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06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8.66%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 11.34%
- Reviews:
- 311
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 12, 2022
- Added:
- Jun 05, 2006
- Wants:
- 85
- Gots:
- 118
As with any good epic, herein lies the promise of larger-than-life experiences, heroics, and twists and turns as the adventure unfolds. This bottle conditioned ale is chapter five, and is specifically designed to be aged until sometime after December 12th, 2012. Provided you can wait that long. At that time, enjoy it in a "vertical" tasting along with its ten Stone Vertical Epic Ale brethren. Each on unique to its year of release. Each with its own "twist & turn" in the plot line. Each one release one year, one month and one day from the previous year’s edition.
In this year’s edition, you’ll notice a deep, rich aroma of toasty malts, anise, Belgian yeast spiciness, and a hint of cedar. The toasty, dark and roasty malt flavors combine with a soft palate - courtesy of specialty dark wheat and barley malts. The body is fairly light for a beer with such a high gravity. There is a pleasant, lingering bitterness, so you know it’s part of the Stone family. This ale was brewed with a specialty Belgian yeast that we’re really liking here at Stone...it’s the same one we used for brewing the Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale. And as with the Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale, all the spicy, deep, and wonderfully funky aromas and flavor characteristics in this beer come as a result of nothing more than malt, hops, water and yeast!
In this year’s edition, you’ll notice a deep, rich aroma of toasty malts, anise, Belgian yeast spiciness, and a hint of cedar. The toasty, dark and roasty malt flavors combine with a soft palate - courtesy of specialty dark wheat and barley malts. The body is fairly light for a beer with such a high gravity. There is a pleasant, lingering bitterness, so you know it’s part of the Stone family. This ale was brewed with a specialty Belgian yeast that we’re really liking here at Stone...it’s the same one we used for brewing the Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale. And as with the Stone 05.05.05 Vertical Epic Ale, all the spicy, deep, and wonderfully funky aromas and flavor characteristics in this beer come as a result of nothing more than malt, hops, water and yeast!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rhoadsrage:
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois
3.9/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.9/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
(Served in a tulip glass)
Drank on 3/31/13
A- This beer has a jet black body with a faint light of dark brown glowing at the base of the glass. There is a sticky light beige head that is made mostly of bubbles
S- The abbey yeast ester character blends with a roasted black malt aroma which turns into a brewer’s licorice and coffee quality in the finish.
T- The mellow licorice flavor blends with a nougat and abbey yeast taste with some prune and tootsie roll flavor underneath. There is a salty sweaty taste in the finish that lead to a bitter toffee and slightly inky flavor. The aftertaste has a slight smoky bitterness that lingers.
M- The medium mouthfeel has a slight slippery texture and no real alcohol heat.
O- The off flavors and smoky note don’t blend to well with the licorice but the soft yeasty profile is nice but buried a bit.
Drank 7/17/2006
(Served in an American pint glass)
A- This beer has a dark black body with a thick spongy head of light tan foam. No sign of bubbles in that dense body.
S- This beer has a nice perfume sweet aroma with a yeasty brown sugar hint that is very nice.
T- The taste of sweet bubblegum is followed by a sweet dark toasted malt flavor with some nice caramel notes. The finish is a big bitter hop flavor that is a surprising punch at the end of this beer. There is not a lot of complexity in the malt flavors the but the bubblegum flavor has nice subtle complexities of perfume, yeast, and faint white sugar.
M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a very soft carbonation fizz that keeps the finish light and adds more punch to the hops. No alcohol heat in the finish.
D-The smooth malty flavors have nice Abby ale qualities but the big hop punch in the finish really seems out of place. The fading trend of fusion fare offers many dishes that clash while a few of them are really nice. This fusion beer is one of those that clashes, however when I try this beer in 2013 I think it will be very tasty.
Jul 17, 2006Drank on 3/31/13
A- This beer has a jet black body with a faint light of dark brown glowing at the base of the glass. There is a sticky light beige head that is made mostly of bubbles
S- The abbey yeast ester character blends with a roasted black malt aroma which turns into a brewer’s licorice and coffee quality in the finish.
T- The mellow licorice flavor blends with a nougat and abbey yeast taste with some prune and tootsie roll flavor underneath. There is a salty sweaty taste in the finish that lead to a bitter toffee and slightly inky flavor. The aftertaste has a slight smoky bitterness that lingers.
M- The medium mouthfeel has a slight slippery texture and no real alcohol heat.
O- The off flavors and smoky note don’t blend to well with the licorice but the soft yeasty profile is nice but buried a bit.
Drank 7/17/2006
(Served in an American pint glass)
A- This beer has a dark black body with a thick spongy head of light tan foam. No sign of bubbles in that dense body.
