Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale : Fifth Tasting Notes 05.03.07

04.04.04

~ Fifth Tasting ~
May 3rd, 2007 (3 Years, 1 Month)
Click on a photo for Tasting Notes

Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster

Mitch Steele
Head Brewer

Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO

Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions

Arlan Arnsten
Vice President of Sales

Tom Garcia
Brewer

Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster

APPEARANCE:
Clear and golden, with a nice white head.

AROMA:
Spices and yeasty notes.

FLAVOR:
Almost bready malt character, well balanced with spice, some lime, and alcohol. Also sweet but not cloying.

PALATE:
Good carbonation. Light and refreshing on the tongue, but substantial body and lingering refreshing finish.

OVERALL:
Very drinkable now!

Mitch Steele
Head Brewer

APPEARANCE:
Golden, slight haze, and decent foam.

AROMA:
Belgian yeast, clove notes, and citrus…very pungent.

FLAVOR:
Sharp citrus/lime, nice clove, some banana, and other fruits.

PALATE:
Slightly sharp (at the start), but smooth and a trace of bitterness on the end.

OVERALL:
Holding up exceptionally well. The lime/citrus flavors are still outstanding.

Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO

APPEARANCE:
Clear, deep gold --- no haze since I got the first pour from the bottle.

AROMA:
I get honey from the nose. Really smells good…hops too.

FLAVOR:
Sweet, yet not cloying. Modest body, and really tasty! Lots going on…some clove…

PALATE:
Finishes really lightly on the palate for the sweetness you get while drinking.

OVERALL:
I am digging this.

Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions

APPEARANCE:
Straw-like/golden yellow, very clear with a decent white head, that seemed to dissipate quickly.

AROMA:
Clove, spices, banana, bubblegum, citrus, and honey.

FLAVOR:
More spices, malt, citrus, and a hint of hop bitterness on the backend.

PALATE:
Lingering sweetness, notes of honey, hints of alcohol (warming).

OVERALL:
Amazing and aging VERY well at this point!

Arlan Arnsten
Vice President of Sales

APPEARANCE:
Bright golden color – crystal clear – with a tight white head that reduced quickly.

AROMA:
Notes of straw and malts – no noticeable hop aroma at all.

FLAVOR:
Malt and clove. Lime flavor has gone away, but still relatively spicy.

PALATE:
Good carbonation, medium fullness to the body with a slight hint of alcohol. Still bright after 3 years!

OVERALL:
Holding up nicely but changing a bit over time…still tastes fresh!

Tom Garcia
Brewer

APPEARANCE:
Clear, straw-like and slight turbid after the final pour.

AROMA:
Hints of lemon, citrus, clove, and a touch of banana.

FLAVOR:
A touch of honey, more lemon, clove and citrus, some alcohol notes and a slightly astringent.

PALATE:
Dry with a malt body.

OVERALL:
Great…almost no oxidation evident.