Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale (Red Wine Barrel Aged) - Stone Brewing Co.

russwbeck

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This offering was served to me clear yellow in color, which surprised me. I would have expected the barrel aging to make the body more cloudy, not less so. Still wasn't any head on it. 4

The red wine has cut the medicine, thankfully. It is still there, slightly haunting the beer, but this time there's way more to enjoy. The aroma I keep coming back to this time is peppermint, which actually brings the beer towards some sort of balance. 3.5

The medicine is gone! It's smooth and balanced, or, at least, more balanced than the previous '03 through '06 Vertical Epics I had prior to this one. The booze is not at the forefront, as it was with some of the others. The taste starts with red wine, before the peppermint comes back, and is finished with some clove. It's really nice. 4.5

Light and crisp, like its non-barrel-aged brethren. This time, the drinkability is improved by the taste! 4

This was the best of the Vertical Epics to this point. Spoiler Alert: There might be a few beers below that ended up being better. I really enjoyed this one, and was pretty shocked to taste the difference between the two. 07.07.07 is definitely better from the barrel. 4

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2012 13:05:48 | More by russwbeck

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-07-2013 23:15:40 | More by cadaugherty

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-27-2013 09:16:11 | More by Kelp

mdaschaf

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-19-2013 21:46:12 | More by mdaschaf

Timman87

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5%

01-03-2013 05:22:28 | More by Timman87

Bnoise11

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

12-26-2012 00:15:46 | More by Bnoise11

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

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

Reviewed on 12.12.12
Celebrating the Vertical Epic Series

P: Golden reddish tint with a bountiful dose of sudsy head.

S: Red wine booze, peppermint, spruce tree, white and black pepper corns, cranberries dusted with cocoa, barrel aroma, and blue cheese dankness.

T/M: Super sweet, rose hip, dandelion, and red wine. Moderate carbonation in a creamy smooth body.

O: wine and blue cheese take over and add a unique approach to the 07.07.07. This was a better offering of this beer and one that I actuall took home a growler of. Fantastic beer that was a real pleasure to enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 19:30:43 | More by Hopswagger

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew was served on draft at the Tap and Mallet Vertical Epic tasting event. It arrived in a chalice, showing a dark golden honey coloring. It held a half finger tall head of tight white bubbles with low retention. No lacing was noted at all, and carbonation appeared light. Mild haze was seen throughout, but no sediment was observed. The nose was very much like the standard ‘07 VE, with all the florals, spice, fruitiness, lemony hops, and ginger rootiness, but on the whole it remained more mild here. It did inherit a great woodiness from the barreling, with the astringent sourness of red wine and oak. This also added grapey bite and fruitiness alongside more massive booze character. With warmth came all the musk of a cellar. Our first impression was that the balance was nice with the drying oak character pairing well with the sweeter spice and citrus. As we sipped, soured fruit and oak, wheat, black pepper spice, red grape sugars, and the dryness of red wine started things off. Quickly following was lemon flesh syrup and hops, giving a limey character much like an authentic margarita. The middle peaked with paler malts, syrupy lime, black pepper, and gravy saltiness. The finish came with cloying sugars of caramel and pale malts, continued citric flesh sweetness, and white sugar flashes of more sweetness. The aftertaste breathed of buttery diacetyls, lemon hops, big booze, and metallic yeasty bite. The body was full, and the carbonation was medium. There was nice slurp, sip, and pop, with decent froth and cream. The mouth was coated with slick oily hops, with a following bite of chalky dryness to the back to erase that initial juiciness and succulence of wine. The mouth is, thus, eventually dried and puckered. The abv was fine, and the beer sipped nicely

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the excellent nose, with great musk and all the robust qualities of the wine barreling. This translated well into flavoring, with wild red wine flavoring to the back, and the tartness that bordered on the flavoring of a sour. This afforded great pucker to the feel. This is a well-rounded beer, and an excellent spin on the original 07, which is one of our favorites in the series to begin with.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 14:31:18 | More by TheBrewo

sandiego67

California

4/5  rDev +5%

12-22-2012 04:21:13 | More by sandiego67

tleifj

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

12-21-2012 04:54:21 | More by tleifj

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

12-19-2012 20:33:19 | More by GrindFatherBob

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

12-17-2012 23:22:35 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

bifrost17

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

12-14-2012 07:55:10 | More by bifrost17

AgentZero

Illinois

2/5  rDev -47.5%

11-28-2012 05:25:13 | More by AgentZero

queens1130

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-10-2012 00:51:01 | More by queens1130

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%

02-20-2012 23:01:05 | More by imperialking

jdmandel

California

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

01-11-2012 06:23:06 | More by jdmandel

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -21.3%

01-10-2012 18:08:55 | More by djrn2

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5%

12-08-2011 20:15:35 | More by Rochefort10nh

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +5%

11-24-2011 20:00:56 | More by nmann08

thewimperoo

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

11-22-2011 19:56:55 | More by thewimperoo

corby112

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5%

11-22-2011 04:27:20 | More by corby112

Jstark5150

California

5/5  rDev +31.2%

11-19-2011 06:56:36 | More by Jstark5150

jerz

California

3/5  rDev -21.3%

11-18-2011 05:16:58 | More by jerz

Travisnin

Idaho

5/5  rDev +31.2%

11-18-2011 05:09:39 | More by Travisnin