November is getting every so close, signaling the next to last release of Stone Brewing’s Vertical Epic Series. This year’s edition Stone calls a “non-sequitur” – due to the list of ingredients in 11.11.11. Chilies, Cinnamon Sticks, Flanders yeast. For those non-beer geeky folk, that’s like ketchup, green beans & vanilla ice cream. Well, sort of.
Anaheim chilies are fairly mild. The seeds were brought to Anaheim in the 1900’s, and the name stuck. Cinnamon sticks – self explanatory. The yeast? Bananas baby. So on 11.11.11 you’ll be drinking a spicy, cinnamon banana. Maybe not so ketchup & ice cream.
As with any good epic, herein lies the promise of a larger-than-life experiences, heroics and twists & turns as the adventure unfolds. This bottle conditioned ale is chapter ten, and is specifically designed to be aged until sometime after December 12th, 2012. Provided you can wait that long. At that time, enjoy it in a “vertical” tasting along with its ten Stone Vertical Epic Ale brethren. Each one unique to the year of it’s release. Each with its own “twist & turn” in the plot line. Each one released one year, one month and one day from the previous year’s edition.
This year’s Stone Vertical Epic Ale might justifiably be considered the non sequitur edition. We somehow came to the conclusion that adding Anaheim chilies from New Mexico’s Hatch Valley, plus whole cinnamon sticks, to an amber-hued brew fermented with Belgian Flanders Golden Ale yeast (which provides fairly intense character with lots of clove & banana overtones) would create a very tasty result. And we believe it does! The Anaheim chili is know for it’s rich flavor more than endorphin-inducing heat, and the cinnamon adds a nice twist… part of the promise behind the Vertical Epic Ale series itself. As with any epic remember that it’s not just the destination, but the journey!
Style: Chili Beer (guessing.)
Availability: 22oz bombers, Draft
Release: 11/11/11
8.9% ABV
