Stone 06.06.06 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer poured into the chalice clear dark, make that black, with a brownish tall head which lasted very well to coat the glass.

The aroma was fruity, strongly so as it was poured. Chocolate was present as was a dirty and earthy character. A bit of peppery spice was notable and as the head fell the fruitiness did as well. Some dark fruits were present and their intensity increased as the beer warmed. The fruits were raisins with some characteristics of prunes.

The flavor was earthy with a strong presence of tinny and very lightly spicy hops and yeast. The strongest flavor present was chocolate and that was coupled with dark caramel and some character of raisins and prunes. Spices were present but were mostly muted, pepper was the most prevalent flavor.

The finish was dry with a nice dark fruit and caramel character and peppery hops lasting into the aftertaste without much chocolate presence. The body was medium with a moderate carbonation and a creaminess to the mouthfeel. The warming after consumption was very high and reminded you that this one might have a bit of a punch. A nice Belgian Porter (if there is such a thing).

22 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2006 23:28:32 | More by GCBrewingCo

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

05-21-2013 02:19:49 | More by SpdKilz

ajzy

Wisconsin

2.75/5  rDev -31.4%

05-18-2013 13:16:11 | More by ajzy

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -19%

05-13-2013 22:27:11 | More by mikeincharleston

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-12-2013 02:34:34 | More by koopa

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-07-2013 23:14:42 | More by cadaugherty

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -0.2%

04-29-2013 01:44:34 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Immortale25

Florida

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. snifter.

A- Pours a mostly opaque black color with a 1/4 inch tan head that retains decently before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and wispy specs of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing.

S- Very unique aroma of sweet Belgian candi sugar, spice and mildly roasted malt. Also a bit of anise.

T- More sweetness with the candi sugar playing a main role up against the malty backdrop. Has a nice balance with some ginger-like spice in the finish. Notes of clove, cinnamon and black licorice.

M- Slightly viscous with medium carbonation and a fullish body.

O- This is a classy Belgian that's held up well in the bottle with no noticeable oxidation or skunking in the aroma or taste. After having four different entries of the series, I'm beginning to see the underlying trend and realizing I like it. There's only been one that I've disliked so far and it was the 12.12.12 but, hey, maybe it just needs some age since I had it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 01:53:54 | More by Immortale25

mdaschaf

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Brouwers on 12/12/12, review from notes.

A: Pours brown with a small off-white head with minimal retention and no lacing.

S: Some red wine like tannins, a bit of cinnamon, chocolate and peppers.

T: A good bit of smoke mixed with caramel, cinnamon, cocoa, and a little bit of dark fruit.

M: Medium bodied with low carbonation.

O: Not bad, but nothing special either. It was middle of the road in terms of my 3-12 rankings.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 22:49:00 | More by mdaschaf

cjgator3

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle

A- Pours a dark brown color with a light tan head with good retention and lacing.

S- The aroma is sweet malt with cocoa, dark fruits, and Belgian yeast.

T- The taste like the aroma is malty up front with a spiciness coming through and some hops and yeast in the spicy and bitter finish.

M- The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a slightly above average amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, this one is still holding strong after almost 7 years. I bought it in 2007 and have held on to it since.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 02:58:46 | More by cjgator3

robbrandes

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

04-03-2013 06:05:46 | More by robbrandes

DruRho

Maryland

4/5  rDev -0.2%

03-18-2013 23:57:01 | More by DruRho

chippo33

Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -19%

03-13-2013 23:14:55 | More by chippo33

sweemzander

Illinois

3.16/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

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

(A)- Pours a near pitch black color. Some tan froth and lacing formed.

(S)- Kind of a dry, chalky roast to it, almost like coffee. . almost, but more in an herbal cocoa and raisin (if that makes any sense).

(T)- Lots of raisin, prune, and cocoa. Definitely the cocoa turns slightly more towards sweet chocolate as it warmed.

