Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale

Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.

$7.99/22-ounce bottle; also on draft at a few metro beer bars.

Profile: Numerologists declared 10/10/2010 an especially lucky day. And that’s when Stone released 10.10.10, the latest in the brewery’s Vertical Epic Ale series. It’s a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, brewed with triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), German Perle hops, and chamomile, and then fermented with Ardennes Belgian yeast. Even more unusual, it’s bottle-conditioned with a blend of Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc grape juice. The result is a complex, full-bodied beer with a funky, fruity acidity, lots of lacy foam and a dry, wine-like finish. Stone suggests tasting one now and cellaring one to try on 12.12.12.

Pair with: Match 10.10.10 with steamed mussels and frites, spicy grilled shrimp, herb-roasted chicken or a charcuterie and cheese plate.

Bob Townsend is editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast, www.brewingnews.com/southernbrew.