~ Seventh Tasting ~
August 30th, 2005
(3 Years, 6 Months, 28 Days)
Click on a photo for Tasting Notes

Steve Wagner President & Brewmaster	Lee Chase Head Brewer	Greg Koch Chairman & CEO

Arlan Arnsten Vice President of Sales	Chris Cochran Marketing & Promotions	Guest Taster: Matt Hanna Stone Fan

('03 Vertical Epic also tasted during this session)

Steve Wagner President & Brewmaster Appearance: Good clarity, golden color, not much head. Aroma: Spices still prominent, alcohol. Flavor: Crisp wheat, malt flavors, peppery with coriander, still spicy but mellowing nicely. Palate: More carbonation would be nice for lightening it on the palate. Overall: Starting to come into its own, as spices mellow the balance improves. Should get even better.

Lee Chase Head Brewer Appearance: Pours clear – same straw color. Aroma: Spicy coriander, apricot, jam aromas. Flavor: Very fruity, apricot, (plus another fruit I can’t place, maybe plum), Belgian, not such a spicy attack. As earlier samples – delicious, if I do say so myself. Bitterness is present in long finish. Palate: Soft, light color bite, very drinkable.

Greg Koch Chairman & CEO Appearance: Lightly hazy golden. Aroma: Muted a bit from what I last recall. Flavor: Spiciness is substantially muted. Tastes bright. Palate: Low carbonation, extremely drinkable. Complexity has diminished. Overall: Mellowed. I preferred it spicier and more aggressive (no surprise there!), yet there is little to complain about in the flavor.

Arlan Arnsten Vice President of Sales Appearance: Clear golden color, low white head. Aroma: Malt character – fruity and spicy nose. Flavor: Crisp malt flavor, low hop aroma and light hop bitterness – spiciness muted. Palate: Medium mouth full, bigger than expected. Overall: “Crisp and clean – no caffeine” – fresh and tasty. Malt stronger than spiciness but still good for today and tomorrow.

Chris Cochran Marketing & Promotions Appearance: Bright golden yellowy straw color: hazy after the yeast was swirled. Nice CO2 bubbles. Aroma: Mild spice, mild yeast-doughy maybe, and fruit like too. A little hint of grass-like character. Not much hop character. Flavor: Spices seem to be mellowing and meshing. The actual hoppiness is diminishing, but that fruity character is there. Palate: Smooth, medium body, wraps around the tongue nicely with excellent lingering spiciness. Overall: It used to be REALLY spicy, but that is mellowing. Tastes really fresh and super drinkable now.

Guest Taster: Matt Hanna Stone fan. Appearance: Clear, nice color, on lighter side. Aroma: Nice aroma, smooth, very slight hop aroma. Flavor: Excellent taste – smooth and very drinkable. Palate: Nice and smooth. Overall: Great taste, mellow – not very spicy or hoppy.