Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale – The Review

From Stone – Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale is NOT your typical chili beer!” explains Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “The famous mild green chilies from the Hatch Valley in New Mexico add layers of delicious flavor with a very mild heat component. And the cinnamon doesn’t dominate the beer’s flavor by any means, instead adding a subtly complex spice note that blends amazingly well with the Hatch chilies and the banana esters present from the yeast.

Stone Brewing – Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale – 22 oz. bottle poured into VE specialty glassware. 9.4% abv.

Appearance: Pours a dark red. With a quick pour, you get a light tan foamy head that fades to nothing. Fairly clear after it settles.

Aroma: Big red(gum) from the Belgian yeast and cinnamon. At first I smelled straight up bubble gum, but as it warmed, the cinnamon intersected. A little bit of  clove too.

Taste: Bitter earthy cinnamon, burnt crust and dominating fruity spicy belgian yeast. Very dry. Oily pepper essence in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel:  Lively prickly bubbles. Full bodied.

Overall:  Never had a beer like this beer before.  I happened to have made a pan of gingerbread cake, and I’ll tell you, it was an accidental perfect pairing.  Is this a beer you would want multiple glasses of? Probably not, but it is for sure a standout beer that will have you smelling, thinking and talking.