05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing

05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 12.53%
Reviews:
217
Ratings:
318
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 25, 2017
Added:
May 06, 2005
Wants:
  102
Gots:
  58
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. This time around, we used no spices in the brewing of this beer. If you've tasted the beer before reading this, that may surprise you. The special Belgian yeast we used adds a distinctively spicy aroma and flavor. Roastiness, clove, hops, fruitiness, and those other great and funky phenols abound in the nose. What's in the flavor? You certainly get some dark roasted malts and alcohol overtones. What else? Hints of earthiness, chocolate/cocoa, hop spiciness, maybe even anise, and ... the incredible variety of complexities from the classic brewing ingredients of barley malt, hops, yeast and water, when applied with an artistic brewer's talent never ceases to amaze.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Photo of RoyalT
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance – This one is magnificent! The body is a dark, dirty brown in color and topped with a gorgeous brownish-white head. The head stayed up for a time and left some awesome pits on top of the liquid.

Smell – The rich Belgian malts are mixed with a smooth, baker’s-type of chocolate that give this bouquet a heavenly scent. The fruits are dark and open up as the ale warms. The even, ever-present yeast though is what does it for me. They really did an excellent job with that aspect of the nose. This is just marvelous!

Taste – Yes, heaven-sent this is. The malts are so smooth and so yeasty. The chocolate is mellow and perfectly blended. The fruits pull back a bit from the smell and are replaced by some serious sugars. The finish is a dry Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss.

Mouthfeel – This is almost full in the mouth with a bit of dryness at the finish. There is no indication of the high ABV and the flavors are blended nicely, although this ale is certainly a cellaring candidate.

The carbonation really did it for me here. It is substantial yet delicately playful, keeping the drinker almost constantly entertained. It is fluffy and light in the mouth, which I just love to no end.

Drinkability – I think two years in the cellar will make this my first perfect 5.0 Belgian Ale (from Cali, of course – hahahaha). Right now though it is very drinkable. It’s so smooth and delicious you almost feel guilty drinking it alone (yet you will).

Comments – My personal preference with the style is a concentration on the yeast with a very complex presentation. I like my BSDA’s well structured and rarely cellar them, although as I said I may make an exception in this case. Regardless, the mouthfeel and flavors of this ale are top notch. They hit the proverbial nail on the head with this effort.
May 29, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.86 by unclekeith from Alaska

Mar 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by smi69 from New York

Feb 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by jaydoc from Kansas

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hohnbaum from Kansas

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by GRG1313 from California

Nov 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by MickeyHops from California

Oct 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

Apr 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Poupae from Thailand

Mar 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by enelson from Illinois

Mar 04, 2015
Photo of DavoleBomb
Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania

3.52/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had this sometime at the end of 2012, as part of a 03.03.03 - 12.12.12 tasting. I had meant to enter these a while ago while they were fresh and add a few extra details, but that didn't happen. Review from notes. Anyway, here we go.

3.0 A: Moderately hazed semi-dried blood color. Short head that falls quickly.

3.5 S: Strong, musty "old beer" smell. Caramel, toasty, raisin. Pepper and clove spiciness. Cocoa powder, anise, and light roastiness. Overall, pretty decent - held up well.

3.5 T: Big toastiness, light roast, caramel, chocolate. Anise, pepper, clove. Tastes like a well aged beer that was pretty good fresh.

4.0 M: Medium body. Good spritzy carbonation. This is pretty damn good. Very impressed.

3.5 D: Easily my favorite so far. Not bad at all.
Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Dec 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SoCalBeerIdiot from California

Oct 15, 2014
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Stone Company Store in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a hazy dark orange-red with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, dark fruit, and grape juice aromas. Taste is much the same with malt, dark fruit, and fruit juice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of earth bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with nice fruity characteristics that are holding up surprisingly well for being over 9 years old at this point.

Serving type: on tap.
Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.92 by shoegueuze from California

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by malfunxion from New York

Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kingmaker from Louisiana

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by dcisco44 from Massachusetts

Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Rothobinide from California

Jun 28, 2014
05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 318 ratings