05.05.05

~ Fourth Tasting ~
May 3rd, 2007 (2 Years)
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, dark amber/brown, with a tan head.
AROMA:
Subtle fruity notes and slightly phenolic.
FLAVOR:
Complex sweetness at beginning, dark malt – brown sugar flavors but dries out nicely in the finish…many layers.
PALATE:
Full bodied and chewy with good carbonation.
OVERALL:
More age will dry it out a bit and continue to improve.



Mitch Steele
Head Brewer
APPEARANCE:
Brown with a nice clarity.
AROMA:
Dried fruit, spicy – cloves, and roasted malt.
FLAVOR:
Malty, roasted, syrupy, with dried fruit (raisins), hints of anise, and some chocolate/cocoa notes.
PALATE:
Malty, still a little hot, very rich and smooth in the middle.
OVERALL:
Excellent…very tasty!



Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
APPEARANCE:
Light roasted brown…
AROMA:
Roasty with some alcohol.
FLAVOR:
Roasty (see a pattern?) with a late bitterness.
PALATE:
[nothing written]
OVERALL:
Not my favorite of the Epic series. Holding up just fine so far though!



Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
APPEARANCE:
Nice amber-brown color, very clear and bright, but very little head on my pour.
AROMA:
Very muted aroma, but coming out as it warms…dried fruit (plums and raisins), caramel, malt, and toffee.
FLAVOR:
More dried fruit…like a liquid fruitcake but WAY better!
PALATE:
Medium body, nice and smooth with a great lingering taste of nuts and fruit.
OVERALL:
Big flavor and complex…aroma is a little lackluster but aging well at this point.



Arlan Arnsten
Vice President of Sales
APPEARANCE:
Deep brown with a thin tan head.
AROMA:
Caramel and malt.
FLAVOR:
Big, big, big malt flavor and fruitiness…highlighted by banana flavors
PALATE:
The slight aroma was disguising the huge mouthfeel and flavors that hit you and this beer also has a big sweet finish, but surprisingly not cloying.
OVERALL:
I love this beer…but it could be trouble…

 


Tom Garcia
Brewer
APPEARANCE:
Deep copper/brown
AROMA:
Dried fruit (cherries), touch of phenols, caramel, and brown sugar.
FLAVOR:
Dried cherries, roasted coffee, candy sugar, and alcohol.
PALATE:
Full bodied, good CO2, drying on the finish.
OVERALL:
Great!

 

Tastings from this session:
Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale (3 Years, 1 Month)
2006 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine (1 Year, 3 Months)