Vertical Epic Ale 09.09.09
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Belgian Style - Quadrupel / Dark Strong Series Out of Production|
Score
7.36
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This is quite a complex and layered beer. Bold and smooth chocolate malt flavors combine with a Belgian yeast lending tropical fruit and 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.
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7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Poured near black with a thick brown head. Aroma was full of malts, cocoa, caramel and roasted coffee. Flavor had cocoa notes and some burnt caramel. A hint of alcohol underneath and a kiss of vanilla and citrus. A bit thin on the tongue.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Sep 2009
at 00:41
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
22 ounce bottle from Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA. Pours a very dark brown color with a large tan head. Good head retention and lacing. The aroma is very roasty with hints of smoke, caramel, chocolate and light citrus and other fruits. Tastes is strong dark chocolate and banana with other tropical fruits, citrus, leafy hops, smoke, vanilla and faint wood notes. Very smooth with a faint but lingering hop burn. Full bodied. Nice beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Sep 2009
at 01:21
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 8
Draft at Redlight. Very dark purple brown, essentially opaque. Smooth with flavors all over the place. Aroma is fruity and spicy with a citrus peel note emerging. Vinous and tannic at the finish, also a touch dry. Cacophonous is the word here, it seems.
Tried
from Draft
on 08 Sep 2009
at 11:02