~ Eighth Tasting ~
February 2nd, 2007
(3 Years, 11 Months)
Click on a photo for Tasting Notes
Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster
Mitch Steele
Head Brewer
Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
Tom Garcia
Brewer
Art Hogarth
eBay Auction Winner From AZ
('02 Vertical Epic also tasted during this session)





Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster
Appearance:
Nice dark amber with a whitish head.
Aroma:
Great blend of spice, yeast, and dark malts in the nose.
Flavor:

Really dominated by complex chocolate, dark malt, and wheat flavors. Delicious! Wheat tartness and dryness keeps it from being cloying.
Palate:
Medium to full bodied, and an outstanding long finish.
Overall:
Not sure how this one can get better!





Mitch Steele
Head Brewer
Appearance:
Nice amber color, a bit hazy, and a tan head.
Aroma:
Really fruity (dried fruit), a touch of vanilla/bourbon and clove spice along with some moderate graininess.
Flavor:

Raisins, some grain, more caramel type flavors, clove spice (very moderate), and other spices (pepper). Somewhat sweet in the middle and dry on the end with some alcohol notes.
Palate:
Full, trace astringent, and moderate bitterness with a nice level of sweetness.
Overall:

Nice balance and complexity, but starting to show a little age. Extremely delicious!




Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
Appearance:
Caramelized toffee color and slightly hazy.
Aroma:
Madera or Tokay in the nose…and brown sugar.
Flavor:
Toffee, Belgian spiciness, and roasty. 
Palate:
Fairly light body compared to what I recall (admittedly I didn’t review my past tasting notes coming in today).
Overall:
Lacks that amazing complexity of the VE 02, but not fair to directly compare as it is a completely different beer.




Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
Appearance:
Brownish amber, bright but with a slight haze, and a decent tan head.
Aroma:
Malts, burnt sugars, fruit, with hints of wheat and caramel.
Flavor:
Sweet, with notes of yeast, fruit, and malt, but the spice character does not seem that prevalent to me.
Palate:
Medium to full body, pleasant on the tongue, and a little dry however the flavors do not seem to linger much (well as much as the 02.02.02 version).
Overall:
A great and delicious beer!




Tom Garcia
Brewer
Appearance:
Copper to brown with a moderate haze.
Aroma:
Raw sugar, touch of port wine, and grains of paradise.
Flavor:

More raw sugar with brandy notes, slight roasted coffee, hints of toffee and dried cherries.

Palate:
Full, deep malt flavors and nice CO2.
Overall:
I love it and want more!


Art Hogarth
eBay Auction Winner From AZ
Appearance:
Coppery caramel color.
Aroma:
Almost no aroma for me…a very mild malty odor.
Flavor:

Light, sweet, sugary, with a nice blend of malty flavors. Touch of fruit?

Palate:
Light sweetness, full bodied and rich.
Overall:
I am loving this! Not too sweet or over the top…just well rounded. 



Tastings from this session:

Stone 02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale (5 Years)
2004 Stone Double Bastard Ale (1 Year)
2005 Double Bastard Ale