Stone Brewing is no stranger to this blog. I've previously reviewed Imperial Russian Stout, Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine Style, and Double Bastard Ale. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be going back down to Stone and I'll be able to post about their brewery tour.
Stone has an "Epic" series of beer, meaning these are released a year, a month, and a day apart. It started with 02/02/02, 03/03/03, etc. The recipes for these beers are available on their website so you can brew it at home. The idea is that you age them until after 12/12/12 and then drink all of them in a line -- a "vertical" tasting if you will. Cool idea, but that's some dedication to Stone if you can wait that many years to drink a beer; plus you have to cellar the beer at 55 degrees or below in order for it to keep that long.
Now the beer: 11.11.11 Vertical Epic. It's one very unique beer -- brewed with Anaheim chilies from New Mexico, whole cinnamon sticks, and Belgian Flanders Golden Ale yeast. Even the color is a little different with a dark-hazy-brown-amber. This beer has a thick heavy body and taste and is strong at 9.4% ABV. It's malty with that unique pepper sourness that is only found in beers brewed with chilies. The cinnamon adds a different kind of spiciness that complements both the Anaheim chilies and the malts. The yeast adds a little bit of banana flavor (not really my favorite). It's hard to describe because it is so different and doesn't really compare to any one style.
This beer is very interesting, but it's not a beer that I'd care to drink again. Maybe that's why they only brew this edition once a year? In any case, the tradition is cool and it's neat that they keep the tradition alive.
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