Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

movingtrain

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle...got one to taste, and one to set back for a few years.

Pours amber in color, low head on top, but excellent, thick lacing on the sides of the glass.

The aroma has the wonderful Belgian funk up front...wet leaves, damp earth, wood, clove, cinnamon, some vanilla...this beer smells awesome.

Okay...so this is a Chile Beer, as per it's style listing. Up front are some fine flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa nibs, and light pungent white grapes. As the beer settles on the palate, the chilies become more apparent, but not too much in the forefront. There is some spice on the tongue, but it is not overwhelming...and, in fact, the minor amount of spice on the tongue actually adds to the Belgian dark candy sugar and spice flavor...they marry well.

The mouthfeel has a very chalky aspect to it...which is good in this sense. Chalky in the sense that it feels wild and funky. It has that hint of clove and banana (but not banana flavor--anything banana flavored is awful--this has a hint of banana from the yeast, I assume, which gives the beer some depth, as it is mixed with other spicy elements and earthy funk).

Overall, this beer is remarkable. The Belgian yeast really does the beer justice, and I doubt it would be the same without it. The chilies give a nice subtle spicy backbone to the beer, which helps to support some of the sweeter spice and yeasty funk in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 23:26:41 | More by movingtrain

PicoPapa

Connecticut

2.88/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle. Pours a translucent dark brownish ruby color with a little bit of head. Good amount of lacing. Aroma is of chiles, green peppers, and maybe a tiny amount of smoke. Taste is more of the chiles. Some malt, green peppers and cinnamon . Honestly this beer tastes more like bell peppers than spicy chile peppers. Has some spice to it but not alot of heat. Odd aftertaste. Think its the cinnamon. This beer tastes weird and kind of medicinal. Overall, I don't like this very much and may not buy one to age.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 07:12:48 | More by PicoPapa

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Review #2000! Before this, I'd never heard of anaheim chillies. Yeah, really. Anyway, this stuff pours a clear dark ruby topped by a finger of dark off-white foam. The nose comprises cinnamon, green pepper flesh, cilantro, Belgian candi sugar, and sweet caramel. The peppers lend a bit of heat to the cinnamon, as though the latter were really made for breath-cleansing chewing gum. The taste holds notes of caramel, light cinnamon, very light dank greens, light toasted biscuit, clove, and, in the back, a mild bit of pepper flesh and even milder bit o' heat. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a lightly syrupy feel. Things sorta dry out near the end. Overall, this combination had potential, but the peppers, instead of providing a complimentary bit of heat, sorta drown things out with their dankness as events progress across the tongue. It's not bad in any appreciable manner, but rather a decently-flavored brew that doesn't fully impress.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 05:45:05 | More by TMoney2591

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a ruby red color with almost no head

S: Very interesting. Get peppers, Belgian fruity yeast, malt, and some spice but not much. Peppers are more on the sweeter side, not really spicy

T: Same as the smell. Peppers really hold the stage again, but aren't really spicy at all. Belgian yeast is spicier than the peppers, with a lot of fruity notes as well. Cinnamon comes out throughout and is more of a background flavor than anything. A nice balance of sweet and spicy in general. Alcohol is extremely well blended in with the flavors as well

M: Medium bodied with low-moderate carbonation. Surprised with the lack of carbonation in both the appearance and feel

O: A nice chile beer that integrates the spicy Belgian yeast with the peppers and cinnamon to make a surprisingly tasty, well-balanced brew

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 05:22:21 | More by BEERMILER12

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a deep chestnut with ruby highlights when held up to the light. There was a short foam cap that quickly faded to a ring of bubbles around the glass.
S - mostly sweet, brown sugar aroma, hints of the peppers, banana and clove
T - starts out sweet, then you're hit with the cloves, the peppers are in the background and really only surface in the end. It seems a little bit of a mess right now, but think it might age nicely
M - crisp carbonation, medium bodied,
D - it has a slight hint of cough syrup, its not bad, and I think it has room to grow, i'm just not a complete fan right now.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 04:37:22 | More by mikereaser

drabmuh

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the time of this review, this is the #5 top Chile Beer on the beeradvocate.com best of style lists. Served from a 22 ounce bottle into a Vertical Epic glass because I am one sick badass. I pity you, just so you know.

Beer is light brown, light a burnt amber, clear, big bubble carbonation, thin head, low retention, no lacing. Looks OK.

Aroma is mostly sweet mildly, semi-spicy, mild pepper flavor.

Beer is medium in body, really sweet, interesting like a dubbel with a chili chilli chile flavor to the back ground. It finishes nicely and tastes really good. I would and will have it again next year.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 03:44:21 | More by drabmuh

azdback

Arizona

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Stone Ruination glass. Dark red color, almost maroon. Looks kind of like cranberry juice. Tiny carbonation bubbles lead to a two finger, creamy, tan colored head. It doesn't stay long and the lace is weak.

