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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7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 9
Tap at BeerTemple, 21st December 16. Pours light straw. Aroma is fresh, yeast, citrus and spice. Taste is fresh and refreshing, some yeast, slight spice, citrus. Like an imperial yeasty saison
Tried
from Draft
on 21 Dec 2016
at 13:54
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bomber from Whole Foods Milwaukee, 10/12/16. Slightly hazy golden, large foamy off-white head, good retention. Aroma of yeast, bready malt, vinous notes. The taste is bready malt, spice, apple skins, pepper, lime on the tip of the tongue. Medium-full bodied, oily, lingering spice, moderate carbonation.
Tried
on 16 Dec 2016
at 21:09
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Nice stuff. Floral hops and some straw. Some coriander. Just the kind of Belgian strong I like. Light sweetness with some hint of bitter grass like a cow’s last meal before the slaughter. Bottle.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Dec 2016
at 20:34
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
(Bottle) clear, bright yellow colour with a tall, white head; aroma of noble hops, spice; balanced flavour with a long, light bitter finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Nov 2016
at 21:55
6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Bottle, encore series. Pours lightly hazy golden orange, medium white head, dissipates fairly quickly, decent lacing. Aroma is super strong grassy notes, black pepper, orange peel, coriander. Pretty overt in the adjuncts. Flavor is light plus sweet, mega grassy peppery yeast character with some citrus and honey flavors and coriander floral notes. Light plus body. About as subtle as a hammer to the temple. I am guessing that I can understand why this stood out in 2002, but it just seems ham-handed today. Not sure where the hops come into play.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Nov 2016
at 01:31
5.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Sampled from a 22 oz brown bottle this beer poured a slightly hazy peach color with a medium sized foamy yellowish-white head that left decent lacing. The aroma was musty and dusty with coriander and white pepper notes. The flavor was musty and dryish with a medicinal presence followed by coriander and perfume. Long medicinal and perfumey finish. Medium body. Very disappointing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Oct 2016
at 11:28
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Sample at Vermont Tap House.
The appearance was a ruddy to burnt yet semi-hazy yellow color. Subtle transparency. Low carbonation was seen.
The aroma starts Belgian sweet, crisp bready smooth, some black cherries - sweet, light spices - white and black pepper, some cardamom. Some floral. And then grassy tones.
The flavor rides the line along all of those previously mentioned aromas mainly sweet pulling the gamut on the sweetness to hit the aftertaste appropriately. Quick semi-sweet finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a nice crisp smooth sweet to spicy sessionability about it. Carbonation seems to hit decently.
Overall, nice Belgian strong ale that I could have again.
The appearance was a ruddy to burnt yet semi-hazy yellow color. Subtle transparency. Low carbonation was seen.
The aroma starts Belgian sweet, crisp bready smooth, some black cherries - sweet, light spices - white and black pepper, some cardamom. Some floral. And then grassy tones.
The flavor rides the line along all of those previously mentioned aromas mainly sweet pulling the gamut on the sweetness to hit the aftertaste appropriately. Quick semi-sweet finish.
On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a nice crisp smooth sweet to spicy sessionability about it. Carbonation seems to hit decently.
Overall, nice Belgian strong ale that I could have again.
Tried
from Draft
on 21 Oct 2016
at 19:59
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from Boise Co-op. Rich golden body with foamy head, which fades fast. Normal Saison aromas. Musty, cheesy, yeasty. Tasty brings a but if a snap, probably from the spices. Nice chewy, slick body, and more savory notes at the finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Oct 2016
at 21:44
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 7/22/2016. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 2 finger dense and rocky white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lemon zest, orange peel, pear, apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, light banana/bubblegum, wheat, biscuit, light honey, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon zest, orange peel, pear, apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, light banana/bubblegum, wheat, biscuit, light honey, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Moderate herbal/citrus peel bitterness and yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, orange peel, pear, apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, light banana/bubblegum, wheat, biscuit, light honey, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitter/spiciness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/grainy/sticky, and slightly resinous balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is a great imperial witbier! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. Quite hoppy for the base style, but not enough to make it feel like an IPA. The traditional witbier flavors are the main showcase. A very enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Oct 2016
at 21:37
7.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Tap at Sedona. Golden. Aroma is smoke, bubblegum, banana. Taste is smooth yeast, bubblegum, cherry, floral hops. Tasty. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Oct 2016
at 15:07