In 2001, Stone Brewing co-founder Greg Koch came up with the idea to create a yearly series of Belgian-inspired ales,each intended to be stored and cellared for aging until the last one was released. It was an ambitious proposal (especially back then, when the craft beer industry was much less robust than it is now), but the California brewery made good on its goal.

In February of 2002, a beer dubbed 02.02.02 was released — one year and one day after it was first bottled. That was followed in sequence by 03.03.03, 04.04.04, 05.05.05 and... you get the picture. This year, with the December 12 release of 12.12.12, the project comes to culmination. Better still, West Philly’s City Tap House is hosting a Vertical Epic tasting party on Saturday, December 22, and you have a chance to win a free pair of tickets.

Tickets are currently on sale for $100, which brings a noon–3 PM private, progressive tasting of each of the yearly releases (with the exception of 02.02.02, which was not widely distributed). The ticket cost even includes tax and gratuity, a very rare bonus. Each year’s Vertical Epic beer will be served with a specially paired appetizer, in chronological order from 2003’s hazy brown 8.5% ABV offering to 2012’s deep black 9.0% ABV spiced ale.

With the proximity to the holidays, this is a perfect gift for the Philly beer geek on your list — the price also covers a special Vertical Epic keepsake glass from Stone, and the event will feature a Q & A session with Stone Brewery rep Lee Maron and City Tap House beer director Andy Farrell.

Here’s how to win a two free tickets: from now through December 21, tweet with the hashtag #VerticalEpicPHL (City Tap House's Twitter account is @TapHousePhilly, though that mention is  not required to enter). A winner will be chosen at random, so the more times you tweet with the tag, the greater your chances are of winning. Good luck, and happy Epic tasting!

Event Date: 12/22
Event Time: Noon-3 PM
Location: City Tap House
Price: $100