10-10-10 Vertical Epic (Stone)

This ale is part of the Vertical Epic Series that was started in 2002. No, I could not even close to wait to try this. I have the 2009. I bought one bottle to try now, and one to save. This is an interesting twist on beer. It is fermented with Chamomile leaves and three types of grapes: Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc.

From the Stone site:

"Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale is mighty tasty right out of the gate. Fermented with the legendary Ardennes strain of Belgian yeast, 10.10.10 is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale brewed with pale malt and triticale (a cross of wheat and rye), hopped with German Perle hops, and steeped with chamomile during the whirlpool stage. In secondary fermentation, we added a juice blend of Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties. The wine grapes came from Temecula’s South Coast Winery, located about 30 miles north of our brewery.

The juice and beer blend fermented with surprising vigor to produce a dry, complex, full-bodied beer brimming with floral, fruity aromas. The beer cannot be described as “grapey” or “herbal,” as neither the juice nor the chamomile overwhelm the Belgian yeast character; in fact, identifying the ingredients would be a challenge for even the most astute nose. The constituent parts instead impart layer upon layer of nuance and flavor, with the result being a highly drinkable and royally delicious Belgian-style beer.

Having tasted the beer and liked it immensely, the vintner’s at South Coast informed us that the wine character will develop with age, making 10.10.10 the perfect candidate for a little over two years of cellaring (how convenient!)"

General Thoughts: A very nice pour with a little head. It was a light gold pour. Light flowery almost honey smell, a Belgian smell. A smooth drink. The hops taste was very light. It was surprisingly sour for containing such sweet grapes.  The sides of my tongue were going nuts, now looking at a tongue map (yes they have them), that's the sour zone.