Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

Hershdawg

California

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into VE Glass

A: Pale amber. Small filmy head. Lots of bubbles even though its 3 years old.

S: Sweet. A little leather, grapefruit, cotton candy. overall excellent but hard to describe. Smells wonderful for a 3 year old bottle

T:Wow! Piney hops at the back, Sweet beginnings, a little leather. coriander, sage, thyme. Citrus undertones, supposedly there is ginger but its seems to have fallen out. I wish I had this new.

M: Crisp, not to much carbonation bite.

D: Supprisingly good for a 8.4 ABV beer.

If I had the other bottles starting from 2002 I'd would have kept this one but I don't.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 01:21:46 | More by Hershdawg

Wildman

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a light clear amber color and formed a huge foamy white head that coated the glass with lace as it slowly subsided. A heavy amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, banana, grapefruit, and clove. Definitely a Belgian aroma to this beer. The flavor was of malt, caramel, and candy. A very sweet beer, even for a Belgian style. The body is medium light and the finish is slightly astringent and bittersweet with a warming aspect of the alcohol present. Another fine offering from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2007 01:30:27 | More by Wildman

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Golden honey colord body, excellent clarity, mild carbonation streams, topped by four fingers of tight white foam.

Notes of zesty pepper hit the nose from a foot-and-a-half away as it pours. Up closer, a strong assertive lemon rises above the spice.

Surprisingly lightly, it rolls across the tongue. While described as a mix of saison and trippel, it also seems a bit witish. A light sweet taste, generously fruity, with a sprinkling of spice. Tangy and refreshing.

Mouthfeel is light, it dances across the tongue, but also with some body to it. Spices well integrated and not dusty.

Drinkability is another surprise. While I sometimes have struggled with trippels, this goes down so smooth. Winds may be howling this night, but I could see this as a summer nightcap out on the deck.

This was more of "take a shot" purchase than most, but it paid off well. Another winner from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2008 04:43:58 | More by RonfromJersey

chadlebald

California

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought 4 of these on 6/22. Will keep the other 3 to age, but MUST try one now.

Beautiful golden amber color. Light head that dissipates relatively quickly. Oh, the smell is nice. Unmistakably Belgian esters: yeasty, subtle spice, banana and orange peel. It actually lingers inside my nose.

No surprise, the taste is quite good as well. Nice fruit and spice--the cardamon stays present for a good amount of time in the finish. Just enough hops to put it on the drier side, and with the ginger giving its 'hotness' to encourage the next sip. Warming my insides as I write this (and continue to drink more). Yummy.

It's a very good beer right now, so I wonder what time will do. (can't wait to find out!)

God bless those Belgians for brewing their beers. And bless those San Diegans at Stone for brewing another future gem.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2007 04:41:31 | More by chadlebald

taez555

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a light tan/light orange/yellow body with a small soap bubbled type head.

Nose is a cornucopia of smells. Tropical fruits, lots of sugary belgian yeast, candied fruit, pepper, ginger and lime peel. Strong alcohol whiffs and it really starts to have a strong saison mixed with tropical spice and fruit character as it warms. Very nice.

Fruit juice and alcohol. Very reminiscent of a tropical mixed drink like a margarita or daiquiri. Taste is medium to full bodied with a course grain mouth-feel from the start fading into a sharp numbing bitterness in the finish. Loads of fresh cut malt and grain, but the taste is dominated by citrus. Lemons, lime, grapefruit juice, citrus peel, tons of ginger, passion-fruit, mangos, bananas, kaffir lime and a nice spice mixture ending with a big kick of belgian yeast. A very strong bitterness but not a huge hop taste presence. Alcohol is really strong in this beer and really shines through with warmth as well as a kick in the butt after a few sips.

