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02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.66 | pDev: 16.94%
- Reviews:
- 25
- Ratings:
- 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 johnnnniee:
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.9/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I was fortunate to try this last night at an epic tasting held by my good friend Mike, thanks for the opportunity MrBarleywine!
The first in the series pours a slightly hazy deep golden color with an almost non existent off white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is sweet with caramel and light tropical fruit with a lightly spicy bready yeasty bite to provide a bit of balance. The flavor is sweet like the aroma promised. Sugary and caramel malts with a faded but present spicy peppery yeast bite. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet spicy mouthfeel. This held up better than I expected, but its also a stretch to call this a wit I guess. It has lots of sherry oxidized notes, but it drank pretty good. Probably past its prime, but holding up just the same.
Jan 27, 2013The first in the series pours a slightly hazy deep golden color with an almost non existent off white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is sweet with caramel and light tropical fruit with a lightly spicy bready yeasty bite to provide a bit of balance. The flavor is sweet like the aroma promised. Sugary and caramel malts with a faded but present spicy peppery yeast bite. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet spicy mouthfeel. This held up better than I expected, but its also a stretch to call this a wit I guess. It has lots of sherry oxidized notes, but it drank pretty good. Probably past its prime, but holding up just the same.
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2019Pours 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.
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
4.41/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
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, 2018But 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.
02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
90 ratings
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