02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing

02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 16.94%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
90
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 09, 2020
Added:
Apr 22, 2002
Wants:
  137
Gots:
  22
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. In addition, we are pleased to provide the homebrewing recipe: http://stonebrew.com/timeline/020202
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheLongBeachBum:
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.02/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Sampled 1 year and 6 months after it was first launched.

If you’ve had the Stone VE03, then the bottle for the VE02 has the same design, bar the circle of numbers below the word Stone, which is comprised of 02’s rather than 03’s.

Pours with a clear dark blond-to-golden look with hints of amber and real-gold when back-lit. Not much of a head at first, large bubbles initially coagulate to form a large bubble mass above the gold liquid. When swirled, the inherent carbonation almost struggles to come out solution, and though they form a lovely golden soda-like mass – they do little to support the head.

Very strong nose, and highly reminiscent of a strong Belgium Tripel. Herbs, a yeasty spiciness and a definitive strong hint of coriander breaks through, it’s almost as if the lack of a thick solid head, and the gaps between the large bubbles, allows the aroma’s to just ooze out of solution. Deeply inhaled – I could be sat outside of a Café in Brussels.

Strong spicy malts fanfare the Tripel-like entrance, the tastes build with an acetic citric-bite mixed with coriander and some grain malts that captivates the middle of the beer. Tangy with raw orange and lemon zest, as well as a light grain but soft bitterness, the ending has a memorable Tripel like perfume-like wheat-zesty twist. An astringent finish with a citric bitterness that is reasonably smooth and crisp. Leaves a soft delicate warming feel in the stomach that reminds you of the beers strength.

Spicy alcohols are assertive in the mouthfeel, but not at all overpowering, but they do let you know who is Boss. Leaves a smooth spicy lemon zest coating on the cheeks & in the mouth when swallowed. Crisp.

I had a Bomber of this, but I am not so sure that I could drink another one to be honest (as if I would ever get the chance!!!). A strong beer, the high alcohol does not detract or hinder its drinkability, neither does it complexity, but it still has some raw edges that do.

A complex beer that I can only describe as a Tripel mixed 80/20 with a zest-biting Wheat beer, that tries to take the edge of off the ‘rawness’ of the former, but fails. The VE02 is the first of the Stone Verticals, & it is undoubtedly already a very rare beer. But I am not sure if it will survive the journey to the 12th December 2012 for the ‘12on12 Stone Vertical Tasting’ to be perfectly honest. I bet the VE03 will though, I’m glad I have a case of that one at least.

What better way to celebrate my First Anniversary today on BeerAdvocate.com.
Aug 17, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Aug 09, 2020
 
Rated: 2.7 by clager from Michigan

Nov 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Sep 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by baklo from North Carolina

Aug 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.81 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Jul 14, 2019
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bottle.
Pours clear but lightly hazy with an excellent white head.
Funky and spicy aroma with a less funky and more spicy flavor.
Fine mouthfeel.
Overall: clearly does not live up to historic hype.
Mar 07, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Kwright from North Carolina

Jan 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Velivolus from Vermont

Sep 16, 2018
Photo of monkist
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary

4.41/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is the great thing about Stone: that they can make even a Belgian Ale that I hate taste great and enjoyable. Maybe this should be the last word but I think I had rather lay the cards on the table and start off with this, as it sets the mood and hints at the overall quality of the beer.
But apart from that, it is quite similar to your regualr yeasty Belgian witbeer but then you start paying attention to this semi-sweet fruitiness in the taste and you recognize hints of orange peel and spices this ale was brewed with. Smells also quite fruity which is awesome. Smells like some autumn early morning frost from the Eighties where you would watch f****in white ninja movies and stuff. Insane. And this deep this beer is! Come on...
Actually having read the story on the bottle amazed me how rare and sought-after this beer is/was, having earned $1200 bids on ebay? I guess then it's the reissue that I'm drinking because I didn't have to go that far to get a hold of it! Okay, I won't like Belgian any better due to it but at least Stone helps me with its beer-brewing mastery to have an amazong time, no matter what.
So once again, hail Stone, hail their talent of being able to brew beer like this, beers that you will remember.
May 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.39 by RandyBoBandy from Florida

Feb 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.2 by RickS95 from Indiana

Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.56 by bb-magic from Florida

Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Jul 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

Apr 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.56 by unclekeith from Alaska

Mar 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by kvgomps from New Jersey

Feb 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by Bf_89 from Canada (ON)

Feb 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by probert from New York

Feb 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.32 by vheissu15 from North Dakota

Jan 23, 2017
02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 90 ratings