Stone releases this year’s Epic: 09.09.09

Beginning with the first release in 02.02.02, the Stone Brewing Co’s Vertical Epic Ale series is an eleven-year endeavor with each new edition released one year, one month, and one day after the previous years, culminating in a truly Epic Vertical tasting on 12.12.12.
 
The eighth installment in the Belgian-inspired Vertical Epic Ale series, Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale, is a Belgian porter brewed with dark candy sugar, chocolate malt, tangerine peel, vanilla beans, and aged on French oak.
 
The last few Stone Vertical Epic Ales have been golden in color, but this year’s ale is a dark Belgian Porter, and instead of using American hops such as in last year’s, Stone used two German hop varieties: Perle and Magnum.
 
Each Stone Vertical Epic Ale is brewed with unique ingredients that set it apart from previous editions. For example, coriander, alligator pepper, and dark roasted wheat was used in Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale, and kaffir lime leaf and un-malted wheat was used in Stone 04.04.04 Vertical Epic Ale.