Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

KYGunner

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This exceptionally different ale, presented itself with a deep, rich yet cloudy mahogany color. The aroma is of sweet malt, prunes or dates, cinnamon and yes, chiles. This combination should not work but does quite nicely. The cinnamon is not as present but the sweet malt is at the front. The chilis are more forward at the end of the bottle and I really enjoyed the second half more than the first. The completely different nature of this ale makes it succeed and I recommend it for anyone experimenting.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 23:28:13 | More by KYGunner

Ranz

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: With about an inch and a half head above a thick, murky brown, this beer pours nicely in my tulip. The head is fairly creamy in texture, and in the right light, the color almost becomes a bit red in hue. Thick lacing in the glass creates a webwork of resilient bubbles.

S: The Anaheim chiles are subtle yet distinct in the nose up front; bready malt, biscuit, and a slight tincture come next. It's a nice, warming, inviting smell, distinct in character yet not showy. I like it.

T: Very, very interesting. Just like in the nose, the chiles make their presence known immediately: it kicks with the carbonation before smoothly transitioning into a nice malt and yeast profile. It does have just the slightest sweetness to it, which is only discernible in the finish marked by an alcoholic medicinal quality. What a unique surprise.

M: For something with such a pronounced spice profile, it's a smooth experience with some nice acidity at the front with a fairly long, boozy finish.

O: Stone never disappoints, and this beer continues that tradition. I only wish that I had bought another and that I had known about this years earlier when the Vertical tradition began. Alas, good beer was not on my radar at that point.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 00:23:50 | More by Ranz

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Big Cinnamon beer, thanks Jason. Spicy, with heat in the finish. Brown with big lace. Interesting but also some astringency. OK drinkability, unique, but perhaps not the best of the vertical series. I would like more chile heat, offset with some brown sugar..

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 05:10:05 | More by northyorksammy

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber brown colour, 1.5 fingers of offwhite head, quite a great deal of lace here as well. Smell is loaded with pepper and spice, cinnamon, malt is there as well, some alcohol and some light belgian yeast influence. Taster is very spicy, chile is there in a big way, some cinnamon with a mid palate malty flavour. Medium carbonation, med-full body, good weight. Interesting stuff but this didn't do it for me, it became more drinkable after about 30 min or so but still mildly put off by this, wouldn't come back to this I dont think.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 14:58:37 | More by peensteen

RockyTopHeel

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich amber colored with a quickly reducing off-white head. Anaheim chilies dominate the nose on this one, as well as the initial taste. The back end is where the cinnamon comes through, followed by a warm, pleasant finish fueled by the high ABV. Unique flavor profile, but really enjoyable for something so off the beaten path -- which speaks to the quality and complexity of the beer. The Belgian-inspired malt profile is an elegant platform for the Anaheim chilies and cinnamon. Not something I'd want every day, but a great change of pace and pretty much perfect for a cold, grey November afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 22:08:15 | More by RockyTopHeel

Chadillac

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

Opened on 11/13/12 shared with a friend and poured into a tulip glass.

Only bought 2 when they came out and didnt drink them so this is my first taste.

Appearance: pours almost a light brownish and cloudy, small amount of light getting though. 1 finger off white head dissapated quickly, some lacing

Aroma: bready, malty, belgiany, sweet smell. not getting much chili or cinnamon in the nose.

Taste: very mild belgian taste, maybe the year of age mellowed it out. Get a hint of spice and clove, Really nice sweetness but not too sweet then folowed by the chili in the back of the mouth and slightly boozy as it warms your chest up a little.

Overall: Great tasting beer, Definitely worth the wait. Lots of complex flavors, almost too rich for my palate to dicipher.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 21:52:00 | More by Chadillac

smerrell

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The appearance is mahogany with a long lasting head. The smell is malty and sweet.unlike many other chili beers that I have had before, the roasted flavors of the chili is what comes out, and (thankfully) not the heat. The Cinnamon is present and adds a nice dimension to this beer. I need to pick up a few more before they disappear - some for now, and some for next year.