S- This beer has a nice perfume sweet aroma with a yeasty brown sugar hint that is very nice.
T- The taste of sweet bubblegum is followed by a sweet dark toasted malt flavor with some nice caramel notes. The finish is a big bitter hop flavor that is a surprising punch at the end of this beer. There is not a lot of complexity in the malt flavors the but the bubblegum flavor has nice subtle complexities of perfume, yeast, and faint white sugar.
M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a very soft carbonation fizz that keeps the finish light and adds more punch to the hops. No alcohol heat in the finish.
D-The smooth malty flavors have nice Abby ale qualities but the big hop punch in the finish really seems out of place. The fading trend of fusion fare offers many dishes that clash while a few of them are really nice. This fusion beer is one of those that clashes, however when I try this beer in 2013 I think it will be very tasty.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.84/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Opening this bad boy up at 16 years old! I picked up the 06 and 07 on a whim recently since they weren’t too expensive and figured it would be fun to see how they aged after all these years. Let’s crack it open and see what it’s all about
Pours an opaque medium brown with a finger of light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing
It may be a bit oxidized at this point, I’m getting a touch of a umami in the nose. I’m picking up on aromas of raisin, orange marmalade, brown sugar, toffee, sherry, black cherry, and a touch of soy sauce
In taste it definitely shows its age a bit more but I don’t mind it. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting raisin, brown sugar, honey, oxidized sherry, black cherry, and toffeee. The swallow brings notes of toast, sweet caramel, raisin, black cherry, black pepper, orange marmalade, oxidized sherry, and light brown sugar
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes neutral and quite sweet
Well it hasn’t held up great, but it was still a fun beer to try. If you still have this (for some reason) it’s time to drink it. Well actually it’s been time for a while. Oh well
Nov 12, 2022Pours an opaque medium brown with a finger of light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing
It may be a bit oxidized at this point, I’m getting a touch of a umami in the nose. I’m picking up on aromas of raisin, orange marmalade, brown sugar, toffee, sherry, black cherry, and a touch of soy sauce
In taste it definitely shows its age a bit more but I don’t mind it. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting raisin, brown sugar, honey, oxidized sherry, black cherry, and toffeee. The swallow brings notes of toast, sweet caramel, raisin, black cherry, black pepper, orange marmalade, oxidized sherry, and light brown sugar
A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes neutral and quite sweet
Well it hasn’t held up great, but it was still a fun beer to try. If you still have this (for some reason) it’s time to drink it. Well actually it’s been time for a while. Oh well
Reviewed by wethorseblanket from California
3.3/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.3/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Finally dug this one out of the cellar. Why did I wait so long? Pours from a 22-ounce bottle black under a 1/2" thick tan/beige head. Aroma is musty and off/soured. Drain poured this. Dam, still another to retrieve. Pass this one - it's dead.
Nov 22, 2017Reviewed by tbryan5 from Louisiana
3.8/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Held up surprisingly well for an eleven year old beer! Not my favorite of the series of the ones that I have had the privilege to get to try. Cool to try, probably not too many left.
Sep 21, 2017Rated by xShoWTeKx from South Carolina
4.31/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had at almost 10 years old
Feb 21, 2016Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.74/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Shared bottle in Atlanta.
This has held up surprisingly well. Carbonation indicates the seal was good. Very smooth and nicely balanced. Good complexity, especially in the aroma.
Dark red brown body with exceptional clarity.
Sep 06, 2015This has held up surprisingly well. Carbonation indicates the seal was good. Very smooth and nicely balanced. Good complexity, especially in the aroma.
Dark red brown body with exceptional clarity.
Reviewed by hansgruber from Indiana
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drank on my birthday which coincidentally is 6/6. It's held up pretty well I'd say although I never drank it prior to today.
Wasn't expecting it to be roasty and dark but I'm not sure what my expectations were in the first place. Solid drinker for what it is and how old it is.
Received this in a trade only because I wanted the bottle. But happy that the beer was still worth drinking.
Cheers and happy birthday to me
Jun 07, 2015Wasn't expecting it to be roasty and dark but I'm not sure what my expectations were in the first place. Solid drinker for what it is and how old it is.
Received this in a trade only because I wanted the bottle. But happy that the beer was still worth drinking.
Cheers and happy birthday to me
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania
3.08/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Pours a dark brown color, free of sediment and looks like a stout or BSDA. Head retention is low and no lace to find. The aroma had some dark fruits and chocolate, some soy coming through as well. The flavor consisted of anise, chocolate, soy, plum and raisin. There was a roasted quality to the malts. Alcohol was there. Full bodied with a medium to low carbonation. Overall this was a cool beer but was probably best fresh like most beer.
Apr 30, 2015
06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
489 ratings
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