Not quite a saison and not quite a triple, but 150% of each mixed equally. Really very nice right now and I'm having a hard time picturing it aged 5 years, although the alcohol and strong course bitterness should mellow nicely. It should be interesting to see if it retains it's big fruit flavors. I like this one a lot, it's everything I wanted in 040404. Bring on 08.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2007 19:18:36 | More by taez555

jamesm7485

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

As a stone whore myself, i saw this in my local bottle shop and figured eh what the hell ill pick up a few. Im glad i did as a frequent ris and dipa drinker this was a nice lighter change without being flavorless. Nice fruity taste but not in an offensive way and its hard to pinpoint what it is. Not stones typical offering's but its a very good solid beer and im looking forward to trying the rest of the line.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2008 20:41:55 | More by jamesm7485

pwoods

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. brown bomber, poured into a Leffe over sized wine glass. Properly cellared.

A: Pours a beautiful glowing tangerine amber color with good visibility. About a fingers worth of white head forms and holds for a bit. A bit of lacing to start.

S: Lots of spices, a spearmint makes up a healthy portion of it. Some natural catnip smell and toothpaste, too, lol. Maybe some white pepper. Fresh spring flowers backed by some malt sweetness. Very interesting.

T/M: Right up front you get exactly what the nose offers with an edge to the spearmint and toothpaste. After the initial burst you get a drying yeast character, full of fruity and floral esters and backed by more spices... maybe some chardomum(sp?) and coriander. Light malt body with plenty of sweetness and candi sugar. Carbonation has held up very well and keeps things alive.

D: Extremely interesting and pretty drinkable. Complex enough to be a sipper... and the ABV :)

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2008 02:01:29 | More by pwoods

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice orange golden with a reasonable head that is fine and white and settles to a thin swirly cap. Nice aromas of candi sugar, pears, cardamom, bananas, and some light alcohol. Very integrated and pleasant aromas. The taste is also a seemless blend of Belgian yeast flavors and fruit. Apple, pear , and banana pair with some light clove spiciness and some residual sweetness as well as some citrusy bitterness. Delicious. This beer is smooth, creamy, and lightly spicy, and drinking beautifully right now.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2008 22:15:17 | More by Georgiabeer

DeanMoriarty

California

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

07/07/07 Vintage Vertical Epic

Had this out of a snifter at Holiday Wine Cellar's special event for San Diego Beer Week 2010: "Stone Vintage Archives & Decadent Chocolate Pairings" hosted by Dr. Bill Sysack of Stone Brewing. Paired with North Park's Eclipse Chocolat - White Lemon Ginger Truffle.

A: Pours a light amber/golden hue with an off-white fluffy head, leaving tons of lacing from start to finish.

S: Sweet and herbal, faint hop, ginger, earthy and medicinal - very unique and pleasant.

T: Sweet and spicy maltiness, good bitter hop, citrus zest and a bit of booze on the back end.

M: Medium-bodied but definitely more on the lighter side of medium-bodied, dry and smooth with a good amount of carbonation that works well with the style.

D: This is one of my favorite Vertical Epics - such an easy and enjoyable drinker. I had the great pleasure of drinking this one out of an oak barrel last year at the Blind Lady. Just amazing!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 03:35:30 | More by DeanMoriarty

chugalug06

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - A Nice soapy, rapidly dissipating white head. Brew is foggy (Chill Hazed?) orange with some nice lt. reds.

S - Very chamomile. Lots of rose hips and peach. Red Delicious Apple. Peppery

T - Toffee, white grape. Awesome! Slightly sour. Toffee apple...

M - Awesome (light) carbonation. Zero heat. Light body.

O - Highly recommended! Awesome brew, plus, it was released on my Birthday. Age has done this brew wonderfully. Can't wait to try my other in another year.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 05:28:13 | More by chugalug06

wedgie9

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an orange color with white minimal head. There is some sediment. Primary aromas of ginger and orange peel. Secondary aromas of mango, white peppercorn, apricot, and coriander. Very fruity on the palate. Apricot, peach, orange, and ginger. The aftertaste is dominated by pineapple. The body is medium, but the overall feel is bright, due to the weighty carbonation. The aftertaste is medium length with pineapple and ginger. Overall, this is a really fun beer. Rather complex on every level, and worthy of aging even longer.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 05:59:16 | More by wedgie9

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, allowed to warm just a little bit before being poured into my Bruery tulip.