Smell is of bananas, belgian yeast. Soggy bread and earthy notes. I can actually smell some spice.

Taste is pretty sweet. Of course I taste the bananas immediately. Cloves are there. Kind of tastes like the holidays. Cinnamon and there is just a hint of spicy peppers. Quite nice.

Mouth is smooth with creamy carbonation. Body is medium and the finish is long and wet.

Overall I must say that this was pretty tasty. I generally hate belgian influenced beer but not this one. This is also the first belgian beer that I been able to smell and taste the banana. The mild pepper finish was nice too. With all of that being said, I still don't like belgian styled beers and am pretty sure this one isn't going to change my mind.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 03:17:49 | More by azdback

gatornation

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

from a 22 0z bomber
a chile beer or and EPA/amber or a mix of the 2

A- pours a clear amber color with a 1 finger white head a nice amount of lacing

S was malts chilie,hops ,cinnamon a wet grass funk

T- was malts and hops with a a chile hot pepper taste mixed in with spice and cinnamon some belgian yeast its a cornucopia of styles tastes

M- was medium carbonation with a hot taste slightly dry and bitter that was tasty

O- i split this bomber, i think a whole one might of been a chore to drink, maybe 1 more bottle for me or if its on tap i will try again

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 01:20:53 | More by gatornation

HopSlap72

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was able to try a small glass of this during a society of beer tasters event at Elwood's Pub.

It comes off with a nice amber color with just a hint of head.

My initial smell didn't reveal the variety of ingredients that were brewed into the Vertical. After letting it sit for around five minutes i began to notice the chili smell as well as a heavy cinnamon.

It was a different different taste than i had ever tried in a beer. The cinnamon flavor i thought would be at the forefront was gone but replaced with this dried chili flavor. My first drink i was surprised, but by my second and third i was left wishing that there was more of this coming around.

Overall another great brew from Stone. If you can find a bottle of this, you really should try it. It really is one of a kind

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 18:06:34 | More by HopSlap72

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Stone Vertical Epic 11/11/11

Appears a deep amber, with fine clarity and little head or lace.

Aroma much like Big Red Gum, with malt sweetness, cinnamon, and a touch of spice from the peppers.

In the taste, belgian yeast makes an appearance with a nice rounded fruityness, cinnamon and chile come through for a unique and enjoyable flavor profile.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a small dry spice.

Overall: A nice take on a chile beer. The cinnamon, and ginger bread like malt compliment the chiles very well.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 07:53:01 | More by Stinkypuss

gregb13

California

2.2/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Looked great in the glass; awesome color and head with moderate lacing. Smelled of Benadryl and bananas, with some metals. Taste: The chiles came in with a vengeance. The chile taste wasn't bad, except when it collided with the bananas, cinnamon, and metal it was not pleasant. I finished the bomber but it was a chore. Slightly better as it warmed, which is odd given the phenolic quality but whatever. Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 06:26:33 | More by gregb13

smakawhat

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

An off tan somewhat foamy three finger head is made off the pour, to rest on a dark red copper amber body that is clear and virtually free of any rising carbonation. There is some head retention here but not much, but there is a good bit of staying power also.

Nose is kind of small. A fairly small airy malt, but not much really else. Pleasant, but no hop or chile sense, so we move along. After some sips and drink the nose returns and opens up some brown dry spices (cinnamon, clove) become noticeable, but perhaps because the tasting cycle by now is all complete.

An interesting feel and body, and a slow lingering awakening palate. Body fills with a weak malt, but then subsides on the swallow. Afterfinish brings some almost dry spice sense, then the palate becomes a little dry also. Eventually there is a VERY slow chile burn and then mixes some good bitter hop in the mid palate. EXTREMELY... powdery. Mouthfeel is juicy, and full bodied and rich. Sweetness comes greater and brings a large cinnamon rush after many sips.

Overall the beer gets a little "spicy"-er after some subsequent sips, and brings out the nose more of the chile angle. Noticing the high abv on this it's rather tolerable which is quite impressive. This is not some boozy hot alcohol mess at all, it's very much under control. The most impressive thing with this beer is the more and more I consume it, the better it gets. Nice job.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 03:19:19 | More by smakawhat

RuckusDu

Colorado

2.3/5  rDev -39%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

A - Looks nice with 2 finger khaki head. Body is dark reddish amber.

S - It is sweet and sour. A lot of Juicy Fruit and some dark notes of sour cherries.

T - Goes terribly wrong here. A mix of Juicy Fruit, bell pepper, sour milk, and wheat. Not good. Hits you in the back of the mouth with sour bitterness.

