Olde Suffolk English (Strong Suffolk Vintage) Ale - Greene King / Morland Brewery

Zraly

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown with off-white head. Bubbles in the head are a bit big -- maybe my pour was too vigorous up front. Nonetheless, nice malty nose.

Smooth and a nice note of caramel. Semi-sweet. A bit of wood -- and as it it is aged in oak one would expect this! Slight hint of peat. Medium-bodied and slightly rich. Very pleasant and elegant mouthfeel. Classy. For me, it's a nice beer to re-tune the palate.

Went real nice with aged extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 22:28:28 | More by Zraly

bmwats

Louisiana

3.94/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Dark brown. Pours a quarter finger, bubbly, brown-white head. Settles quickly. Plenty of clingy effervescence throughout the body of the brew. Very sparse lacing quickly retreats into the body of the brew. Shallow.

S: Nutty malt. Tea leaf and a little butterscotch, and chocolate.

T: Roasted malt, a little coffee, touches of licorice, molasses, pecan, and tea.

M: Hearty, malty, and earthy. Heavy alcohol character. Has a certain sweetness that infiltrates the nasal cavity. Bitter finish.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is really nice. Not just a whole lot to look at, but a fair head with substantial effervescence; however no real lacing. Nose is really nutty with some sweet and herbal components. Complex flavor consisting of roasted malt, accentuated with bitter, sweet, herb, and nut components. Bitter and sweet with a high alcohol feel, but not overwhelmingly so. Overall, this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:28:01 | More by bmwats

kvnstfrd

Missouri

5/5  rDev +23.8%

05-23-2013 03:31:32 | More by kvnstfrd

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev -1%

05-21-2013 17:28:54 | More by pin

Bill235

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-09-2013 19:27:32 | More by Bill235

mychalg9

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

04-27-2013 01:59:42 | More by mychalg9

SLeffler27

New York

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear, rich, dark copper brown, with ruby highlights. A slight, rocky head builds from ample carbonation which also clings to the glass. As the carbonation dissipates from the glass, the beer takes on more of a dark, ruby color.

Sweet malt is accompanied by dates, figs, and sun-baked oak. After a few sips, the aroma takes on the distinct character of caramelized sugar.

Toasted malt with a hint of bitterness and light spice. Sun-dried raisins with light, lingering malt bitterness is a nice, subtle touch. Warmth brings out cola and nuts.

The medium body is contrasted by a sharp texture with light alcohol and ample carbonation.

This one was enjoyed from a Dogfish Head snifter over a quiet half hour before dinner while listening to classical music. A rare stolen moment in time. This ale would likely pair well with lamb.

Aged 3.5 years in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:48:11 | More by SLeffler27

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.19/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A blend of two ales, one aged in oak vats for 2 years. Poured from a bottle into a Fuller's Pub Pint. The pour is clear and dark, dark brown with very little light getting through. It sports a nice rocky head that dissipates quite fast. The nose is a bit sulfery at first, but once it de-gasses a bit you get some rich, sweet toffee and treacle notes and bready aromas. No alcohol is evident.

The beer has a medium body and nice, sweet, malt-forward flavor. It is all about the malt. Sweetness dominates but the beer is not cloying or syrupy at all. Wonderful earthy flavors of bread, oak, toffee, caramel, nuts, and molasses slide all over the palate. You also get just a hint of dark fruit. The flavors become just a little dry right in the back of the mouth and you get a little spice just as you swallow. The feel is firm and silky.

A very traditional beer. Not to be confused with a barleywine or modern-day booze bomb. No roasty bitterness and very little in the way of hops. Just lots of rich, chewy malty goodness.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 00:15:45 | More by deadonhisfeet

tonton

Hong Kong

4/5  rDev -1%

03-31-2013 03:17:00 | More by tonton

RochefortChris

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +23.8%

03-31-2013 02:13:01 | More by RochefortChris

BAsbill

California

4/5  rDev -1%

03-30-2013 04:26:57 | More by BAsbill

Seaba

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

03-01-2013 14:13:37 | More by Seaba

imperiallibations

California

4/5  rDev -1%

03-01-2013 08:39:11 | More by imperiallibations

ChicagoNick

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -38.1%

02-27-2013 19:35:48 | More by ChicagoNick

quakeroatmealstout

New York

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

02-24-2013 23:30:04 | More by quakeroatmealstout

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

02-17-2013 13:33:42 | More by Beerstorian

stone3187

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

02-06-2013 20:59:26 | More by stone3187

pkalix

California

4.93/5  rDev +22%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

deep, dark mahogany. a little head at first but dwindling to virtually nothing, although it does lace fully down the sides when tilted....
last guy said it smells like vanilla and wet grass and really hit it on the head with that description...
taste is a sweet malt-y, vanilla-y. very nice and very tasty, but i agree with the other guy in that the 'aging' might be the brew's downfall. it seems to create a slight funkiness, and a tad bitter that just doesnt mesh well. but that only takes it down from a perfect score. this brew has some wonderful qualities and is very pleasing. it feels a bit thin but that can easily be taken in stride.
overall, this is a beautiful drink. and at 6% it's relatively promising. i love the sweetness- it's like a dopplebock but has an entirely different set of parameters. i have a suspiciousness against myself for wanting to award another set of strong 5's in two beers in a row. and after much consideration, i have to admit this is an outstanding brew and i have no 2nd thoughts in rating this very highly. let me know what you think. i recommend this completely and will purchase a few more tomorrow to affirm what i feel now!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:51:28 | More by pkalix

matjack85

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

01-31-2013 22:29:39 | More by matjack85

DmanGTR

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

01-29-2013 04:25:21 | More by DmanGTR

cliff1066

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

01-04-2013 17:11:47 | More by cliff1066

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Oooh...and English old ale. yes please.

Pours a light brown. Nice 2 finger head. Looks rich.

Aroma is sweet. Caramel, malt, some vanilla and wet grass.

Flavor is good, albeit a bit one sided. It seem the oak vat aging renders most of the flavors. The malt is thin, and with the low carbonation it just about disappears. Some smoke. Caramel and vanilla are the main culprits. It is very smooth.

I like this one. Something keeps me from loving it. I think it's the aging--just wonder what the original brew is like.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 22:41:56 | More by Mebuzzard

rangerred

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass out of a 500ml clear bottle.

Pours a clear very dark brown with a one finger medium tan head. Head fades away rather quickly leaving a little bit of lacing.

Aroma is wonderful. Lots of butterscotch and caramel along with a rich wood character that is quite appealing. There is quite a bit of dark fruit typical of English ales and some burnt toast. A little molasses as well; quite a bit going on.

The flavor starts out a little sweet with dark brown sugar and molasses with the same burnt toast that was present in the aroma. The wood is a little less prominent and is way in the background. Dark fruit and some yeast character is present along with a decent dose of grassy hops. There is a moderate assertive bitterness to balance out the sweetness and it works nicely.

Overall, a really nice beer if not exactly Earth-shattering. I enjoy the added depth from the blending of wood-aged beer but it is just missing a little something. It is still nicer than your typical English ale and I appreciate that it is not skunked despite the clear bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 04:50:58 | More by rangerred

Pecan

California

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

12-20-2012 16:35:58 | More by Pecan

Harkrank

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

12-08-2012 14:02:11 | More by Harkrank