Stone's 07.07.07 Vertical Epic pours a mildly hazy burnt copper, surprisingly dark, with three fingers of frothy white foam filling out the top of the glass. Head retention is decent, but lacing is very spotty. The aroma is a very nice blend of citrus (with not one among the orange, lemon, and grapefruit peel dominating the others) and the ginger and cardamom. The flavor profile carries over those characteristics, and adds more to present a fantastically layered beer. Some brief, peach centric, stone fruit sweetness leads things off, followed by the ginger and cardamom (with the latter probably just a hair more intense than the former). The same complex citrus profile comes through next. If I think "lemon", "orange", or "grapefruit", that seems to be the dominant player, but the reality is they all have an equal say in the matter. A subtle black pepper flourish completes the picture. The body is just a little bit too chewy and substantantial, but it is paired with a great, lively carbonation. The 2007 offering in the Vertical Epic series is one of my favorite Stone brews, I'm actually bottling a homebrew clone of this as I drink it. A tripel that's held up phenomenally over five years.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 01:29:49 | More by axeman9182

neenerzig

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my snifter. This beer is a slightly cloudy medium golden/deep orange/copper color. Very nice color. The head is about an inch thick when poured. It settles to a quite thin surface layer about 10 minutes after pouring. Nice white ring lining the inside of the glass though. Good lacing. Aroma wise sweet spice galore and malt are certainly present as well as some banana. Sort of a fruity and floral aroma too. Very malty and sweet upfront tastewise. Spices such as clove and ginger are present among others. The taste is rounded out by some fruit and hop notes. Orange and lemon are certainly present along with a hint of banana. This beer has a dry, spicy and biting aftertaste. Has a very crisp, bubbly mouthfeel with a full body and moderate to heavy carbonation. easy to drink in the manner that great beer should be. It took me well over an hour an half to finish a bomber of this stuff. Overall this beer is certainly different from any other Belgian style Strong Pale Ale I have ever had before. A lot about this beer reminded me of Stone's Barley Wine, which I like a lot. Another winner from Stone!

Eric

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2007 02:07:43 | More by neenerzig

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber, meant to be aged until 12.12.12, I didn't want to wait, so I served it in a pint glass.

A - clear, copper color, with a white head that really thinned out to a tiny ring.

S - all that citrus?... yep, you can smell the citrus, hops and some yeastiness, in this very young brewing,

T - I'm glad I drank it now, very tasty, well balanced flavors, sweet malt/fruitiness/little bittering from hops.

M - medium bodied, smooth carbonation, pleasant after taste.

D - it's very good tasting and goes down smooth, a nice drinkable treat for most beer lovers.

Final Note: I'm a little curious as to how this brew will age, but already knowing how good it is now would make it difficult for me to cellar it for any length of time, much less 5 years!
My local beer store just got a few cases of this beer in stock. I will definitely pick up 3 or 4 more of these and try to hang on to at least 1 until the 08.08.08 Vertical Epic is released.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 00:41:33 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

calebmills

West Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

To start this is one of the first beers ive been able to try that was above 6% alcohol other than stones arrogant bastard ale which i was not able to fully enjoy because i had already had too much to drink that particular night...anyways this beer is a slightly hazy orange. sort of fruity tasting but for the high alcohol content its well masked and very very smooth.. this is my first beer review as well and this is a very complex beer to try and explain for my first try but i definately recommend it if you come across a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 04:53:44 | More by calebmills

mattster

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Opened 22oz Bomber and poured into snifter.

Nice foamy light tan head forms atop a vibrant amber brew that is hazy.

Smells quite aromatic. Some hops, some spice. Nothing distinguishable. Taste is weird at first, but after a few sips, it becomes very palatable. Nice bitterness. Good hoppy taste with light citrus and ginger. Really great beer.

Has a really nice body and nice mouth feel. Very drinkable, but it definitely not a chugger. Sip like fine wine.

