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04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing
- 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:
- 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 merlin48:
Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served in a St Bernardus goblet, this Tripel pours a clear, apricot colored body. Small white head leaves a frothy collar and attractive sheets of lace. Active carbonation is very apparent, with scores of tiny bubbles rushing up from the bottom.
Aroma evokes Juicy Fruit chewing gum, with a strong banana essence. Wheat notes are also picked up, with a nice array of Belgianesque spices. Clove, coriander, and freshly ground white peppercorns lead the spice component.
Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied. Carbonation level is ideal for style.
Banana is up front in the taste, but the Juicy Fruit chewing gum flavor is as prominent as in the aroma. The yeast plays a prominent role here, and lends a dirty carpet presence that nicely compliments the sweet fruitiness. I just can't pick up the lime.
Excellent drinkability and another high quality product from the folks at Stone. This one should improve with age, and the bottle sardonically suggests saving this until 12-12-12.
Jul 06, 2004Aroma evokes Juicy Fruit chewing gum, with a strong banana essence. Wheat notes are also picked up, with a nice array of Belgianesque spices. Clove, coriander, and freshly ground white peppercorns lead the spice component.
Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied. Carbonation level is ideal for style.
Banana is up front in the taste, but the Juicy Fruit chewing gum flavor is as prominent as in the aroma. The yeast plays a prominent role here, and lends a dirty carpet presence that nicely compliments the sweet fruitiness. I just can't pick up the lime.
Excellent drinkability and another high quality product from the folks at Stone. This one should improve with age, and the bottle sardonically suggests saving this until 12-12-12.
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2021Rated by RBorsato from Virginia
3.92/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
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, 2016Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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, 2016Rated 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
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, 2015Reviewed by DavoleBomb from Pennsylvania
3.4/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
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, 20153.5 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.
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
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, 2014A- 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
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
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, 2014Smell 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~
04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
325 ratings
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