Stone Vertical Epic is a yearly beer released on the day month and year of that year. At first I was pretty excited about the thought of getting all the releases and trying them all in a vertical tasting. Last years beer was a little bit of let down and this years release was even worse.
At some point Greg Koch is going to have to spend more time creating tasty beers and not so much time writing novels on the back of the bottles. Greg you are not Sam, I don't know why you think you are. Do what you do best add hops to the boil and call it a night. I don't really know if they actually did a pilot batch before they brewed this, but I am astonished they bottled it and I am even more amazed I paid for it.
Stone Vertical 11 pours out amber with a white head. Aroma of chocolate and spice. Taste is dark malt, dirt and I guess spice. Overall I didn't like this beer. It had no balance and no real beer flavor. The only beer like thing was the bottle it came in. I would not recommend this beer to anyone.
Sorry I am sure there are a few people out there that did like this beer or are Stone fans and liked it because it said Stone on the bottle. I usually try not to hate on craft beer, but I know Stone won't be hurting from this mini critique, but I do suggest they try something new. That something new should be creating craft beer that tastes good. Sometimes pushing the envelope is a good thing and sometimes just creating something good is a good thing.
Till next year.
