Fuller's Vintage Ale - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

ElGallo

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage, poured into a snifter. Pours an amber orangey gold color. Good carbonation, decent head and lacing. Smells of caramel and toffee. Taste is mildly sweet, with caramel and toffee up front but chalk and metallic notes in the aftertaste that come and go. Tastes a lot like an American-style barley wine but not as complex as I had hoped for a slightly older vintage. Still worth trying once.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:40:44 | More by ElGallo

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

3.69/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: look of unfiltered peach juice, muddy orange/brown with off-white head that only lasts a minute or two

Aroma: apple or pear cider; oak; mostly sweet with a bit of sour tang; faintly of clove and cinnamon

Taste & Mouthfeel: a blend of orchard fruit with a mild balancing bitterness that tastes mostly of pith - in fact the beer is overall fairly mild and subtle, but wouldn't say boring; apples, pears are still top of mind, with some nectarine, apricot; toffee malt pairs well with fruit; slightly woody flavour has a hint of char in the finish; the toffee sweetness takes over halfway through, and steadily the builds to a cloying mouthfeel

Overall: starts off nice enough, but loses steam and really doesn't leave a great final impression; elements are there to make it great, but needs a little something....

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 00:44:25 | More by BGDrock

UCLABrewN84

California

3.79/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2012 vintage.

Bottle # 123290.

Best before end 2015.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, caramel, fruit, and some slight hop aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel and hop flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp but slightly medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer this fresh but I would be curious to see what some age does to this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 03:07:00 | More by UCLABrewN84

morebeergood

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Had a 2009 vintage in the cellar and drank it tonight. Poured into a tulip glass. Dark amber color, very nice clarity. Soapy white head formed then faded quickly. Some carbonation left but some loss is detected. Smell was ripe figs and caramel. Taste was very nice. Sweet malt dominates. The mouthfeel was amazing. Super smooth and velvety. Went down like an aged port wine: just a bit of booze but delicious. What a nice beer. Aging this ale for 3-4 years did wonders.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 04:29:02 | More by morebeergood

SLeffler27

New York

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours almost clear, shiny copper, into a Stone snifter while a thin, short-lived, off-white head provides a cap but no lacing.

The aroma is reminiscent of sherry with sweet malt and brown sugar, while light toasted malt provides a backdrop. Notes of cola, sun tea and nuts are also evident.

Exceptionally well-balanced with a slight, bitter finish that is long and subtle. Generally, the flavors follow the nose quite well with the addition of fresh white bread. While this Old Ale warms nicely, it is better at the cooler range.

A full body with a soft, smooth texture, light carbonation, and well-concealed alcohol. Simultaneously dry with light residual sugar on the lips.

One can easily imagine an Edwardian gentleman sipping this beer while reading to soft classical music in low light in a leather chair.

This was a 2009 vintage, bottle number 133946, consumed December 2012.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:43:05 | More by SLeffler27

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.01/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage poured into a large wine glass

A - looks like dark murky apple cider. About 1.5 inches of thick white foam. Lots of lacing.

S - best description I could give it is apple sauce with some cinnamon. Some mustiness in the background.

T - ripe apples, sweet with some bitterness on the edges. It's actually really nice, but I guess I was expecting too much, given that my comparison to this is JW Lees harvest. It feels like there is a little bit of an element missing from the middle, some backbone, thats keeping it from being great, but nonetheless, refined and tasty.

M - medium thickness, low carb.

O - I wonder what my thoughts would have been had I not had a 2000 JW Lees first. They are different beers for sure, but they occupy a similar category in my mind. This is a very nice beer, but just missing a few key elements. Still, very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 04:11:40 | More by Beerandboards

Dope

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Fresh 2012 bottle.

A: Pours a clear medium amber. Good sized fluffy and very fizzy tan head which fades away somewhat quickly. Decent head retention but almost zero lacing. Tiniest dots here and there.

S: Big caramel and raisins. Nice honey. Quite sweet. Surprisingly a little boozy too.

T: Again, sweet but not as much as the nose would indicate. There is some caramel and honey up front but then a big toasty and nutty wave shows up in the middle. Actually becomes the prominent flavor in the beer overall. Almost reminds me of a brown ale except this is much sweeter with lots of caramel and honey. Finish is a drier dark fruit flavor with some herbal hops with a touch of honey. Surprisingly decent hop bitterness. Lingering toast and herbs in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied. Kinda sticky sweet at first but ends on a drying note.

