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03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 14.1%
- Reviews:
- 196
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 29, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 03, 2003
- Wants:
- 91
- Gots:
- 45
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. With Vertical Epic 03/03/03, we used some pretty interesting ingredients...coriander (a "Belgian-style" beer favorite!), alligator pepper (wow, bite into these little gems and you get a bigtime spicy rush of flavor), and a bit of both unmalted wheat and dark roasted wheat. And a blend of Belgian yeast and American ale yeast. And a nice selection of high alpha hops (a decidedly non-Belgian style twist). All told it makes for a dubble-ish taken-to-San-Diego-pushed-to-the-edge-and-slapped-around-a-bit beer. So, treat it gently. It's been abused enough already. Store it upright, cool and in the dark. It would enjoy a nice long rest. It will have plenty of patience. Now let's see about you ... In addition, we are pleased to provide the homebrewing recipe: http://stonebrew.com/timeline/030303
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bigbeerdrinka:
Reviewed by bigbeerdrinka from Germany
4.09/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.09/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Reviewed on 09/07/04..
This brew poured a deep brown chestnut like color with mahogony and ruby hues. A dense offwhite head forms showing off a nice carbonation which laces the glass majestically. Aromas are a bit faint in this brew.. (though I've never tried it fresh its truly hard to pick up much of a bouquet in this one). Of what's left of the aromas, I found there to be bits of carob and cocoa, a hint of spice (maybe coriander) and an almost nutty character to it. Other than that my nose could not pick up much else. For flavor this beer packs a much bigger punch than its aromatic qualities. Initial flavors are of carob and an almost slight smoky characteristic. These flavors are quickly masked by a scotch like raisiny flavor, some brown sugar sweetness, a bit of spice, and a bit of a phenolic flavor from the yeasties. The final tones of this brew show off an almost cherry like flavor which is only slightly subdued, a warm alcohol, and a nice dry finish. The carbonation to this brew is quite crisp for being nearly a year old, while the mouthfeel is just a bit on the thin side. Overall this brew has amazing flavors, though its aromatic qualities have not kept up as well IMHO, but for anyone who is aging these bad boys, i would only give them another 6 months.. I don't see how this one would hold up the last 9 years of the Vertical Epic series.
Sep 08, 2004This brew poured a deep brown chestnut like color with mahogony and ruby hues. A dense offwhite head forms showing off a nice carbonation which laces the glass majestically. Aromas are a bit faint in this brew.. (though I've never tried it fresh its truly hard to pick up much of a bouquet in this one). Of what's left of the aromas, I found there to be bits of carob and cocoa, a hint of spice (maybe coriander) and an almost nutty character to it. Other than that my nose could not pick up much else. For flavor this beer packs a much bigger punch than its aromatic qualities. Initial flavors are of carob and an almost slight smoky characteristic. These flavors are quickly masked by a scotch like raisiny flavor, some brown sugar sweetness, a bit of spice, and a bit of a phenolic flavor from the yeasties. The final tones of this brew show off an almost cherry like flavor which is only slightly subdued, a warm alcohol, and a nice dry finish. The carbonation to this brew is quite crisp for being nearly a year old, while the mouthfeel is just a bit on the thin side. Overall this brew has amazing flavors, though its aromatic qualities have not kept up as well IMHO, but for anyone who is aging these bad boys, i would only give them another 6 months.. I don't see how this one would hold up the last 9 years of the Vertical Epic series.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire
3.75/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle cellared on its side for 20+ years.
Pours clear mahogany with a half-inch head of tan. Raisins, clove, caramel apples in the nose. Medium bodied with a slickish mouthfeel. Light carbonation. Light spices and phenolics on the palate with dark rum. Finishes a bit sweet and limp.
Nov 29, 2023Pours clear mahogany with a half-inch head of tan. Raisins, clove, caramel apples in the nose. Medium bodied with a slickish mouthfeel. Light carbonation. Light spices and phenolics on the palate with dark rum. Finishes a bit sweet and limp.
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania
3/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours a dark brown, nearly black color with amber highlights. No sediment. Aroma is belgian like but with a bigger malt note than usually found in the style. Elements of caramel, toffee and cocoa come to mind. Some sherry also.
The taste has more dark fruit, Berry wine, cocoa, soy and coffee elements. A bit of wood type flavor not sure if it's hop, wood, or oxidation playing tricks on me. Still holding onto a low carbonation.
Interesting beer, like an old Belgian, but lacks the finer qualities it once had fresh. Similar to port wine. Held for 12 years in honor of 12 Vertical epics, and this just appeared in my fridge for a tasting.
May 01, 2015The taste has more dark fruit, Berry wine, cocoa, soy and coffee elements. A bit of wood type flavor not sure if it's hop, wood, or oxidation playing tricks on me. Still holding onto a low carbonation.
Interesting beer, like an old Belgian, but lacks the finer qualities it once had fresh. Similar to port wine. Held for 12 years in honor of 12 Vertical epics, and this just appeared in my fridge for a tasting.
Rated by GRG1313 from California
3.5/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | 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
1.83/5 rDev -53.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
1.83/5 rDev -53.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
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.
2.0 A: Muddy shit. Small head that falls almost instantly.
1.5 S: Smells like old homebrew and not homebrew that started out good. Rancid spicy caramel. Instead of alligator pepper, it smells like alligator hide.
2.0 T: Tastes better than it smells, but just barely. Rancid chocolate and caramel. Moldy old wheat. A bit of roast and a light, out of place, spice.
2.5 M: Heavier medium body. Sludgy mouthfeel. The only thing that impresses is that a decent amount of carbonation is still present.
1.5 D: Mostly ass beer at this point. Enough said.
Jan 18, 20152.0 A: Muddy shit. Small head that falls almost instantly.
1.5 S: Smells like old homebrew and not homebrew that started out good. Rancid spicy caramel. Instead of alligator pepper, it smells like alligator hide.
2.0 T: Tastes better than it smells, but just barely. Rancid chocolate and caramel. Moldy old wheat. A bit of roast and a light, out of place, spice.
2.5 M: Heavier medium body. Sludgy mouthfeel. The only thing that impresses is that a decent amount of carbonation is still present.
1.5 D: Mostly ass beer at this point. Enough said.
03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
290 ratings
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