Trader Joe's 2011 Vintage Ale - Trader Joe's Brewing Company

jeff1973

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%

11-26-2011 04:45:39 | More by jeff1973

Doogermeister

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

06-08-2013 21:53:32 | More by Doogermeister

Fcolle2

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-17-2013 02:19:18 | More by Fcolle2

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-13-2013 23:39:01 | More by djrn2

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

05-13-2013 23:37:59 | More by acurtis

lernerlift

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

05-05-2013 22:17:41 | More by lernerlift

kodt

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-03-2013 22:29:49 | More by kodt

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-21-2013 22:07:29 | More by Bowers-Brew

MidwestBA

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

04-11-2013 01:05:49 | More by MidwestBA

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-03-2013 16:15:36 | More by t0rin0

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a finger of frothy tan-khaki head. Fades very slowly.

S - Dark caramel malts, raisin, plums, and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, pepper, other spices, a touch of sourness, and a touch of booze.

T - Dark caramel malts with raisin, plum, dates, and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, pepper, and other spices, a bit of residual sugars, a touch of sourness, and a bit of booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Nice BSDA. Good Belgian character and spices.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:48:51 | More by ngeunit1

Angryzen

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-23-2013 19:48:30 | More by Angryzen

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

02-15-2013 16:15:18 | More by dvmin98

lsummers

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%

02-15-2013 00:06:00 | More by lsummers

yamar68

Minnesota

3.99/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The most stubborn cork I have ever encountered. After struggling with my hands, then a plain corkscrew, and finally a wine opener, I sliced the print of my right thumb clean off. Lots of blood... we're off to a great start.

Very dark stuff. Muddy brown without much clarity to speak of. A swelling khaki head fills the glass and then some. Lacing is loose but consistent.

Intriguing... loads of soft pale fruits, sour yeast, some cola aromas, smooth and sweet, approachable, tame.

Fresh grape, more cola presence, frothy carbonation makes for an exciting presentation of flavors, sweet grain, it finishes pretty damn clean and rather wet. I can totally dig this.

That said - my thumb is now wrapped in gauze and electric tape... it's stinging pretty good, luckily I've already had a few but this is going to be a treat to wake up to.

Before you buy this, get some good gloves. Maybe chainmail.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 07:00:13 | More by yamar68

brandoman63

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

01-30-2013 04:51:26 | More by brandoman63

brentk56

North Carolina

3.21/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown color with ruby highlights; an inch of tan does an adequate job of leaving a smattering of lace

Smell: Molasses, prune, charred black bread and cloves

Taste: Burnt brown sugar and prune flavors, up front, but there is an excess of clove and sour off-flavors, in the middle; the sourness dominates the finish, as well

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: In order to make the price point, I suspect Unibroue makes some compromises with the ingredients, particularly the malts; this beer strikes me as not having the body or the robust complexity of even a mid-tier BSDA

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 23:12:03 | More by brentk56

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.44/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

I had this stored in my basement for over a year, thought I would take it out and give it a try. Poured from a 750 ml bottle, into a snifter. Poured a amber color, produced a tannish head, decent retention and it left some lacing on the glass. The Aroma consisted of roasted malt, sweet caramel and prunes. Full bodied, this Belgian Strong Dark Ale the base consisted of roasted malt, caramel and some wine like fruitiness, most likely from the yeast. Overall, it was decent, it under preformed my expectations, but maybe my expectations were to high. Unibroue brewed this ale for Trader Joe's and thus far everything i have sampled from Unibroqe has been outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 18:23:13 | More by GossageBrewery

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.89/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2011 vintage. Poured from a 750 ml cork n cage bottle into a Pipeworks snifter.

A- pours a dark brown with a 3" tan head. Some small bubbles speckle the glass with a thin ring of lacing.

S- dark fruits, some pepper, some clove and some other spice I can't pick out.

T- amber malts, dark fruits, clove and spices, some bread, and Belgian yeast.

M- medium body and med/high carbonation. Slick at first with a crisp and slightly dry finish.

O- loudest cork for a beer I have ever heard! Pretty good beer, but nothing I would rush to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 03:41:45 | More by kawilliams81

MaltAndHopsFC

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-05-2013 21:39:26 | More by MaltAndHopsFC

axman

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5.5%

01-02-2013 00:37:11 | More by axman

DotBier

California

3/5  rDev -20.8%

12-28-2012 07:19:14 | More by DotBier

Lucidious

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

12-05-2012 01:18:22 | More by Lucidious

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3/5  rDev -20.8%

11-29-2012 05:47:17 | More by Rhettroactive

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Reddy-brown-black with a light tan head, thin ring of retention, very little lace.

S: Peppery spice, a bit phenolic, dark fruit, jaggery.

T: Raisins, dates, figs, pepper, jaggery, candied mango, curacao orange rind, cola, good bitterness, slight alcohol warmth.

M: Well-attenuated, moderate body has a crisp finish.

O: Good overall brew, probably a bit better than what the score adds up to...

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 02:55:50 | More by Derek