M - Decent job here. Nice balance between carbonation and thickness.

O - I don't know what happened to this beer. Everything is good about it except for the taste. Just funky.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 05:29:41 | More by RuckusDu

theboozecruise

Louisiana

4.3/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bomber at Calandro's and poured into an imperial pint.

It's a ruby red color, clear with a finger or so of off white head. There isn't much lacing but some good looking pooling.

The smell is rather malty with some strong cinnamon notes. There's a little Belgian floral hop note in there as well. Pretty appetizing.

The taste is a lot more chile in there with a flavor that closely resembles a Belgian dubbel. I'm a big fan of the interaction.

Very easy to drink with a minimal alcohol note despite a good abv.

Another winner from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 03:07:03 | More by theboozecruise

Kranders

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This has to be one of the best looking beers I've ever seen. Fantastically ruby and perfectly clear. Subtle hints of spice and cinnamon in the aroma that finds its way into the beer itself. Pretty subtle though with the cinnamon and chile, but there's still a bit of heat. Overall great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 01:58:25 | More by Kranders

LtCracker20

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a clear reddish body with a 2-finger off white head that shows good retention and some nice lace.

S- A slight buttery aroma up front, light a pale lager almost. Not too much going on here either way. There's a slight chili burn at the very back end of every whiff along with some banana and clove.

T- Also pretty bland. There's some cinnamon flavor, some banana, and a slight burn which I'm not sure is the ABV or the chilis.

MF- Only a moderate body on this one. Good amount of carbonation keeps it lively, though.

O- Not a bad beer, but not what I think Stone should be putting out. Glad I tried it, but won't again...

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 00:34:02 | More by LtCracker20

flannelman808

California

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Bright ruby copper colored beer and very clear. egg shell white/ light tan head with ok retention.

S: Dark fruit, very ripe raspberry, and a Jalepeno/ Poblano pepper suggestion.

T: Bing cherry comes to mind, then comes mild green chili pepper as well as a mild macerated dark fruit medley. Slightly tart fruit and slightly sweet molasses (albeit faintly flavored) merge. The finish is similar to the start, cherry and a slight hint of anaheim chili.

M: Prickly with a medium long finish.

O: Im enjoying this more as I sip on it and find it's subtleties rewarding. Very unlike stone to produce a beer with so much elegance (even with the chili peppers), perhaps their evolving. Anyway this is a good buy at a better value. -I don't see how this could age for any length of time but I think its worth experimenting.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 09:06:33 | More by flannelman808

grittybrews

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a dark ruby amber with excellent clarity and a finger of off-white head. Strong aroma of banana, clove, a hint of cinnamon, and a good dose of Hatch chiles.

Moderate carbonation and a smooth, somewhat light mouthfeel. Flavors of banana, caramel, and clove up front with a trace of cinnamon and a hint of chiles on the tail end. Just a touch of alcohol warmth that becomes more apparent as the beer warms.

I was excited by the aroma but the flavors don't seem to meld. The Belgian components are fairly standard and the chile/cinnamon is interesting but never really integrates. I'm a fan of beers with pepper but this one didn't blow my mind by any means. Worth trying, though.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 05:31:41 | More by grittybrews

ikantspel

California

3.2/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

served into a duvel tulip

pours a deep mahogany with a subtle head. not too much lacing going on

smells kinda fruity with some yeast in there. a tad peppery is the only hint of chile you get

first it kinda hits with a malty flavor. you can get some cinnamon in the middle but nothing way too overpowering. finishes pretty bitter. pretty much a cycle of sweet, spice, bitter.

somehow this works. after a few more sips the chile comes out more. dont know if i would get it again seems like a novelty beer

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 04:52:41 | More by ikantspel

Rhynes2

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I bought this brew today and it was the first beer I have ever had brewed with chilis. I was skeptical at first. On the nose its very wine like me and my buddy said it was almost like a Cabernet Sauvignon with some spice. The taste is caramel malts at first and it quickly fades to the chills. they are strong but well balanced. I'm so impressed with this brew and will be buying it again soon. Stone never lets me down

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 03:16:24 | More by Rhynes2

mithrascruor

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle poured into a chalice.

Appearance: Pours a clear, darker amber color, but is ruby through the light. Minimal filmy off-white head and very little visible carbonation.

Smell: Good malt aroma with some fruit-like sweetness, and a hint of yeast. I think I can get a slight whiff of the peppers.

Taste: Pleasant malt flavor (carramel) up front, which gradually gives way to some cinnamon and mild yeast flavors towards the finish. There's a bit of bitterness in the aftertaste. It takes a few sips for the chilies to register, but they add a nice, additional dimension to the taste, and gives it a mildly spicy aftertaste as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and quite smooth; very mild carbonation.