EDIT 11/12/2012

served chilled in a snifter, after storing for a year in my fridge

A: a deep amber/mahogany with a slight yellow head

S: Very fragrant - floral and sweet smelling

T: I taste a lot of the fruitiness of the Anaheim chili, and strong cinnamon notes. The finish is bitter and dry.

M: this is well-carbonated, which helps the finish to dissipate quickly.

O: I enjoyed this beer fresh a year ago, and I like it now, however I wouldn't want to drink more than one in an evening. It's nice for something different, but I wouldn't want a ton of it. I find myself pleasantly surprised a the absence of chili heat, which has ruined other chili beers for me in the past. I am happy that I stored a few bottle s of this one, and I still recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 22:27:30 | More by smerrell

starkmarvelo

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Stone Epic Vertical 11.11.11

A- clear ruby in color with a two finger head. Very pretty.

S- smells like hot Tabasco and slight chile fruit. The aroma is dominated by the Anaheim chiles.

T- lots going on here. Slight hint of cinnamon, caramel, burnt sugar, ground coffee, even a bit of cacao some fresh green chile fruit. Bitter finish with a slight cheese aftertaste. Very complex.

M- medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Chile warmth in the back of the throat after a few sips.

O- like I said, there is a lot going on with this beer. At first my palate was bombarded with a bunch of different flavors, but after a while I was able to pick them out. So yeah, still tastes pretty good after a year. Happy Veterans Day!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:05:07 | More by starkmarvelo

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

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

I wish I got another 40 or something because I didnt want to crack this until 11 11 12, just to have it on the 1 year anniversary. But I need a beer and im pretty sure there are two more of these to where I can get at least 1 more. So lets get to it!

A: This epic pours a hazy, light amber/dark orange and has a thin, creamy head with lots of tiny bubbles.

S: I the the initial sense of vanilla or cream, followed by banana, some clove and finishing with some spice.

T: Intense creamy banana and clove at first. I get some of the cinnamon, not as much of the chillies but it does have a little bit of that mild spice. I do get the flavor of some hops in this beer as well.

M: Not a lot of noticeable carbonation, the texture is rich, creamy and slightly bitter. Definitely as sipper of a beer.

O: This is my first epic so I dont know how it compares with previous releases, but overall enjoyed this beer and feel thankful I was able to find it long after its release.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 04:07:17 | More by SouljaSaia17

dfillius

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass on 12/9/11
A: Moderate to aggressive pour yields 1+ finger of tight tan head with great retention. Crystal clear crimson-brown liquid is pretty!
S: Strong banana and clove. Some citrus, cream, slight cinnamon. Quite malty.
T: Hot pepper up front and throughout, but not hot per se. Cinnamon is there too. Chocolate at the end. Sweetness is there up front too and lasts. Odd and jumbled in the first two sips. It comes together better after that, but the pepper (I think) stays kind of weird and vegetal in the aftertaste. A major detractor. Maybe less hops would be better? I had this one alone and when I poured m second glass, the flavor coherence increased. Seems similar to a dubbel more so than a pale. A chili-dubbel?
M: Slightly spicy. Thick, almost chewy. Sweet and unpleasantly tangy.
O: Decent, I wouldn't buy again though. Not coherent enough or adherent to a particular idea. Jumbled, but it finally settled on a chili-dubbel in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 00:10:02 | More by dfillius

JayQue

Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one didn't do it for me. Poured into my Chimay goblet a clear orange/copper color with a small off white, fast fading head. No lacing.

Smell is cinnamon, spices (pepper) and sweet malt/caramel malt. Not bad.

