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

t8000shx

New York

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a .5L bottle into a tulip

Deep auburn, opaque at the center, translucent along the sides. It's an attractive beer. I botched the pour a bit so didn't get much of a head, but the little I produced was cream colored and did not stay around too long. Probably my fault.

Glad I drank out of a tulip glass, nicely intensified the aroma. Some dark fruit, plum certainly, some raisins/currants, too. Not particularly strong, but satisfying and appealing.

My first thought is fruitcake, or one of those chocolate bars with the nuts and fruit in it. Some mild cherry I didn't identify in the nose, but in hindsight I was smelling it. Caramel, a little oak, perhaps some mild vanilla, and a quick, scarcely existent hit of bitter from hops. All of this was very well balanced, arrived and left smoothly, with some of the fruit lingering.

Even as it warmed up, never got too sticky. Less carbonated, consistent with the style. Drank like a heavier version of a brown ale, but far from anything you would call Imperial, and certainly not as heavy as other, higher octane old ales.

Fantastically drinkable. This beer strikes a perfect balance between bold flavors and drinkability. The beer dork in me says I'm drinking a big, aged, sophisticated beer, and the responsible worker drone in me says I'm drinking a beer that won't kill me tomorrow if I have a couple. It's a damn shame it's not easier to find. If you have a store near you that carries it, I strongly recommend picking some up. I should add that I poured mine too cold and it warmed up as I drank, and I enjoyed it across the entire range. I recommend drinking colder than some of you normally drink an old ale, definitely no warmer than 55, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 04:27:18 | More by t8000shx

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark brown body; medium sized head

Aroma: Spicy; oak notes; wine like

Taste: Spicy; oak flavors; malty with a bitter finish; fairly well balanced and pretty good overall

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:51:17 | More by IchLiebeBier

TwoForty

Florida

4/5  rDev -1%

06-14-2013 01:33:20 | More by TwoForty

jonathaniler

Florida

4/5  rDev -1%

06-14-2013 01:27:57 | More by jonathaniler

Pegasus

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep amber brown in color with a modest off-white head, which soon fades to a scattering of foam on the surface. Thin, fine-beaded lacing coats the glass walls. Before a light, fat, slow-rising carbonation can be seen.

Aroma: Caramel and spices dominate the aroma, there is a wood note as well, somewhat like old oak

Taste: Opens with dark caramel and toasted malt. As the taste progresses, a slightly smoky, wood flavor appears. Towards the background of the taste, understated mildly earthy hops as present as well, rising from the middle of the taste to a modest presence at the close.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, very pleasant, full.

Drinkability/notes: Well-crafted and elegant.

Presentation: Packaged in a custom embossed pint bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a Samuel Adam Boston Lager sensory glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 15:40:42 | More by Pegasus

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