12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing

12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 14.03%
Reviews:
318
Ratings:
1,608
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 01, 2021
Added:
Dec 05, 2012
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  372
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by petewheeler:
Photo of petewheeler
Rated by petewheeler from Maryland

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jan 19, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of neenerzig
Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Cracked 1 of the 2 bombers I have left of this. Poured into my goblet glass, this beer pours a very dark brown, almost black color that's not interested in letting in any light whatsoever. Something about the appearance really reminds me of a cup of coffee. Has a light brown, silky looking head that's about an inch thick when first poured. Settles pretty quickly to a very thick ring lining the inside of the glass, some nice cluster swirls of film layer surface foam, and pretty good lacing. Some roasted, bready malts and molasses notes that gives way to some plum, raisins, and a hint of figs. Also some bittersweet dark chocolate and coffee notes. An extremely similar flavor profile, with the aforementioned roasted, bready malts and molasses notes that's followed by some dark fruit notes of plum, raisin, and fig. This is followed by an allspice note. Rounded out w/ a bit of earthy hop bitterness. I'm surprised and at the same time not surprised at how pronounced this is in this beer after 8 + years. Because after all, this is Stone. The 9% SVB is well masked here indeed. Has a slightly crisp, mostly smooth, slightly oily and chewy, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with minimal carbonation. Has a dry finish, and pretty much all the aforementioned flavors stick around for awhile in the aftertaste.

Eric
Feb 01, 2021
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Cloudy dark, dark brown pour... nearly black with a finger of fizzy off-white head. Great lacing.

S: Cinnamon and roast. Spicy... grains and dark fruit.

T.F: Semi-sweet and roasty. Earth and spice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and tea. Molassas with a bit of yeast character. Plum and fig... dark chocolate. Medium to light bodied.... smooth carbonation. Lingering spice at the finish.

O: A decent spiced beer... and whether a byproduct of age or design the spice wasn't overwhelming but played pretty nicely with the underlying Belgian Dark. A nice change of pace beer on a night when I wanted something a little different.
Oct 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Jul 16, 2020
Photo of BKotch
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas

3.92/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Just had an 11.11.11 and I hate to say it, but it was better than this. This one's simply bland. No character. Not bad for 7.5 years old but it doesn't stack up particularly well against the Vertical Epic 11 or any number of similarly aged beers I've been drinking during the pandemic.
Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.2 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Mar 30, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by cp45 from New Jersey

Jan 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 12, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by heysuz from Indiana

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jan 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.43 by Dave2234 from Minnesota

Oct 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Big_V from Maryland

Oct 12, 2018
Photo of TheRougeBastard
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina

3.97/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Cellared for over five years, a malfunctioning beverage cooler put this on deck. Aged very nicley, would have been perfect a few months ago as it's certainly a winter warmer!
May 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by LarrysDeerGut from Illinois

Mar 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.23 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Jan 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.16/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle. Repeated in July 2018 - probably a bit better at this later date, with reduced and mellowed spicing.
Poured very dark brown looking opaque and essentially black in the glass. The tan head is modest sized but has good retention.
Aroma: complex; more spicy than fruity with hints cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and clove.
Flavor: spicy but with reasonable balance for a spiced ale, and a good mix of spices and a solid note of dark chocolate. Exact rating about 4.15.

Overall: as much an American Strong Winter Ale as Belgian Strong Dark Ale.
Nov 30, 2017
Photo of flaskman
Reviewed by flaskman from New York

3.87/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This was a bottle that I have stored for over 5 years. I was a little nervous as it was 5 years old. It poured black with a modest head. My first impression was "Wow! It isn't rotten after 5 years !" I actually thought that it was very good. As a spiced brown ale I thought it was enjoyable. I liked the raisin prune taste in the background and the booze was well hidden. It had a good mouthfeel as in not too thin and not too thick. The only issue I had was that it was a touch spice forward with maybe a touch too much clove? When I shared it with a friend we were on his back porch and it was 40 degrees out a week before Thanksgiving. The perfect time of year for a spiced ale.
Nov 14, 2017
12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 1608 ratings