O: Interesting old ale. Lots of toastiness and nuttiness. Prominent typical english hops. Sweet and fairly complex. Feels more like an english strong ale than an olde ale to me. I will have to compare this to an aged version sometime. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:19:05 | More by Dope

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 bottle

Murky brownish-red colour, cap of white head, not much in the way of lace. Nose is of sweet caramel and toffee, malty with lots of fruit, cherry, fig and raisin, bit of sugary sweetness and a bit of nutty/almond as well. Taste is of sweet malt and darker sugars, quite vibrant fruit, cherry, plum, fig, caramel like sweetness, lightly bitter hop, fruity finish. Lightly carbonated, full body. Nicely complex and enjoyable, really held up quite nicely, fantastic stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 14:58:45 | More by peensteen

mttaylor1066

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

If you wonder what a master British brewer might do if he(she) could create a Belgian-style ale... this is it. Perhaps this is what old ale was... or should have been. (No wonder our ancestors were drunk all the time. )

The 2012 version, bottle #109350.

I'll forego all the particular details, but suffice to say, this is an ale you need to try. Deliciously balanced between hop bitterness and a figgy backbone of malt. Incredibly luxurious on the tongue and an ale you want to savor for hours. Gets better as it warms in the glass.

Buy some. You will not regret it.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 17:34:06 | More by mttaylor1066

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage Ale 2012.

(4.25) A: An attractive slightly hazy burnt copper with a thick and creamy foam head. Long lasting retention and spotty lacing.

(4.25) S: Raisins, toffee, almonds, juicy orange, banana bread, floral qualities, and winter spices. Very smooth with aromas well integrated. Quite a variety of different fruits that can be picked out.

(3.75) T: Raisins, floral elements, banana, orange, spices, nutty qualities, and a rich toffee malt backbone. Definitely a bit of boozy warmth to this. The overall taste indicates that hops and malt are both in large quantities, although some of the hoppier tastes coming through seem a little lost at this fresher age.

(4.0) M: Full bodied with medium carbonation. Syrupy texture with quite a bitter and dry mouthfeel.

(4.0) D: I’d like to pick up another and sit on it for a year or two and really give the taste time to develop further. Nonetheless, still a treat to drink in it’s fresher current state.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:18:20 | More by Digimaika2

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pretty fresh 2012 bottle here. I dont think I've ever had this before, but I intend on starting a vertical.

Appearance: Not sure I've seen this color in a beer before. Almost a rose tint to it. Quite clear and sparkling. Whatever head was brought about during the pour quickly fades away. Some lacing.

Smell: A somewhat expected malt bomb here. Really nice, sweet, oak, raisin, plum and prune. Some almond, rosepetal, and apple.

Taste: quite drinkable but not without its character. Made balanced with some hop bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Quite thick as you might expect, fairly high carbonation keeps it a float and ensures that a long stored bottle still has some bite.

Overall: Not brilliant but looking forward to a 10 year vertical.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 01:28:39 | More by uno99

nasty15108

New York

4.99/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 1pt .9oz bottle (2006 / #75323) into a stemless red wine glass.

A - Poured a cloudy brown with ruby red edges and a slightly soapy head.

S - Heavy malt character with hints of dark ripe fruit and butterscotch.

T - Malty biscuit flavor with hints of butterscotch. Alcohol comes through in the end but doesn't over power.

MF - probably one of the best beer I have ever tasted. All beers should taste like this one! An absolute classic!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 03:25:04 | More by nasty15108

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2008 Vintage. Bottle # 113086. Poured into a pint glass.

A - Pours a murky ruby-brown with a just over a one-finger fluffy off-white head. Yup, not "cloudy"...murky. Has some lacing, but it and the head fades to nothing as the beer warms.

S - Wow. Strong aroma of toffee, butterscotch, dark fruits, earthy hops, and spicy booze. One of the best beers I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. I just kept smelling it before each sip.

T - Describing the incredibly complex and delicious mix of flavors presented here is challenging, but I will give it a go. Rich, hearty flavors of toffee, fig, butterscotch, fig, date, raisin, maple, caramel, overripe currants, cherry pipe tobacco, mint, anise, and clean grain alcohol. Musty leafy and funky hops carry the finish and offer a deliciously offsetting taste. A hint of non-metallic mineral (gypsum?) in the aftertaste. Delicious.

M - Full bodied, with low carbonation. Smooth, but abv also prickles the tongue a little. Just a hint of syrupyness as it warms. Suits the style extremely well.

O - One of the best beers I have ever had. Simply superb. Love the richness and complexity of the flavors. The fact that there is a store near me that has six more dusty boxes of this fills me with glee, and I will be restocking!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 03:53:12 | More by TempeBeerMan

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.35/5  rDev -43.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Served in a Sweetwater mini-snifter.

