Vertical Epic
I’m not a big fan of delayed gratification. I think there’s only one thing better than getting something you know you want right away, and that’s getting something you didn’t even know you wanted.
This was pretty much what I thought when I spied Stone’s 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale ($5.99) in the beer section at Whole Foods. The story is thus–every year the San Diego, California brewery releases one “larger-than-life, heroic adventure” (according to the label copy) on 02/02/02, 03/03/03, 04/04/04, etc. up until the year 2012. Each brew is different and meant to be aged until 12/12/12, on which date the careful collector is urged to do a “vertical tasting” of every blend in order, resulting in said epic. Presumably sometime before 12/21/12, or Mayan Doomsday, to be on the safe side.
Genius. But because I have an annoying habit of being honest with myself I knew I couldn’t horde it until 2012 and cracked it open as soon as I got home. This year’s edition draws inspiration from Belgian Saisons and Golden Triples, clocks in at 8.4% alcohol, and packs a flavorful punch of spices–ginger and cardamom, and something like pumpkin. It’s tasty stuff and I only wish I knew how it will stack up five years’ hence.
Vertical Epic 07.07.07 while supplies last at Whole Foods on Houston St.