Drinkability: Strong ABV but little to no alcohol present in the taste.

I quite enjoyed this one - the yeast was quite mild, and the chilies were a nice touch.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 02:46:03 | More by mithrascruor

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into 20 oz Duvel tulip glass. Pours a wonderful ruby red, with a 3 inch off white head, not much lacing. Different color than I would have expected. Smell in banana, clove, coriander, a little spice from the peppers, and some carmel. Not a huge Belgian fan, but this is really nice. Taste has much more spice, than the smell would lead on. I feel like the nose and taste really match, except the burst of spice in the finish. Makes it seem a little hoppy. I like hot foods, so it doesn't bother me. The booze hides well. Body is on the larger side, but not giant. Good amount of life and approachable for it's abv. This is very interesting, so much tastier than 10/10/10, but just as unique. I expected very little because it isn't my favorite style, it delivered.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 02:16:56 | More by SawDog505

DeanMoriarty

California

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a fairly clean dark amber, slightly cherry hue with a good fluffy tan head that dissipates quickly leaving good amounts of lacing.

S: Sweet bready yeast, banana esters and grainy malt - very Belgian smelling, cinnamon sticks, light hop and just a hint of chile and booze.

T: Ah there's the chile - though detectable in the nose, I was hoping for more of a showcase in the flavor and I was not let down. Sweet toasted malt, the banana is there too, midway the booze is detectable but not at all offensive, then the chile lays on thick, balanced perfectly with a more earthy than spicy cinnamon (not at all what I expected when I read this one had cinnamon added) - very subtle and earthy and really compliments the chile well. These guys know what they're doing!

M: On the bigger side of medium-bodied, the carbonation is light and lends perfectly to the style and creaminess of this brew. Someone complained about an oily quality in the mouthfeel, and I agree on the lingering oiliness - which is from the chile, but I really like this aspect. Stone often accomplishes this with oiliness from the hop, but here they've achieved this quality with oil from the chiles added - super bomb!

Overall far from a session beer, but I don't think that was Stone's intention by any means, but as a quality sipper to enjoy from time to time, this one is up there with some of the best.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 02:13:56 | More by DeanMoriarty

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served on tap at Fish Bar in a mason jar.

Appearance: The beer has a medium brown color with amber and ruby edges. Quite a large eggshell head sits on top when the beer comes out. I suspect this may have been an overly aggressive pour. The head retains fairly well and leaves a bit of lace down the glass.

Smell: The aroma is kind of strange. I notice cinnamon first, with toasted bread, banana esters, and a fair amount of booze. From the aroma I don't even get a hint of chiles.

Taste: The flavor starts with slightly sweet toasted grains tinged with a bit of caramel. Then it starts to go a bit crazy. Cinnamon is really the dominating flavor here, but it somehow does not mix with the other spices. Cloves and banana notes clash with the malt and cinnamon flavors, and I only get a light sense of the chiles at the end, after the beer has turned into a medicinal ethyl alcohol bomb. I wonder if some time (like a year, a month, and a day?) would heal the distracted flavor.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is the real victim of the brewing process. After seemingly half a sip, my tongue feels covered in some immutable oily coating that is fairly unpleasant. Like most other Stone beers, it is properly carbonated and has a heftiness to the body, which I appreciate. Just a very soft burn in the back of my throat from the chile.

Overall: This is the second beer from Stone I have had recently that has stunned me with how bad it is. I will continue to try everything they make, but I won't be coming back to this beer anytime soon. Overall this is just too much of a disjointed mess.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 23:54:20 | More by KickInTheChalice

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

2.4/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

22oz into Deschutes pint glass.

A- Nice orangey amber on the pour, a sandy tan, almost eggnog head builds and leaves some rather nice lacing on the glass. Foam is dense.

S- The yeast in this one is crazy. Lots of bubblegum, bananas, and all around spicy yeast goodness. You get a nice whiff of the cinnamon and the faintest hint of the peppers.

T- Eh, Wow. I taste the banana-y yeast, it jumps out from the start. The cinnamon is muted, and the chiles provide a mild green note. Alcohol is very present... Spices intermingle, but not really to the benefit of anything. The spicy and the sweet flavors do not mesh, my tongue is confused.

M- What is that? I don't think it's the chile. Cinnamon? Something's leaving a weird feeling in my mouth. OK, the chile shows up in the end too, with a bit of heat. It's got to be the alcohol? I think this one's a bit too boozy for its own good.

O- Did not finish- not even my first glass. Really unappealing flavors. Sorry, Greg, I thought I was going to seriously groove on this one, but it's a head-scratcher.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 23:13:20 | More by ShogoKawada