Q: I'd really like to get a few bottles of the Stone 02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale, can I buy it directly from the brewery and have you ship it to me? A: Sadly, no. We don't ship direct from the brewery. Our special releases are generally only sold through retailers. The 02.02.02 sold out within days --- and in most cases hours (or less) --- at each retail location that got an allocation. As far as we know, there are not any retailers that still have any in stock. Q: It's already sold out? How come I never even heard of it until after the fact? A: We announced the coming of the 02.02.02 well in advance via the Stone Email Newsletter. Just prior to the release date, we also announced "where & when" information for many of the retail locations that got an allocation. Subscribers to the Stone Email Newsletter used this advance warning and went and snapped it all up. Q: Do I take it that you're trying to get me to sign up for the Stone Email Newsletter? A: If you'd like advance information of Stone Special Releases and other Stone news, the answer is a certain "Yes!" Q: Why did you guys only brew up 300 cases? You did this just to create a buzz and a false demand, didn't you? A: C'mon, we've got more respect for the people that love our beers than that! Here's what the deal was… We only just got the idea to do the StoneVertical Epic series this past fall of 2001. Since the date for the 02.02.02 release was immovable (Feb. 2nd, 2002) and since we had such a short window between the brewing of the 2001 edition of the Double Bastard Ale and the 2002 edition of the Old Guardian Barley Wine, we only had the ability to brew a very small amount of the Stone 02.02.02. We figured better to brew a little than brew none. Q: Are you going to brew more of the Stone 03.03.03 Vertical Epic Ale next year? A: You bet. Hell, Stone Brewing staff only got two bottles of the 02.02.02 apiece! We each wanted more! Since we now know a year in advance that we've got to make necessary plans to fit the 03.03.03 into the brewing schedule early next year, we're planning and shifting the schedule to be able to accommodate a much larger release of the 03.03.03 edition. Q: Do I really need to wait until after 12.12.12 to open the 02.02.02? A: Nope. Open it when you like. It is meant to age quite nicely, but it's really up to you. If you open it soon, you will be rewarded with a very delicious and unique beer. If you open it years from now, you will be rewarded with a very delicious and unique beer that will have matured and developed over the years. This is a great example of a "win win" situation! Q: So how do I really know that the 02.02.02 will make it all the way to 12.12.12? I don't want to hang on to it all that time only to find out that it aged way past its prime! A: Yep. We're with you. Since we don't KNOW that it will age flawlessly for the next eleven plus years or so, we've come up with a plan. We've squirreled away two cases of the 02.02.02 in our archives (under lock and key with video surveillance, so don't get any ideas!). Every six months we're going to open a bottle and analyze it (i.e. drink it!). If, by chance, in the coming years we feel it has reached its peak earlier than 12.12.12 we'll release a "Drink the 02.02.02 now" announcement via our website and Stone Email Newsletter. That way, you can let it age in your cellar/fridge without worry that it'll end up a lost cause in the years to come. Q: Speaking of cellaring the Stone Vertical Epic Ales, what's the best way to store them? A: First choice is to keep them at a constant 50-55 degrees. Second choice (and not a bad choice by any means) is to store them in your fridge. Either way, store them standing up as they will age best if the beer is not in contact with the cap. Darkness is also best, so wrap them in brown paper or keep in a box. This will also help to prevent you from having to bury the body of one of your friends in your back yard after you discover that they helped themselves the 02.02.02 they found in the back of your fridge… Q: I noticed that you posted a homebrew recipe for the Stone 02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale. Are you going to do that every year? A: Yes. That is the plan. One month and one day (we're trying to be consistent with the theme...) after each year's release we will release a detailed homebrew recipe along with tasting notes and other information. True to that form, the Stone 02.02.02 Vertical Epic Ale homebrew recipe and other info was posted on the Stone website on March 3rd, 2002.