Didn't care for the taste. The combination of chiles and cinnamon resulted in a strong medicinal taste, kind of like a mild version of Alvinne Balthazar (which I really dislike). Before the beer warms up, the medicinal taste and sweetness are really too strong. As the beer warms up, the cinnamon is more pronounce than the chiles and the medicinal taste is greatly reduced as is the sweetness, Still a little bitter medicin-y stab

Mouthfeel is rich enough. There is a little warming alcohol presence but it is not too much.

Overall there are muich better Strong Pale Ales out there. This is unusual but not that great a drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:11:00 | More by JayQue

KajII

North Carolina

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

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a murky dark amber brown with a large (2-3 finger) light brown foamy head that reduced to a few puddles and a large collar with good sticky lacing.

The aroma was of roasted caramel malts and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of chocolate, toffee, cinnamon, chili's, dried fruit (raisons and figs) and a mild alcohol tinge.

The taste was malty sweet and a bit acidic with a note of caramel and a touch of cinnamon and chocolate early on, and then progressed with a seriously bold maltiness that had hints of toffee, dried fruit and a light spicy alcohol finish. The flavor lasted for a good long while with a slightly spicy sweet warming sensation, which hit you right in the back of the throat.

Mouthfeel was a solid medium in body and dry in texture with a somewhat mild carbonation.

Overall this was a very interesting brew, lots of complexity with the flavors in this one. That being said, they all seemed to work extremely well together, making this a very enjoyable drinking experience...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 16:41:32 | More by KajII

WMEugene

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev -21%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Orangish Brown color with a thin ring of slightly off-white head and a little lacing. A little thin looking.

S - Chiles, Cinnamon, Dark fruits, Raisins, and a little bit of booziness.

T - A lot like the nose: Chiles, Cinnamon, and a large bit of raisiny flavor. A bit of a caramel taste to it. Sort of a traditional, unexciting and rather average darker belgian ale after you get past the unique chile/cinnamon flavors.

M - A little on the thinnish side, ok carbonation. A little bit on the spicy side in the finish.

O - Maybe I should have waited to 12/12/12, I was rather unimpressed by this offering and thought it was rather bland. The chiles were an interesting idea, but the execution was rather eh. Not a bad beer, but I definitely struggled to finish the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 02:48:26 | More by WMEugene

vfgccp

New York

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

6 month old bottle.

A - Nice light khaki head with a relatively loose bubble.  Nice lace and retention.  Beautiful maple amber body.

S - Bright booze highlights white raisin, banana, ancho chili, and a touch of cinnamon.

T - Sweet yellow raisins, caramel malt, and banana open for a stellar ancho chili and cinnamon center.  Herbal and green pepper hops roll deep into the finish.

M - Smooth, medium body with a nice lazy lingering finish.

O - A surprising flavor profile that winds up working extremely well.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 02:08:21 | More by vfgccp

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

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

A-dark cloudy amber with a nice cream colored head

S-some Belgian pale malts and some chili peppers. Some vanilla in it too.

T-comes in with a taste of bitter Belgian pale malts and just a hint of chili peppers. It's not a spicy taste at all. This is just okay. Matching after-taste

Medium carbonation with a semi dry finish

O-I had this on tap a year ago and I remember it being awesome. This here now is just blah. It's not terrible. Its just unique but not exactly easy drinking. I think it would've been better had they focused more on the pepper flavor than a belgianesque ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 02:32:36 | More by AdamBear

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22 ounce bottle into tulip glass. We're close enough to 12.12.12, right?

A: Slow pour results in thick foamy 4 finger head which slowly subsides to moderate lacing and a cap. Beer is a brownish-crimson.

S: Just incredible. Sweet malts, lots of cinnamon and other spices, and chili peppers.

T: A lot of sweet malt, some spice, and the finish is all chili peppers. Can't feel alcohol heat despite high ABV or it is synced well with the peppers. Either way, it works. Complexity not terrifically evident with all the spices involved.

