience though; Palate: aftertaste is honestly more enjoyable than the swallow, with the sugars coming out which are otherwise masked by the two primary notes, those being clover and wine; Overall: not my favorite Stone brew by a long shot, but truly unique and not boring in the slightest, I’d recommend it for the experience but not as "one of my favorites"

Cloudy golden with orange highlights. Grape aroma, mildly sour, floral hops with light island fruits. Full bodied with a viscous mouthfeel. Very wine like, I get the subtle citrus of Sauvignon Blanc, the body of Chard and the finish of a good sweet muscat. This is an interesting beer to say the least, well crafted layered and unique. I am happy with hint of sourness and the overall complexity of this beer. It may not be a crowd pleaser but good for Stone for pushing the envelope

Bomber to white wine glass, appropriate? Really weird golden orangey color, small head that evaporated quite quickly. Nose is candied sugar with a little must, not really in your face. Medium to light mouthfeel, lots of carbonation, very bubbly. The high carbonation does not deter from the beer, it actually kind of makes it for me... It’s champagne-ey and I like it. Very Belgian blonde feel on the front palate, Definetly finishes with the white wine/grape/muscat action. Overall I really found this to be interesting, however I’m glad it’s retired because I don’t know if I personally would go after it again. Salut

22oz bottle poured into a tulip. Another bottle I have had for a while but am just now getting around to cracking it. Pours a lively opaque yellow. Good carbonation but little head. Smells like a Bavarian hefeweizen. Banana and coriander and some extra sweetness. There is a sugary, floral quality I can’t place but is probably chamomile. Medium bodied and well rounded mouthfeel. Lots going on on the palate. I get guava up front and then banana and orange peel. The gapes definitely make this one unique. I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be but this is quite good. There is a drier quality with this one than you find in most beers. Must be the grape tannins. There is also a very different sweetness to it. Lighter and grassy which has to come from the grapes. I like it. Stone is definitely on to something with this one. I predict more than one imitator.

22 oz. bottle poured into a wine glass. Pours a light golden/amber color with a thin, off-white head. Aroma is sweet, orange zest, chamomile, fermented grapes, and fruity hops. Flavor is white wine, citrus, chamomile, floral hops, and subtle spices/peppery notes. Mouthfeel is thin, but carbonated like sparkling cider. Finishes dry, like white wine. Overall, it definitely takes a sharp left turn from what I was expecting, but it’s still good. Not mind-blowing, but good. I’d be willing to try this again, maybe after a year or so in the cellar.