I plan on purchasing more of these as it is quite worthy. Very recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2008 08:23:49 | More by mattster

fitzy84

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh man, this was good. Had this in their 22 oz bottle and man was this good. A great murky amber appearance a thin to medium head. Very well carbonated, I can hear the fizzing. The smell alluring: thick fruity malt aromas with big hints of spice and sugars. The taste had a wicked good, smooth aftertaste. Pretty sweet and dragged out flavors. A fizzing carbonation, like previously mentioned, helped make this pretty refreshing but please enjoy this beer without a meal; it should be enjoyed all on its own. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2008 03:18:03 | More by fitzy84

Eirerate

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A wonderful choice for the hot summer evening after work sitting by the pool when I enjoyed mine. Poured a very attractive deep golden color into my glass with a small head that thinned quickly to a light film on the top. I wasn't blown away by the aroma, but the taste was delightful. Lots of spice right off the top, but a well balanced finish. Little to no lacing left behind in the glass. Felt wonderfully smooth in my mouth and really was a great way to finish this very hot summer day. I'm not sure how this beer really conforms to the styles it claims to be inspired by, but I enjoyed this beer very much and I will be anxious to see how the others I bought age over time — provided I can keep from drinking them.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2007 14:47:34 | More by Eirerate

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from a 22oz bomber. The painted label gives an in-depth description of the ingredients. Oddly, no stream-of-consciousness ramblings from Greg on this one.

This VE is a striking, rich, golden-hued bier. There's some fine particulate suspended within, watching the steady stream of carbo shoot topside. Head was initially a good 1.5", then ebbed back to about 1/4". It is off-white and quite creamy, almost mousse-like, and leaves top-shelf lacework behind. Aroma has a lot going on. There's some candy-ish action; some spiciness; a bit of light fruit, like orange peel; and mild ginger. Interesting. Medium bodied, though a bit airy and bubbly on the tongue. Still, a decent mouthfeel.

As with the nose, the flavor is an interesting melange of different offerings. It has a little light, crackery malt sweetness to start. Ginger is more noticeable here than in the aroma. Very Tripel-ish, with some tropical fruitage and spicy action holding court. Quite dry overall, and 7-7-7 possesses a subtle saison-ish earthiness. Hopping is lightly present in the background, appropriate for the style. The more I drink, the more apparent the ginger and the rindy character from the peels become. I feel a distinct warming in the belly, the 8.40% abv doing its work (well, I might add!). There is a considerable amount of yeasty residue in the bottom of the bottle; a hard swirl and addition to the goblet gives the bier a foggy, orange glow (as well as a bit more of a spicy bite).

All-in-all, I like this one. If it were a regular, year-round bier, it might be my go-to Tripel. Zum Wohl!!

overall: 4.35
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4.5

1032

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 21:28:17 | More by Bierman9

medic25

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange with a frothy big white head. Nice aroma of Belgian yeast. Taste is delicious; quite complex, with sweetness, lemon/citrus, spices, with a little aftertaste of hops. Goes down very smoothly, with a very clean mouthfeel. Extremely drinkable; another fantastic Stone offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2008 03:33:34 | More by medic25

peabody

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a golden reddish amber with two fingers of white suds.
Smell is banana and clove and cinnamon and dried figs.Just a fantastic smell here.
Taste is licorice/anise with a caramel sweetness and the alcohol warmth. A fruity aftertaste with orange and cherry and mabey bubblegum?
This is better than everybody is saying it is. This has so damn much potential.
Mouthfeel is like eating a banana. You have the sweet stickyness without having a peel to throw away.
This one isn't good yet, but by 2010 it should be so darn kick ass.
I hope I can get a case of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2007 02:18:55 | More by peabody

BWMKappaSig

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz poured into a tulip glass

Appearance - Deep orange, slightly cloudy, with a head that disipates quickly.