M: Definitely full-bodied, syrupy, and with heat, so while it's great for what it is, the drinkability is reduced. Keep that in mind, as finishing this in one sitting turns out to be a bit of a chore.

O: As this is the first of the series I've had, I'm drinking this without relation to the previous 9 offerings. I like it for what it is and recommend sharing rather than trying to go it alone.

I have another one aging, but don't expect it to be much different post 12.12.12 than it is now.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 20:35:35 | More by IvoryFoxhole

adamette

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Live review. Poured from the 22 oz. bomber that I bought on 11 11 11 at Save-On Tobacco & Beverage in Mentor for $8.99 into a clean, clear glass and cellared in the bottom of my fridge until now. I was trying to hold out until the recommended date of 11 11 12 but I wanted this review to be my number 1,111 for obvious reasons. Hmm…”Ale Brewed with Anaheim Chiles and Cinnamon” stamped on the side of the bottle. Sounds interesting! A special mention to my nephew Michael whose 22nd birthday was 11.11.11!

A Big, creamy and very “Stone” head that lingers satisfyingly for a while atop a dark amber or even red copper body that is translucent. Good look. 4.0

S Chiles are in the front for me. I get some cinnamon in the distance and no alcohol in the smell for me despite the healthy 9.4% ABV mentioned on the label. Nothing if not an interesting, uncommon smell to a beer. 4.0

T The chiles and cinnamon are there in the proportions that I smelled but then there is a significant wash of medium roast malt, sweet nectar goodness that washes over with every sip. This is an exceptionally good tasting beer with plenty going on to keep one’s interest up. 4.5

M Moderately thick with that syrupy malt goodness and the heat from the chiles. There may also be some “heat” from the alcohol but it is not obvious, eclipsed by the other strong tastes going on. This is an exceptional feel. 4.5

D/O Drinkability is not that good. I will finish the bomber but this is one big beer and I do not believe that I would want more in an evening. Overall this is an excellent beer, a real asset to the Vertical Epic Series and possibly one of my favorite. 4.0

Notes: Congratulations to Stone for producing yet another winner in the series of Vertical Epics and for allowing me to complete review number 1111!

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 02:54:41 | More by adamette

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy copper-orange with a finger of frothy tannish head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel malts with some candi sugar, chilies, cinnamon, Belgian yeast, some other spices, a touch of citrus, and some booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet bready caramel malts with some candi syrup and some hot pepper. Through the middle, some cinnamon and Belgian yeast flavors come through with a bit of citrus. The finish is a mix of hot chili, cinnamon, candi syrup, Belgain yeast, and a bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a hot, sweet, and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balance of flavors with the chili heat providing a unique complexity to the BSPA style.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 05:27:36 | More by ngeunit1

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a short dense off-white head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, Belgian yeast, cinnamon and chilies as advertised and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with the odd but complementary combination of the cinnamon and chilies with a mild sweetness. Then a hearty malt character and Belgian yeast breadiness comes in. the hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Flavorful, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good variation of style, it’s a good beer to drink for a while if you’re looking for something different.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:24:14 | More by TheManiacalOne

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Van Ness BevMo in San Francisco.

Pours a very hazy brownish amber hue, with a bubbly, but fine and slightly filmy head of off-white. Body is loose and liquid, yet with a decent heft to it. Carbonation is fine. Looks pretty decent.

Nose is piquant, with a fresh, fruity and spicy chilli note giving a capisicain bite. It's as though this takes the place of the hops, giving the leavening, vegetative freshness to counterbalance the malt, which comes forward in brown waves. Interesting.

Taste is a little sharp and phenolic, but with far less chilli flavour or heat than I expected. That's a good thing: it cements this as a stylistically different beer. It comes across as a big, bitey Belgian, with the concomitant phenols, booze and spice, but with continuing tingles of fruity chilli just giving a tingle of interest around the edges.

Feel is piquant, with some fine carbonation that accentuates some of the chilli notes.