2007 vintage. I've long eyed this boxed bottle, and now I finally get to try some of the innards. It pours a lightly-brackish sunset amber topped by a minor bit of khaki foam. The nose comprises red apple skin, sweet caramel, and perfume-y flowers. The taste is an unpleasant melange of honey, cerumen and light biscuit. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, I'm not sure if the age somehow got to this one early or something, but either way it did not sit well with my tongue. It actually hurt a little to drink at times...

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 22:17:10 | More by TMoney2591

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage #78615
Poured from a 500ml bottle into a Fullers snifter glass.

Pours a thick looking brown colour, with great lacing and a decent head though almost zero carbonation after a while.

Smell is mostly booze - rum like, and with caramel like malts and dark rich fruits.

Taste reflects the smell, very smooth and flavourful.

Overall an excellent drink, to be enjoyed more like a whiskey or port.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 20:22:26 | More by CwrwAmByth

triskadekaphobia

Ireland

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle @ home (and it was a freebie from a beer-tasting at a local bar). I suppose I should have waited another year or two - but I’m not very good at pleasure postponed. Besides, if in two years time I found out I liked this, I’d be kicking myself for having waited so long to enjoy it.

Pours dark, red-amber. slightly hazy but not cloudy. Malty, caramel flavours, and a sherry-like after taste. Good full-bodied mouth feel. I’d liked it a lot. (didn’t keep the bottle number, I’m afraid)

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 14:49:13 | More by triskadekaphobia

Greywulfken

New York

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: bottling and boxing are exemplars of class. Deep amber beer, patiently center-poured crystal clear into a tulip, producing a firm two-fingers of tan foam. Lace and motes modestly follow.

S: cologne and earthy malt, peat and booze; the liquor cabinet; an old bar that stays open late

T: served at what must have been the perfect temperature for a strong English ale: not at all cold, yet cooler than the room - maybe 55-60 F? Tastes sweet, rich, of medicinal barley, like chewy caramel lacquer or polish - it almosts sounds bad, but it is in fact, perfect. Drying bitter finish over the linger of sweet malt and bitter-mellow hop.

M: soap-smooth, running sweet to dry, a caress of spirit across the palate; slightest points of stickiness on the lips. Smoothest in finish, as if it were not there but for the vapor in the nose and slight-sweet coat on the tongue.

O: effortless drinking. Fantastic, world-class, confetti shot into the sky, balloons released, doves, what-have-you - really a classy drink. Like a fine whiskey, from box to glass, this is something to treasure.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 17:09:29 | More by Greywulfken

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2007# 103559.

I've been saving this for a few years: tonight is the night!

Poured slowly into my 'Abbot Ale' glass tankard.

Nice looking brownbody with a red hue: on top a full, deep head of off-white foam.

Port like in aroma and intial taste: a rich fruit cake infused with Port and Vanilla. This is so good it frightens me. I only have this one bottle: nothing like any other British brewed beer I've had for many a year.

The flavours just keep coming and as the beer warms in the glass the aromasand taste change a little: Sherry replaces the Port, the Vanilla takes on a dark chocolate hint and caramel easters begin to appear. This is sweet and I like it.

Really, really inpressed. I hope my 2011 version is as good when I open that.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 18:39:27 | More by BlackHaddock

FLima

Brazil

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Year 2005 Number 73477
Brown color, cloudy aspect. Poured 2 fingers head with low retention.
Predominant Brandy/Jerez similar aroma. Hints of dark fruits.
Taste follows aroma, Brandy-Port Wine like, but adding a little more complexity. Sweet malt and bread taste with hints of nuts, caramel, plums, raisins and wood. Hops can be felt through its refreshing notes, once bitterness is quite mild.
Alcohol is hidden just giving some warmth to the experience.
Full body a bit oily. Light carbonation with small bubbles.
Very well balanced and flavorful which fades slowly away with no clear passage to an aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 22:16:52 | More by FLima

gr0g

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage.
Poured into a Stone mini tumbler, burnished copper in appearance, a small, fizzy head of tiny bubbles that linger on the glass. Decidedly English aroma and flavor with strands of DNA from other Fullers ales. Vinous aroma initially. Malt hits the nose as a toffee note. Some ripe fruit esters and a bit of a fuel note. On the palate, the beer is somewhat dry and very well balanced. Malt sugars are well attenuated. Bitterness is also restrained. There are shades of London Pride here, only with much greater intensity. Slight buttery character and fruit notes ranging from ripe pear to dates.

Mouthfeel hits the mark nicely - despite the fizzy, bottle-conditioned carbonation, it doesn't hit the tongue harshly; nor does it fade too quickly. Slightly sticky, coating the tongue a bit. Very good for what I'd describe as a sipping beer. Overall, this young Fullers 2012 was a solid offering; very interested in seeing how it develops over time.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 18:41:00 | More by gr0g

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml Bottle from the Ottawa LCBO for 7.50$ - 2012 Vintage

Appearance - Clear copper colour with an above average size fizzy and frothy beige head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, dark fruits, caramel/butterscotch, pears

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, pears, dark fruits, and some leathery notes. There is also a bit of a buttery/caramel flavour and some hops. It ends with a malty not too sweet aftertaste with a light lingering bitterness.

