Vertical Epic Ale 02.02.02
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Belgian Style - Strong Ale Series Out of Production|
Score
7.03
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A new Vertical Epic will be released every year, with the goal being to collect them all and have a Vertical Epic tasting once the final Epic is released on 12/12/12. Each new Stone Vertical Epic Ale will be release one YEAR, one MONTH and one DAY apart.
Vertical Epic 02/02/02 was not brewed "to style". Instead, we tried to create something new. It’s triple-ish in nature, with wit character, coriander and orange peel, and has way more hops than either a Belgian triple or a Wit would. Belgian yeast was used. Belgian Strong Ale is the closest category that fits -- Greg Koch, Stone Brewing CEO.
What about Stone Vertical Epic Ale 01.01.01? Well, there are two reasons for its non-existence: (1) We didn't want to participate in the whole overhyped media nonsense of "Millennium this" and "Millennium that," and (2) we didn't think of the Stone Vertical Epic Ale idea until the fall of 2001 (which was already too late for a 01.01.01 version.) Sure, we could wait until the year 3001 to start this series, but we were afraid that with all that time between now and the next millennium, we might forget. Besides, that millennium will probably be overhyped as much as the last one.
Vertical Epic 02/02/02 was not brewed "to style". Instead, we tried to create something new. It’s triple-ish in nature, with wit character, coriander and orange peel, and has way more hops than either a Belgian triple or a Wit would. Belgian yeast was used. Belgian Strong Ale is the closest category that fits -- Greg Koch, Stone Brewing CEO.
What about Stone Vertical Epic Ale 01.01.01? Well, there are two reasons for its non-existence: (1) We didn't want to participate in the whole overhyped media nonsense of "Millennium this" and "Millennium that," and (2) we didn't think of the Stone Vertical Epic Ale idea until the fall of 2001 (which was already too late for a 01.01.01 version.) Sure, we could wait until the year 3001 to start this series, but we were afraid that with all that time between now and the next millennium, we might forget. Besides, that millennium will probably be overhyped as much as the last one.
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5.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 4
Texture 8
Overall 4
Here’s the thing: put enough Centennial hops in your giant witbier and eventually you get a pint that tastes a whole helluva lot like fancy handsoap. All the pleasant wit notes are present--lavender-ish floral sweetness, a mild citric undertone, grassy clove complexity--yet it all gets smashed to pieces by the unreasonably bitter finish. Maybe fresh the hops are bright enough to mesh well with the heavy, honey-like wit soul, but aged the beer takes on a soapy, medicinal finish, much too IBU-laced for such an otherwise nuanced recipe. Looks good, texture’s strong, smells sweet and saison-ish with spicy citrus underneath, but not very fun to drink.
Tried
on 15 Mar 2017
at 19:30
7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
Tap at craft b33r gallery. Golden color with huge white head. Aroma of yeast, malt, candies, light citrus hops. Taste, candies, malt, spices, yeast, very light citrus hops. Good.
Tried
from Draft
on 01 Mar 2017
at 12:07
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
2016 release, from the LCBO. Pours a clean golden colour with a big white head, good retention and foamy lacing. Belgian Ale yeast aromas with lots of banana notes that come out eventually, and hints of apples. Some sharp bitterness in the middle, but not too much dryness. Yet. It does seem to grow. Spices, banana, alcohol, bubblegum and hops. A good Belgian strong ale.
Tried
on 24 Feb 2017
at 23:06
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle to glass. Heavy coriander in both tast and aroma clear gold with beautiful sustained head. Alcohol shows itself.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Feb 2017
at 01:13
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from the LCBO. Slightly hazy medium gold under a small fluffy white head that lingers. Nose is wheat, yeast, orange, coriander and pepper, and banana. Light+ fruity sweetness with a bit of tartness in the middle. Spice is a bit distracting throughout but creates a quite dry finish. Mouth is medium with slightly prickly carbonation. Interesting. 8+/4/7-/4-/15
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Feb 2017
at 19:38
7.8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle from the 20th Anniversary series. I find this to be almost unbelievable to have in my glass… so glad this was made again for Stone’s anniversary. Truly one of the first white whales. A nice, sturdy Belgian ale with light spice and esters, very drinkable. Beautiful golden color with a little white head and oily slick top.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jan 2017
at 11:40
6.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
On tap at resident. Pours a cloudy gold with medium frothy white head that lasts. The aroma is wheat, floral, pepper, citrus. Medium body, yeast, spice, banana clove, light finish, good.
Tried
from Draft
on 31 Dec 2016
at 23:08
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle: Poured a clear deep golden color ale with a nice foamy head with good retention and limited retention. Aroma of peppery notes with some strong coriander notes with some wheat notes is quite interesting. Taste is a nice mix of coriander with some subtle peppery notes with some residual sugar from the wheat malt notes is quite nice. Body is about average with good carbonation. Not sure how it compares to the original but nice drinking this one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Dec 2016
at 22:41
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
22 ounce bottle. Honey gold color topped by a large rocky white head with clinging lace. Yeasty malt nose has notes of coriander and wheat. Flavor has more wheat and yeasty notes. Strong hints of coriander and orange peel as well. Finishes dry and peppery. Stone delivers as advertised.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Dec 2016
at 23:20
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bomber from The Davis Beer Shoppe. Pours gold with a white head. Aroma is coriander, citrus, and a spice note. Med body. Flavor is peppery, banana, coriander/citrus. Rather clean. Rather dry. Not bitter, but the pepper will do.
Tried
on 21 Dec 2016
at 19:09