Trader Joe's 2012 Vintage Ale - Trader Joe's Brewing Company

BlueFeetAndBeer

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.5%

12-13-2012 11:36:00 | More by BlueFeetAndBeer

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From: Trader Joe's, Glen Ellyn, IL
Date: 2012 bottle, best by 2015-07-06
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

Unibroue has a solid Belgian Dark Strong Ale with their Trader Joe's 2012 annual offering. The flavors and aromas are of appreciable complexity, with grape-like esters, modest caramel and roasted malt, and allspice-like phenols being the most prominent. This is an annual special good enough to pick up each year it's offered, particulary for the $5 cost.

Pours a 1cm tall head of tan foam, made up of small-sized bubbles, giving a dense, fluffy appearance. Retention is below average for the style, the foam lasting less than thirty seconds, quickly fading to a thin ring around the glass and a small island of foam in the center, atop the body. Lacing is present, but not particularly interesting, a few medium-sized shapes cling to the inner walls of the glass. Body is a dark brown to black color, with light bringing out amber-brown highlights. Carbonation is visible, appearing vigrous and fairly active.

Aroma of grape esters, allspice, and sweetness (Special B malt, Belgian amber candi sugar, light caramel), mild ethanol becomes noticeable as this warms.

The overall flavor profile for the beer is of grape-like esters, modest caramel and roasted malt, and appreciable allspice-like phenols. Front of palate features grape-like ester flavors from the Belgian yeast, closely followed in perceptibility by malt sweetness (Special B, Belgian amber candi sugar). Mid-palate brings the malt further forward, with a caramel-sweet, lightly bready, character from Special B and other caramelized malts, along with allspice-like phenols from the yeast. The grape-like ester remains in mid-palate, but becomes subdued beneath the malt character. Back of palate finds renewed grape-like esters, caramel-like sweetness, hints of roasted malt, allspice-like phenols, ethanol. There is also a modest spiciness, whether from ethanol or hops is unclear. Aftertaste is of caramel sweetness from malts, grape-like esters, prune-like esters, slight breadiness, and lingering ethanol spiciness and warmth.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy in body, with fairly high, aggressive carbonation. This leads to, at first, a fizzy, prickly mouthfeel that isn't particularly pleasant. With time on the palate or in the glass, the foam lessens significantly, though, eventually leading to a soft, rather foamy touch. Ethanol is felt a bit in the nostrils, particularly as this warms. Closes dry, with significant stickiness lingering on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:54:02 | More by falloutsnow

Skrypt

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

05-07-2013 12:24:47 | More by Skrypt

Rainier

California

1.75/5  rDev -53.8%

05-05-2013 18:13:27 | More by Rainier

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle - served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Very dark brown - let little to no light through. Light tan thick rocky head upon pouring, lots of persistent lacing. Lots of carbonation coming up through the glass upon the initial pour, dying back over time.

Smell: Yeasty mostly, and as it warms up then the Nutmeg really comes out. Never could smell much else besides the nutmeg.

Taste: Belgian yeast fruity esters up front. Some roasted malt bitterness in the middle. Strong nutmeg finish. When the beer was fully room temperature I could pick out some of the noble hop tastes, but not a lot under the nutmeg.

Mouthfeel: Nice thickness, spicy carbonation on the tongue. A little bit sticky on the teeth.

Overall / Drinkability: Just as there are single hop beers, I almost think of this as a single spice belgian dark winter ale. Nutmeg dominates this beer, but not in a bad way. This beer went very well with salmon au poivre, and I think it would be great with a steak. That being said, I think I would have a hard time finishing this bottle by myself. I shared it with the Mrs. and by the end of the glass I was glad I tried it, but I did not want another. Also a beer that sneaks up on you by the end of the glass - I was definitely noting the 9% by the time I finished my glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 23:23:03 | More by damndirtyape

cre83

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-01-2013 18:46:05 | More by cre83

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-21-2013 22:07:10 | More by Bowers-Brew

freduardo

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-18-2013 03:35:13 | More by freduardo

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

From the 750 ml. corked, caged bottle. Sampled on April 15, 2013.

It pours dark brown with reddish hues and a full, fluffy tan head that sits on top for several minutes.

Aromas are wonderfully sweet at first with notes of dark malts, Belgian sugars, brown sugar, fig, Allspice, caramel, yeast, and a mild but clean hop backdrop.

The body is full and creamy.

The taste is wonderfully malty and brown sugar sweet with the slightest alcohol note but nothing that puts me off. The spice is delicately dropped in.

Brewed by Unibroue. I wonder if this is a variation of the Don de Dieu. Still, overall very nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 22:09:57 | More by puboflyons

warnerry

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-14-2013 01:48:10 | More by warnerry

MidwestBA

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-11-2013 01:03:19 | More by MidwestBA

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured this Belgian Strong Dark Ale from a big ass bottle into a pint glass. It poured a dark brown color, produced an average tan head, decent retention and it left a good amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of roasted malt and spices. Medium bodied, this ale has a foundation of roasted malt, dark fruit : figs, black pepper and other spices. Overall, I thought it was a little out of balance, to much spice- it needed a bit more of a malt backbone for my liking. Perhaps this would have been better if I would have let it age.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 20:46:56 | More by GossageBrewery

bigbeers84

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-08-2013 05:33:20 | More by bigbeers84

NoetheMatt

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -34%

04-05-2013 14:15:33 | More by NoetheMatt

Thunderballroom

New York

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

03-27-2013 20:32:02 | More by Thunderballroom

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-25-2013 00:36:10 | More by brheuer

zeff80

Missouri

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

One to drink, one to age.

A - Poured out a dark, dark brown color with a one-finger, tan head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of spices, dried fruit and rich caramel.

T - It had a biscuity malt backbone with a very spicy punch. Some dried fruit and caramel flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a good Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Looking forward to trying the one I'm aging.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 02:08:57 | More by zeff80

vcoggins

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-14-2013 01:10:57 | More by vcoggins

Kopfschuss

Oregon

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-13-2013 04:03:51 | More by Kopfschuss

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

03-11-2013 23:38:58 | More by DaPan

shick1

Ohio

5/5  rDev +31.9%

03-11-2013 16:18:32 | More by shick1

NatetheGreat

Nevada

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I really enjoyed this one.

is deep deep brown, almost black with a large, somewhat rocky head.

aromas are complex and inviting: sweet candy, green apple, spices including cinnamon and clove, rum raisin, some banana, musty.

flavor is sweet up front with a big, thick maltiness. spices are pronounced, as is the alcohol, although not too much. cheery, spices, and apple come through. finish is a bit sweet. not much hop presence.

moderate carbonation. very tasty and complex.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 07:07:32 | More by NatetheGreat

Duvel

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-09-2013 15:19:12 | More by Duvel

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

03-05-2013 08:23:28 | More by Lawl3ss

Kromes

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black with ruby edges and a thin tan colored head.

A big orange peel , coriander, and clove aroma with a touch of alcohol.

Initial flavor is clove, anise and coriander. The flavors remain strong as a bit of the roasted malt bitterness kicks in. There is a lingering anise/clove flavor in the finish along with a dark cherry fruit flavor.

high level of peppery carbonation gives the beer a great texture and compliments the flavors.

Pretty good Dark Ale. Very tasty and bit strong right now with the spices right up front. I imagine it will get better with age.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 20:20:16 | More by Kromes