Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale (Red Wine Barrel Aged) - Stone Brewing Co.

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-27-2013 00:45:22 | More by Rifugium

vfgccp

New York

4.41/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Beautiful looking beer. Clear, bold mahogany amber body. Nice head with moderate retention. Very nice lace.

S - First smell is a bold sour grape with a nice sweet middle. Aroma is more reminiscent of white wine rather than red. Notes of fresh peppers on the back end with white oak.

T- Wow. Soft oak and lightly sour backbone. Caramel, tannins, cinnamon, and ancho overtones.

M - Smooth, medium body.

O - Awesome balance and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 03:35:59 | More by vfgccp

DeanMoriarty

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

06-13-2013 16:30:03 | More by DeanMoriarty

SadMachine

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9%

06-10-2013 15:53:33 | More by SadMachine

savagepm

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

06-07-2013 22:41:34 | More by savagepm

Ant4711

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

06-06-2013 15:47:20 | More by Ant4711

Amp

Oklahoma

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

06-04-2013 00:48:30 | More by Amp

claspada

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-26-2013 17:02:29 | More by claspada

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-16-2013 04:14:22 | More by GRG1313

Hopstout

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-13-2013 03:18:19 | More by Hopstout

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

05-05-2013 12:00:15 | More by Gonzoillini

Nightrain87

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-02-2013 18:03:21 | More by Nightrain87

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-29-2013 18:04:18 | More by FliryVorru

BAsbill

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-10-2013 22:12:19 | More by BAsbill

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

04-09-2013 16:50:45 | More by t0rin0

Trilogy31

California

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

04-05-2013 01:40:15 | More by Trilogy31

kojevergas

California

3.05/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Almost gagged in disgust reading the pretentious description on this one. Ah, Stone - congratulations, you've succeeded in matching your desired market image. You are indeed a bunch of arrogant bastards - only there's no hint of cheeky self awareness in the actuality of the situation. Why then, did I buy this beer? Because I respect anyone who creates for a living and Every Beer Gets A Chance. 500ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Acquired within the last couple months at a local SoCal beer store. Bottle conditioned. ABV is 10.6% according to my bottle. "Ale brewed with Anaheim Chilies & Cinnamon Aged in Red Wine Barrels."

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

No satisfying pop upon removal of the cork. Just a weak-ass "psh."

A: Pours a 3.5 finger beige-light khaki colour head of nice cream and thickness and quite good (9+ minute) retention for the high ABV. No real lacing as the head recedes. Overall, I'm rather impressed with the head. Body colour is a terribly ugly caramel-light brown colour; that's one of the worst body colours I've observed in the last year. Wow, that's unappealing. No yeast particles are visible because it's nontransparent and opaque. No bubble show. Dig the head, despise the body.

Sm: Surprisingly not terrible. Light tart sour character. Light hints of lacto. Cinnamon and earthy hops. White grapeskin; I'm actually confused - why are the dominant wine notes redolent of white wine rather than red wine? Caramel. Stale cereals/grains. I dig the light sour aromatics, but the rest is underwhelming. A mess of an aroma, but not necessarily a bad one. Deeply buried orange rind when I look for it. Not getting any chili peppers from the aroma. A mild strength aroma overall.

T: Hm. It's a mess - in classic Stone fashion. There's just no balance or even seemingly any attempt to balance the flavours. I get light sourness, which lacks flavour depth or interest. Murky caramel, earthy hops, and biscuit malt. Bland cinnamon. I'm not getting any chili pepper at all; however they handled the peppers, the execution is poor. Nutmeg spice. Some other unwelcome spices. I get some grapeskin, but it's mainly suggestive of white wine grapes, not red wine. I get no red wine notes at all, really. The red wine barrel aging was poorly handled. Lacks creamy character. I can't emphasize the lack of balance and cohesion enough; it feels like a mess of random flavours jumbled together, not a masterfully brewed and balanced beer. What did I expect from Stone? Built okay, I guess. Why is this classified as a chili beer?

Mf: Smooth and wet. Lightly acidic. Overcarbonated. Way too much body. Too thick. Bad presence on the palate. Doesn't feel at all tailored to the flavour profile, nor is it all that complementary. Lacks deliberation. I'm unimpressed. Thank God it's not watery.

Dr: Stone once again makes me question why I keep buying their beers. I want to like them as much as others seem to, but the quality just isn't there. And it's overpriced as hell, even in L.A. Why is this brewery so well regarded? This is a poorly executed barrel aged beer, and a missed opportunity - and if it's supposed to be a chili beer, it's crap - frankly. A mess of a beer in a gimmicky-as-hell series. This one should be skipped, especially at its ridiculous price point. Why did I buy this? What's wrong with me?

Low C+

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 05:18:30 | More by kojevergas

Rich540

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-18-2013 04:41:53 | More by Rich540

Joshpu

California

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

03-17-2013 02:06:54 | More by Joshpu

Ferd577

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-26-2013 18:23:18 | More by Ferd577

Therisse

California

3/5  rDev -23.1%

02-26-2013 17:59:01 | More by Therisse

Holland

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-25-2013 17:19:40 | More by Holland

abex44

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

02-24-2013 02:25:43 | More by abex44

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

02-18-2013 21:10:13 | More by DIPAFAN

Jree261

California

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

01-31-2013 00:26:33 | More by Jree261