Smell - Fruity, spicy, and malty. Almost bready in its smell, there's a distinct hint of

Taste - Citrus, spice, with a little bit of maltiness. A certain biscuitty funk is picked up, but not as much as some Belgian strong ales. Clove and ginger seem to be the most dominant notes in the taste, but not overwhelming.

As it warms, notes of apple and clove become very apparent.

Mouthfeel - Crisp finish on a medium body, with a warming alcohol note to it. As the beer warms, the finish smooths out tremendously.

Drinkability - Very drinkable, despite the high alcohol content. Should age well.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2007 21:52:59 | More by BWMKappaSig

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Update: 2 years later (16 Mar 10)

Pours a nice hazy golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice small one-finger creamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice small islands and sticky lacing. The nose is malty, spicy, nutmeg, some nice yeast notes, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet at first, some malts/yeast, lots of spices, nutmeg, and some caramel tones. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty brew, and much better than the first time I had it.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice small one-finger creamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice sticky lacing. The nose is malty, spicy, nutmeg, some yeasty, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet at first, some malty/yeast, lots of spices, nutmeg, and some caramel tones. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty brew, but could live without it.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2008 00:52:46 | More by Wasatch

joezak5

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured into a Duvel sniffter; a beautiful coppery amber that is crystal clear with the tiniest most delicate little bubbles slowing floating to the top. Three finger thick white head that has little retention but excellent lacing.

Smell: Sweet gingery, peppery and citrusy yeast. The ginger has devloped in the year it's aged, almost burning the back of my nose. The sweet sugared coating on this really balances it.

Mouthfeel: Very light and bubbly in the mouth. The spice is on the back of the tongue but is mainly a champagne feel.

Taste: Biscuity and gingery lemon scone type flavor starts it with the peppery yeast kicking in. Ginger clove warmth on the finish.

Drinkability: Light, crisp and balanced. This just feels like a celebration beer to me. I hope the ginger blends just a bit more over the years but other than that a real winner.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2008 00:41:02 | More by joezak5

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Yeast-flecked apricot with much less carbonation than a Belgian-style ale ought to have. The attractive three finger slice of pale orange-ivory foam doesn't seem to care. It melts in appealing fashion and is doing a better than adequate job with glass coverage.

I like knowing the recipes of the Vertical Epics (thanks Greg), but it does take some of the fun out of trying to guess the ingredients during the reviewing process. Ground ginger is obvious and I might have been able to identify the warm muskiness of cardamom. The grapefruit, orange and lemon peel is lost in the shuffle, as are the hops. This isn't the aroma of a classic BSPA/tripel/saison, but it's very nice all the same.

I like what the brewery has done with 07.07.07. A strong golden ale that uses Belgian yeast and/or added spices is right up my alley. An early impression is that the balance among sweet, bitter and spicy is close to ideal. Another is that this big brew has aged very well so far. Still five years to go, though.

The flavor profile is deliciously golden fruity and is reminiscent of perfectly spiced apples and pears. As in the nose, citrus fruit peel is overpowered by the strong personalities of ginger and cardamom. There might even be a little ground clove from the Belgian yeast. The 'saison-tripel hybrid' impression of the brewers sounds about right.

Almost no alcohol finds its way to the taste buds. A gentle warming on the journey down the esophagus is the only indication of its presence. Warming doesn't change much, it simply intensifies the already enjoyable potpourri of flavors. What the hell... as the bottom third of the bomber approaches, I can see no reason why the flavor score shouldn't be bumped.

A Belgianesque body/mouthfeel would have been absolutely killer. Since so few American brewers can pull it off, no points have been deducted. The beer is medium in heft, with a supple, light viscosity that is probably due to the candi sugar. A few more volumizing bubbles would have been great.

For my money, Stone Vertical Epic 07.07.07 comes in third place behind the excellent BSDAs 05.05.05 and 0.6.06.06. It's excellent, gulpable beer because the spices were well-chosen and because they were added in just the right proportions. I'd love to see something like this get a new name and a year-round release. Bring on 08.08.08.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 21:47:10 | More by BuckeyeNation