10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Series: Vertical Epic

• ABV: 9.5%

  Size: 22 oz bottle

  Website: http://www.stonebrew.com

Brewed with “Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes and chamomile”? Could be interesting.

Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale pours golden amber/white with a quickly dissipating head. Minimalistic lacing. Notes of spice, orange zest, and white grape up front. Flat, no discernible carbonation, but a pleasant, white wine-like, warm mouthfeel. Floral and perfumed, suggesting Belgian yeasts and grapes–reminds me of a guy from a writing group, had a routine, “Why don’t you ever talk about wine in terms of grapes?”, kill-’em-dead funny. Sweet finish, with just a little back-of-throat burn. Very drinkable, but I feel a little weird about the whole grape thing. Ranks well in Stone’s Vertical Epic canon.