Very, very interesting brew, and one which has been made with considerable skill to keep everything in check. Perhaps one of the more interesting of the Vertical Epics I've sampled.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 23:28:42 | More by lacqueredmouse

rodkin

Missouri

2.43/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours pretty dark for a pale ale. Deep reddish, amber kind of color, with about a 2.5 finger head, which reduces but doesn't disappear entirely.

Smell is banana, clove, spice, a kind of bready character. Interesting and complex, but gets points more for being interesting than smelling good, necessarily.

Taste is pretty unpleasant. It's like the smell, but it seems off, somehow. It's got a pretty bizarre aftertaste of slightly bitter, overripe chili, which doesn't really go well with the banana spice character. Aftertaste is hard to put a name to, but it's pretty foul and it lingers. Kind of reminds me of cough medicine from when I was a kid.

Mouthfeel is okay, kind of thin and carbonated, but it coats the mouth a bit and leaves that taste just swirling around.

Didn't like this at all. Pretty disappointed, as all my experiences with chili in beer so far have been great, but this was definitely a miss.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 05:05:28 | More by rodkin

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a coppery, deep amber tone with ruby highlights while yielding a relatively short lived finger and a half beige head. the head leaves a little to be desired but still a beautiful looking beer. nice, aromatic nose offers clear notes of cinnamon and chiles along with a strong belgian yeast presence. secondary notes of banana and clove.

flavor is interesting. my first impulse is that i don't think it's for me, but after a few sips i seem to warm up to it more. more or less follows the aroma: chilies, cinnamon, banana, Belgian yeast... definitely a lot going on. a bit medicinal. medium-bodied on the palate with average carbonation.

overall i think it's a unique and relatively tasty beer. not out-of-this-world delicious but a nice change of pace.

(originally reviewed: 11-13-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 21:15:08 | More by BostonHops

GlassHalfFull

3.05/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The 2011 Vertical doesn't stand up to offerings such as the 2009. Fiery amber color with a slight yellow tint. Great lacing and perfect foamy head. But, the nose is very banana-ish with an almost floral bite. I admit, I'm not a huge Belgian fan. This beer really reminds me of a lot of the attributes I don't like in Belgian beers. The banana notes give way to a strong chili taste with slight hints of cinnamon. One would think that so many different ingredients would provide a complex, interesting taste. Yet, the beer comes up short and unimpressive. Even the banana quickly fades to a thin, dull, starchy mouthfeel. The carbonation is also a bit much for this beer. I expected a lot after the previous offerings, but this one came up short.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 01:07:52 | More by GlassHalfFull

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Vertical Epic 2011 poured a hazy rust color with a off-white head that demonstrated some lacing. The aroma was like walking into the produce section of the grocery store, very organic. I suspect this might be the result of all the strange ingredients tossed into his one. The first taste was a sour banana, almost candy-like. This is accompanied by the spice of the Anahiem chilies and cinnamon. These qualities give a interesting ripple to the Belgian yeasts. The aftertaste continues the sour banana with the spices fading. Because this is a little thin, the flavors do not last as long as I would like. Still, this is a very pleasant drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 23:34:15 | More by JohnnyHopps

Intrinsic

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I found this beer by chance in the liquor store and boy am I ever glad I did. It`s absolutely gorgeous - a crimson reddish brown with an incredibly creamy head that lasts forever. Streams of carbonation run up the sides of my mug like an inverted waterfall.
The smell is very intense, giving you a hint of what`s to come in the taste - CHILIES. It`s such an unexpected smell in a beer that I have trouble smelling anything else but it`s absolutely amazing. The cinammon comes through in the flavour much more than in the smell. What an epic combination. Chilies and cinnamon. Unbelievable. Mouthfeel is a little oily but tolerable. I`m so disappointed that the Quebec government won`t let anyone import beer from the States, otherwise I`d be buying this again and again. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 02:27:39 | More by Intrinsic