04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing

04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 13.47%
Reviews:
220
Ratings:
325
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 08, 2021
Added:
Apr 07, 2004
Wants:
  96
Gots:
  52
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 some unmalted wheat, just the right touch of Kaffir Lime Leaf, and a really cool Belgian yeast. The result is a bit like a strong Biere de Garde / Saison-esque influenced beer coupled with some aromatic Bavarian Hefeweizen style phenolic banana esters, and a backnote hint of lime from the lime leaf.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LXIXME:
Photo of LXIXME
Rated by LXIXME from New Mexico

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

Oct 07, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

2.75/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Bottle, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. Strong aroma, verging on the unpleasant, with notes of oak, brown sugar, lime and molasses. Flavour is oaky, alcoholic and too sweet, with notes of lime and lemongrass in the background. Not a love affair for me this one.
May 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.7 by unclekeith from Alaska

Mar 25, 2017
Photo of RBorsato
Rated by RBorsato from Virginia

3.92/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Tasted about 12 years too late ... cleaning out the cellar!
Sep 29, 2016
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.77/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a cloudy copper body with minimal head and no lace. Floral and fruity esters are present but at this point the only thing really sticking out in the aroma is honey. The beer is thick and cloying with a honey and sugar fruit essence with a touch of berries and finishes real sweet. I am sure this was a better beer twelve years ago but it comes across as too sweet as I don't get much else in this beer. I must say that the fruit esters I am tasting are assumed to be the banana/hefe qualities and perhaps some sweetness from bubblegum yeast but I don't get any saison notes or lime.
Jul 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by dag1991 from Ohio

Jul 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by Hohnbaum from Kansas

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by jaydoc from Kansas

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 2.8 by MickeyHops from California

Oct 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Poupae from Thailand

Mar 15, 2015
Photo of GRG1313
Rated by GRG1313 from California

3.66/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is not a 2015 review. This review is from found notes from tasting this beer shortly after it was released.
Mar 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by enelson from Illinois

Mar 02, 2015
Photo of DavoleBomb
Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
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.

3.5 A: Moderately hazed medium orange color. Didn't make much of a head.

3.5 S: Honey, lime, pepper, clove, and dog biscuit. Musty and simultaneously spicy. Smells almost like a much less old saison.

3.5 T: Tastes like the nose. A lot of lime and dog biscuit. Musty, a bit tangy, and spicy. Pepper, honey, and clove.

3.5 M: Medium body. Lightly spritzy with good moderate carbonation.

3.0 D: I wouldn't want to drink it again, but for an old ass beer it's not bad.
Jan 18, 2015
Photo of Stevedore
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon

3.87/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at Stone World Bistro in Escondido, CA.

A- Bright pale yellow-copper body, one finger white head, nice retention and longevity.

S- Crisp green apple skin tartness, Belgian yeast esters- banana, clove, mild acidity, white vinous character, a bit of citrus.

F- Clean crisp malt backbone evoking light toffee and bread; more of the cidery green apple skin tartness. Mild-moderate tartness. Less of the yeast esters are apparent on the palate though they are there- banana, cloves- but there seems to be a reasonably nice citrus character here, both lemon and lime.

M- Medium bodied, clean, crisp and refreshing on a warm day in Escondido. Nice carbonation. Very easy to drink with a lot of nice depth and complexity.

O- Very tasty and seems to have aged quite well. Nice hefeweizen-like character with a good bit of tartness. This has done well in the 10 years since it was initially released.

Final score: 3.85
Dec 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by wethorseblanket from California

Dec 23, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by nathanmiller from New York

Dec 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.68 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

Dec 14, 2014
Photo of ClePaul
Reviewed by ClePaul from Ohio

4.16/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look 10/10
Smell 18/20
Taste 33/40
Feel 8/10
Drinkability 16/20

Overall 85/100

Nice robust citrus taste... Almost like a starburst. I am enjoying it 10 year and on month after it was released... I have to think while it's very mellow, that it was better fresh. While I don't love the lime leaf and the kaffir or the other thai spices... If does make for one hell of a unique experience. It tastes much like a Lemon Lime starburst. This would probably be excellent with Thai food. Definitely has that sasion/Hefeweizen taste. Ginger, banana, Caramel, apple and cinnamon are also present. It is incredibly complex as all these vertical epic seem to be. I just wish that I personally love these flavors little bit more. Nevertheless, Stone gets huge points in the 'unique' department~
Nov 08, 2014
04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 325 ratings