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20th Anniversary Encore Series: 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian IPA
- ABV:
- 8.9%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.88 | pDev: 8.76%
- Reviews:
- 62
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 18, 2020
- Added:
- Sep 26, 2015
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 53
In 2008, Stone Brewmasters Steve Wagner and Mitch Steele traveled to Belgium, where they enjoyed a number of hop-forward Belgian tripels, pale ales and IPAs—beers that had taken a cue from the U.S. craft brewing movement and inspired us in return. It’s a big reason 2008’s summer season came to be known at Stone as our “Summer of the Triple.” Upon their return, they crafted Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale, the seventh beer in the 11-beer Stone Vertical Epic Ale series. Packed with floral, spicy essence from Belgian yeast plus plenty of hoppy New World character, it’s our West Coast take on hop-driven Belgian beers.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by anon:
Rated by anon from California
3.86/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Apr 25, 2016
3.86/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Apr 25, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.63/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Clear and bright amber colored body topped by a semi-durable, white head. Decent lacing.
Aroma: citrusy hops, biscuits, spicy Belgian yeast, soft ripe fruits and a hint of funk.
Flavor: Very fruity with notes of banana, generic soft ripe fruits, toasted white bread, nutmeg and clove, Hop bitterness is mild-moderate. Perhaps more malty than average for style.
Medium body with lively carbonation; pleasant dry finish.
Overall: a very good Belgian IPA.
Jun 27, 2018Aroma: citrusy hops, biscuits, spicy Belgian yeast, soft ripe fruits and a hint of funk.
Flavor: Very fruity with notes of banana, generic soft ripe fruits, toasted white bread, nutmeg and clove, Hop bitterness is mild-moderate. Perhaps more malty than average for style.
Medium body with lively carbonation; pleasant dry finish.
Overall: a very good Belgian IPA.
Rated by philipwalter from New Zealand (Aotearoa)
4.03/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An unusual beer, little aroma, great looks, but not much by way of a head. Beer is unusually sharp and tart but has an earthy dryness at the finish.
Oct 15, 2017Reviewed by Vixie from Florida
3.98/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a nice amber color with an absolutely huge white head. The head is very thick and very Belgian like, so gets points for looking authentic.
The smell is very floral to me, along with yeast and malt. Has a bit of an outdoors feel to it.
Getting fruit up front, mainly apricot, pear, and citrus. There's a bit of funk and spice, has a bit of a lingering bitterness.
Not a bad feel, pretty smooth feeling.
One of the better US made triples I have tried. Has a very Belgian character to it, and the flavors are what I expect from the style. The only downside I see is a touch too bitter at the finish, but still an above average triple overall. I think US brewers should study this one to see how a triple is supposed to look and taste like.
Sep 03, 2017The smell is very floral to me, along with yeast and malt. Has a bit of an outdoors feel to it.
Getting fruit up front, mainly apricot, pear, and citrus. There's a bit of funk and spice, has a bit of a lingering bitterness.
Not a bad feel, pretty smooth feeling.
One of the better US made triples I have tried. Has a very Belgian character to it, and the flavors are what I expect from the style. The only downside I see is a touch too bitter at the finish, but still an above average triple overall. I think US brewers should study this one to see how a triple is supposed to look and taste like.
20th Anniversary Encore Series: 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
246 ratings
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