Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

ralree

Maryland

2.53/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

A: Extremely deep red, like a cherry soda. Weird. Reddish hued head, nice retention, good lacing.

S: Very Belgian. Dark fruit, cinnamon, apple, and a weird vanilla smell I can't quite place. Very spicy smelling for a Belgian.

T: Really really spicy - this thing has tons of flavor! Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves (that's one of the things I couldn't place in the smell), some fruit, hops come out stronger than I thought they would, and a bit of toasty malt. This is VERY different from any other beer I've ever tried. I think the spice flavors are a bit too strong - they overpower the hops and make this taste more like cold cinnamon and spice herbal tea than beer. It's not my thing, but I'm sure there's people out there that like this. I just read the bottle - indeed, they put in whole cinnamon sticks and a yeast with heavy clove overtones. They also added Anaheim peppers, which is probably the other flavor I can't place. Honestly, I don't get this.

M: A little oily, good carbonation. Medium body.

D: Not really drinkable - it tastes too weird for me. This is sad because if they hadn't gotten so carried away with adding every strong flavor possible, this could have been good.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 04:32:57 | More by ralree

andysc83

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

06-14-2013 20:35:31 | More by andysc83

BKotch

Texas

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-13-2013 04:50:17 | More by BKotch

schaffer9252

New York

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

06-12-2013 01:11:59 | More by schaffer9252

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

06-11-2013 02:44:02 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

jarrgal

North Dakota

3/5  rDev -20.4%

06-10-2013 02:15:31 | More by jarrgal

JLapadura

New York

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-09-2013 14:55:02 | More by JLapadura

civicm87

New York

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-09-2013 04:44:20 | More by civicm87

MNPikey

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

06-09-2013 04:04:18 | More by MNPikey

DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

06-07-2013 14:31:59 | More by DeutschesBier

Pfife7

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

06-07-2013 03:29:56 | More by Pfife7

meghmmm

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%

06-02-2013 14:30:40 | More by meghmmm

steevbr

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.1%

06-01-2013 02:04:44 | More by steevbr

craftbeerasian

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%

05-30-2013 17:26:08 | More by craftbeerasian

raffy313

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-27-2013 12:20:58 | More by raffy313

ianjsullivan

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

05-25-2013 20:19:02 | More by ianjsullivan

DmouthCaliBrewz

New Hampshire

4.29/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured into a FFF teku a hazy copper with a minimal few millimeters of foam that quickly recedes leaving a minimal amount of lacing - most likely from the wet glass

S: Spices - cinnamon and clove, some chile, tart red wine, and a bit of funk.

T: Tart fruits and red wine at first, immediately giving way to a subtle yet noticeable hint of chile spice and detectable funkiness. After a few moments, the Cinnamon starts to reveal itself, along with a definite peppery zing from the Belgian yeast, and more herbal notes. I also am detecting a buttery sweetness, which is an interesting companion to the tannicity from the red wine barrels. Finishes with a pleasant and crisp hop bitterness that emerges from the peppery and herbal spice, which nicely balances the buttery sweetness present in the middle. After exhaling I get more pepper, cinnamon, spice, andsome medicinal phenol.

M: Oddly buttery and sweet, considering the tart and tannic aspects from the yeast and red wine barrels.

O: A very unique and interesting beer that really pushes the limits of what yeast can do, without overdoing what many brewers chose to push too hard. Perfect level of funk, and I really was intrigued at how it could be so buttery, and yet also have a somewhat tannic as well as tart finish. Truly an interesting blend. Thats why time after time, Stone fails to disappoint…..but maybe thats just homerism

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:13:23 | More by DmouthCaliBrewz

Rogorama

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-21-2013 13:47:42 | More by Rogorama

CDCNAM

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-20-2013 16:17:28 | More by CDCNAM

IP-EH

California

2.75/5  rDev -27.1%

05-19-2013 22:08:46 | More by IP-EH

beernads

Florida

3/5  rDev -20.4%

05-18-2013 06:39:24 | More by beernads

olafphysics

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-17-2013 23:36:25 | More by olafphysics

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-17-2013 15:10:00 | More by twenty5

jpaulsen

California

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-17-2013 01:45:27 | More by jpaulsen

lucasj82

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-15-2013 03:03:03 | More by lucasj82