Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

BobLuvBeer

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy, gold to orange color with a foamy head and nice lace. Citrus and banana aroma. Slight wheat scent. Very smooth, creamy feel that is balanced by a strong alcohol taste. Very lightly hopped, spicy citric ale which happens to have a great kick. Bottle reads that is a mutt. Wheat malt, Belgian yeast land lime leaf. Comes out to me close to a Saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2005 14:47:22 | More by BobLuvBeer

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-21-2013 02:19:23 | More by SpdKilz

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

05-13-2013 22:26:25 | More by mikeincharleston

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-12-2013 02:32:31 | More by koopa

kaseydad

California

4.14/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Had a few of these through the years...time to review today.

Pours a pretty clear amber/copper color with a nice sized off-white foamy head. Still carbonated nicely for being almost 10 years old. A few cloudys in the bottle where they shall stay. A touch of lacing.

The aroma consists of belgian yeast, banana, orange, apple and grape. Getting a large fruit forward whiff. Hefe style aroma.

The aroma is still very belgian yest forward. More subtle banana. Lime and slight lemon. Wheat. Good tangerine and orange flavors. A touch of bitterness on the swallow and yeasty finish.

The mouthfeel is well carbonated for the age. Proper cellaring folks!

Overall this is still holding up nicely. I was hoping for the best, but my expectations were exceeded. Sure it's not fresh, but I appreciate it for the longevity and changes that have occured. More fruit and belgian yeast are shining through. I tell ya...cellar these correctly and you have a treat on your hand. Albeit an older treat.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:12:21 | More by kaseydad

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-07-2013 23:13:09 | More by cadaugherty

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

04-29-2013 01:43:57 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-27-2013 09:27:08 | More by Kelp

mdaschaf

Washington

2.71/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Had on tap at Brouwers on 12/12/12. Review from notes.

A: Pours a hazy golden color with a small white head with minimal retention or lacing.

S: Very chalky, sort of like baby powder. It is slightly floral, sort of like air freshener.

T: Not much going here at all. Some faint fruit, a little citrus and floral/grassy flavors.

M: Light to medium bodied with little carbonation.

O: Not very good, probably my least favorite of 3-12 that I was able to try.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2013 22:47:28 | More by mdaschaf

robbrandes

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-03-2013 06:03:52 | More by robbrandes

chippo33

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-13-2013 23:14:31 | More by chippo33

sweemzander

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz. bottle poured into a taster glass. Thanks to Chris for sharing!

(A)- Pours a murky golden orange color. Minimal white bubbles.

(S)- Kind of a hodge podge of dry resin, orange citrus, and an ever so earthy-like hint of lime.

(T)- Rather sweet in comparison to how dry the aroma was. Lots of honey and a sugary, almost candy-like orange and lime.

(M)- A mellow carbonation level. Quite sweet with an interesting citrus flavor to it. A touch muddled though due to its age.

(O)- I think this one is showing its age too, though I did appreciate the kind of awkward orange and lime citrus this has taken on.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 15:46:30 | More by sweemzander

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

03-09-2013 22:54:54 | More by spycow

MasterSki

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle I got from KAME a long time ago. Served in a tulip.

A - White foam settles to a thin collar, wisps, and minimal lace. Hazed, dark apricot body.

S - Shockingly, the Kaffir lime leaf has held up, even after nine years. It doesn't really mix well with the stale oxidation, marmalade, and caramel flavors though. Not offensive, but a tad strange.

T - The taste isn't quite as distince, with more nebulous sweetness. Again, it's largely caramel, fruity oxidation, and perhaps a touch of lime.

M - Medium body, with less carbonation than the previous two years. Lightly sticky texture and finish, and again no obvious alcohol.

D - Very weird. If you like lime then this might still be somewhat palatable, but it's certainly not something I could drink in large quantities. Still, better than the 03.03.03 in my book.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:05:37 | More by MasterSki

DavidRose

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-21-2013 04:00:32 | More by DavidRose

drummermattie02

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

02-19-2013 03:54:46 | More by drummermattie02

MaseFace

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-16-2013 18:03:35 | More by MaseFace

HopsMatt

Kentucky

2.75/5  rDev -29.5%

02-16-2013 17:49:43 | More by HopsMatt

Treebs

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22 oz. bottle served in a CCB snifter.

A: Pours a hazy apricot color with a ton of yeasty floaters in the pour. Some light splotches of lace are left down the glass.

S: Flowery and herbal with some light fruity undertones. Some plum with stale, oaty malts.

T: Paper and light oxidation with some light caramel malts. Flowery notes with some mild glue and light lime. A little prune-like oxidation.

M: Medium to light bodied with a medium carbonation level. Not much remaining on the flavor.

O: Did not enjoy this one at all. The lime notes seemed out of placed and it made the overall taste take on an Elmers glue-like flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:14:25 | More by Treebs

DRTBrewster

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-07-2013 22:39:46 | More by DRTBrewster

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was fortunate to try this last night at an epic tasting held by my good friend Mike, thanks for the opportunity MrBarleywine!
Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with a smallish off white head that dissipates fairly quickly. The aroma is sweet caramel and light sugar with a bit of cherry and sherry notes. Hint of lime and spicy yeast notes provide a nice contrast to the sweetness within. The flavor follows the aroma quite well. Sweet and sugary with caramel and sherry notes balanced by peppery spicy bready yeast flavors. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet spicy mouthfeel. This was a nice beer and over the years the flavors have melded quite nicely. The lime aroma and flavor are different, but work against the backdrop of the other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:20:50 | More by johnnnniee

SPRichard

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9%

01-23-2013 22:26:15 | More by SPRichard

Massbmx

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

01-21-2013 23:14:16 | More by Massbmx

charlzm

California

2.89/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Consumed on January 20th, 2013 at a private Vertical Epic tasting.

Beer pours a clear, light medium-gold. Slightly hazy, no head.

The aroma is nebulous esters and phenols; the only thing I could definitely pick out was lime.

Flavor was slightly sweet with notes of clove, pepper and lime. Very low to no bitterness.

Mouthfeel was flat and otherwise unremarkable.

Sadly, this one doesn't seem to have aged very well.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 18:41:14 | More by charlzm

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -23.1%

01-20-2013 18:58:22 | More by orangesol