10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing

10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 13.56%
Reviews:
479
Ratings:
963
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 19, 2022
Added:
Oct 02, 2010
Wants:
  26
Gots:
  410
This ninth edition of our Stone Vertical Epic Ale series takes two interesting left turns. A Belgian-style golden triple is the starting point of this beer, but the first left turn is nearly immediate with the addition of dried chamomile flowers, triticale, and Belgian amber candi sugar. The second, and rather unusual left turn takes us half an hour up the road from Stone to Temecula courtesy of the addition of just-pressed Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc grapes from our friends at South Coast Winery. As the Stone Vertical Epic Ale series has moved through the calendar, we found that the brewing schedule for a 10.10.10 release coincided nicely with the grape harvest, neatly providing an interesting twist in this epic ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by silentjay:
Photo of silentjay
Reviewed by silentjay from Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
typical color for the style, a glowing golden copper with a very, very, very slight haze. a generous head (though still a bit small for the style) is almost pure white. it sticks around at one-fingered height and leaves some decent lacing.

yeasty aroma with a touch of funkiness likened to a saison, but with some light biscuit malts and plenty of floral characteristics from both the hops and i assume from the hibiscus as well. a bit of fruits and some clove reminiscent of a witbier and some lighter fruitiness maybe coming from the grape additions, though I wouldn't have picked that out without it being labeled on the bottle.

yeasty in the flavor as well. typical belgian pale ale flavors strike first with some belgian tripel fruitiness and booziness coming in next. some green apple sours it up and there is a discernible funk in there too. grapes impart a dry finish, but never come to the forefront of the flavor which seems to be quite a mashup of tons of belgian flavors that don't quite come together. Maybe with some age.

pretty standard for the style, but a bit prickly carbonation on a light/medium body.

drinks ok. boozy and all over the place with too many things going on in the flavor. I like complex beers, and I like stone (a lot), but things just don't completely come together for me. I will still buy another to age to see how things round out, but I'm kind of confused as to what to make of this now.
Oct 17, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 year old bottle opened at cellar temp. Pours a clear orange with quickly fading head. The nose is full of grapes, wheat, and lemon. Chamomile is there too. The taste is a little funky. A bit of sourness, leather, funk, citrus peel, hops, lemon, grapes, and a smoky note. Pretty good despite the age. Mouthfeel is fairly light and dry.
Aug 19, 2022
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured this from a bottle.
A: pours a golden, amber body with a small, white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: sweet, dry, banana ester smell typical of Brett yeast; slightly sweet dankness
T: a somewhat earthy, floral taste; dry, slight white grape sweetness with warm alcohol in the aftertaste.
M: crisp, clean, and slightly refreshing; fairly light bodied, but soothing and smooth.
O: nice feel and taste combo; alcohol and chamomile are very warming. Slight spice, alcohol warmth that is welcoming.
May 11, 2022
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
tried beer in 2022. Very smooth drinkable beer. Mostly clear without head present. Nose is very wine like. Not positive it will improve with more age. lost carbonation.
May 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jamison85 from Indiana

Jul 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by crbnfbr from Kentucky

Jan 14, 2018
Photo of bshefftz
Reviewed by bshefftz from California

4.15/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Cracked open May 2017 after 7 years storage in temps occasionally warmer than ideal cellaring conditions. The bottle opened with an unusual pop, and given the age the carbonation held up well, with a light and lacy head and consistent fizz. Powerful grape aroma on the first sip, reminiscent of a sparkling white wine, with the malt backbone emerging as the beer warmed. Slightly bitter and dry hops finish, but in a tasty way. Very enjoyable drinking experience and worth the wait - a refreshing, fruity take on a tripel.
May 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by unclekeith from Alaska

Mar 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by BarrelAgedG from California

Dec 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.48 by Jkolls from Ohio

Oct 11, 2016
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.86/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Im sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle that Ive aged at cellar temp since purchase. I recently did the entire vertical...minus 020202 and had this bottle left over for another go round. The beer pours a sparkly clear copper color with fizzy eggshell white head that dissipates to nothing immediately after the pour.
Aroma on this beer is fruity with white grapes and pear and some general candy sweetness. I dont get any real hop notes on the nose and do find a bit of grainy malt buried underneath the fruit presence.
First sip reveals a light body with very fine tingly carbonation and a smooth texture that coats my palate on each swallow. The flavor is fruity and sweet up front as the nose advertised but does roll to a dose of black peppery alcohol. The finish is very dry and the booze flavor doesnt equal any warming in my belly. This one is holding up well roughly 5.5 years after the bottle was shipped from Stone. Try one now if youve got any laying around.
Oct 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by ClePaul from Ohio

Apr 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by frekky from Massachusetts

Mar 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.17 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

Mar 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.82 by smi69 from New York

Feb 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by bkwhoppa66 from New Jersey

Jan 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Hohnbaum from Kansas

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by MickeyHops from California

Oct 04, 2015
10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 963 ratings