Vertical Epic 10.10.10

Vertical Epic 10.10.10
Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA

Available: AK, AZ, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, DC, WA

The Vertical Epic series began in 2002 with the release of 02.02.02. Each beer is released one year, one month and one day from the previous year’s beer. The final installments will be released on 11/11/11 and 12/12/12. Brewed with muscat, gewurtztraminer and sauvignon blanc grapes, and chamomile.

ABV: 9.5
ABW: 7.6
Color: 8.5
Bitterness: 33
Original gravity: 1073

Stone makes whatever they want of these Epics, so I deliberately didn’t look at what this was supposed to be. The nose said tripel, as did the eye (though I couldn’t raise any lasting foam). Closer in, I got dry, flowery scents, then the mouth was spicy and white wine-like, and the body was summery quick. That’s the twist: there’s chamomile and grapes in this. A grapesaisontripel? Whatever: get me some Brie and dried fruit, and a sunny autumn afternoon!
- Lew Bryson

The idea of a beer from Stone, the Big Hops Guys, flavored with chamomile and white wine grapes almost beggars belief. But here it is, a hazy golden ale with an aroma that seems decidedly un-Stone-like, featuring soft florals, round, tropical fruitiness and notes of vanilla. Up front, the gentle approach continues with a borderline herbaceous fruitiness accenting a genuinely wine-like character, leading to a more austere and faintly hoppy middle and satisfyingly warming, almost spruce-like finish. A bold move for Stone, and a very successful one.
- Stephen Beaumont

Lew Bryson
Lew Bryson writes about beer and whiskey from his home in southeast Pennsylvania. He has a family and two dogs. That's all you need to know.

Stephen Beaumont
Once described as “beerdom's Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel, and how it all goes together.

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