(M)- A good carbonation level. This has some nice richer elements to this. Still kind of chalky overall, but not as bothersome as some of the earlier vertical epics that I think were well past their prime.

(O)- This might be my favorite so far in the lineup. It still has a subtle richness to with that has not fallen off yet.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 15:58:35 | More by sweemzander

spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -25.2%

03-09-2013 22:55:42 | More by spycow

splendidsplinter

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6%

03-07-2013 22:12:36 | More by splendidsplinter

MasterSki

Illinois

2.86/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.5

Think I got this at Discount Liquor. Served in a tulip.

A - Dark tan foam settles to a solid cap, leaving behind splotches of lace. Dark brown body, with ruby-brown highlights. Looks pretty good actually!

S - Roasted malts, cedar, fruity oxidation, perhaps the first trace of Belgian yeast remaining in any of these beers. Not as sweet as previous vintages.

T - The taste is quite strange - an understated mix of smoke, roasted malts, and vinous notes, as well as the expected oxidation. The advertised anise is long gone.

M - Medium-full body, pleasant carbonation, chewy texture, and a dry and lightly smokey finish.

D - My least favorite so far. Even worse than 03.03.03. At least in the preceding ones the the oxidation flavors had overwhelmed the original ones - here it's an unholy blend of oxidation and vestigial, largely unpleasant, flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 04:20:14 | More by MasterSki

bman_85

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

02-26-2013 07:05:41 | More by bman_85

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Reviewed from notes a few weeks back (02/02/13) for all the VE series I could obtain.

A- Poured from the bottle to a pint glass. Very dark brown body with some red around the edges. Nice head for 6.5 years old. The cap is one finger in height with a light tan-toast color and decent retention. A few creamy lace patches.

S- Definite oxidation rustiness but not terribly so. Some spice and caramel, tiny dry roast but hard to pick up overall.

T- Really thinned out and dried out flavor. Slight roast but no real depth to it. Just like a light roast grain husk. Brown toasted malts, raisin spice and some oxidation but not as much as the nose. Some dark fruits.

MF- Thinned out like crazy. Lower end carbonation with somewhat watery feel, not unexpected. Slight warming from alcohol and spicy bitterness.

Solid brown-amber Belgian hybrid, some of this probably due to the age. Not overly affected by age but it shows. Gets better with warmth.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:06:51 | More by cbutova

drummermattie02

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-19-2013 03:55:27 | More by drummermattie02

MaseFace

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +6%

02-16-2013 18:49:09 | More by MaseFace

GrindFatherBob

New York

3/5  rDev -25.2%

02-14-2013 19:29:05 | More by GrindFatherBob

Treebs

Illinois

2.86/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

22 oz. bottle served in a CCB snifter.

A: Pours a dark brown color with a light brown head forming on the pour. Some splotches of lace are left behind.

S: Boozy, some sweet malts and fruity notes as well. An odd minty note on the finish, reminiscent of toothpaste.

T: Brandy soaked plum, some anise and a ton of booze. Light roast with herbal mint qualities on the finish. Not as noticeable as the nose.

M: Medium bodied with a medium low carbonation level. Herbal and roasty finish.

O: The odd minty and toothpaste like flavors on the finish detracted from an overall decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:28:58 | More by Treebs

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.49/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

The first in a Vertical Epic tasting - 06 to the 12 back to back, very awesome. Thanks to Cam for this one.

Dark brown body with some clarity there. Beige head is small but retains well.

Scent shows it age a bit, some oxidation and rustiness there, along with spice, yeast, dark fruits.

Taste is an improvement, there is some oxidation here as well but it doesn't really deter. Dark fruits, caramelly malts, musty Belgian yeast, spice, some licorice.

A thinnish mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Solid for the age.

A solid dark Belgian that had held up decently being close to 7 years old. Nothing groundbreaking here but good.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 16:45:53 | More by Chico1985

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

02-12-2013 05:38:35 | More by KiMiRaiK