Overall - Very smooth and extremely drinkable... even without any age on it. It's a delicious beer but I hoped for a little more complexity. Maybe it will be different with a few years on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 01:38:21 | More by spinrsx

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16.9 oz bottle into a wine glass. 2011 vintage.

A: Pours a dark orange color with a little bit of clarity - mostly, though, the yeast obscures things a little bit. The head is a one finger eggshell shade with low retention, but nice texturing.

S: Lots of sweet toffee, caramel, nuts, brown sugar, dark fruits, and lighter berry sweetness. Generally pretty sweet, but nuanced well enough to be very enjoyable.

T: Not quite as great as the nose. A bit of initial sweet caramel transitions to a combination of fruity tartness and earthy hops. Lactic sour/tartness pervades throughout. The finish is like pumpernickel bread, as well. Generally, the complexity is subtle instead of aggressive - however, I think it could use a bit more depth of flavor. I enjoy it for what it is, but I kind of wanted more.

M: The level of creaminess, density, and carbonation are bang on. However, I think the finish is a little undefined - it doesn't know whether it wants to be crisp and dry, or slick and lingering. Ultimately, it does both, and pulls off neither particularly well.

O: While I wouldn't call it GREAT, I will say that I really appreciate its elegance and subtlety. Don't know if I'd pay $10 for a bottle again, but it's well worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 23:20:51 | More by ThisWangsChung

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2012 edition (bottle #17235). I am pumped to try this for a few reasons - partially because I've never had an old ale before, but also because pretty much everything I've ever had from Fuller's has been outstanding. Served only slightly chilled.

Pours a beautiful translucent copper-amber colour, with one finger of foamy, off-white head seated on top. Retention is decent - it sticks around for a few minutes, leaving behind some modest smears of lacing and a creamy collar.. The aroma is enticing and complex, with a wide range of notes that includes sweet butterscotch candies, toasted nuts, bergamot orange and raisins. A little vinous, maybe even acetic, rounded out with plenty of leafy, slightly earthy English-style hops. It really is a marvelous bouquet; vaguely sherry-like, although I must admit it's been a while since I've touched the stuff so I could be out in left field here.

The taste is very well-rounded and smooth, with a good mix of fruity esters, sweet malt flavours and hop notes. My tongue's memory confirmed what my nose suspected - there's a definite sherry vibe at first, with a mixture of nutty, toffee malts, raisins and orchard fruits including plums, apricots, figs and orange citrus. This leads into a pleasing, soft finish dominated by a gentle, leafy, earthy hop dryness. The alcohol is a noticeable factor that provides some warmth in the finish. Fairly drying aftertaste, with some lingering hints of toffee sweetness. On the heftier side of medium-bodied, with a slightly creamy, rather syrupy feel that coats the palate. Moderate carbonation level, almost a little too high for my tastes - the beer becomes even more enjoyable as it softens and warms. Very drinkable for an 8.5% brew, but well worth savouring slowly.

Final Grade: 4.3, an outstanding A grade. Very impressive stuff, not that I expected anything less from Fuller's. Smooth, balanced, rich-tasting and wholly satisfying, Fuller's Vintage Ale is a fabulous, relatively affordable introduction to the style that I must highly recommend to any and all BAs. The slight warmth from the abv and rich, complex malty flavour makes this a perfect selection for a late fall/early winter night. I may need to pick up another bottle and hold onto it for a while, since it seems likely this is the sort of brew that will improve with a few years in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:54:59 | More by thehyperduck

Etan

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle, 2011 vintage (#104959), into a snifter.

A: Pours a blonde-tinged orange with a pillow off-white head.

S: Light grape juice, slightly spicy esters, apricot in the nose. Sweet but dry enough.

T: Crisp dried peach and fig, green grapes, A touch of alcohol, some pleasantly bright grain. Sweet but pretty well-attenuated.

M: Medium-bodied with high carbonation.

O: I love that crisp, dry attenuation character you get with some English old ales. The mouthfeel isn't perfect, but besides that this is really nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 04:46:26 | More by Etan

Valleyview06

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2000 Vintage
Bottle 62080
Found at Georgetown Beverage - Wilkes Barre, Pa

Poured in a New Belgium Globe

Dull brown at the bottom leading way to a beautiful blend of dark orange colors on the way up. Head appears off-white in center, toasted marshmallow around the sides.

This is my second time drinking a bottle from 2000 and both bottles needed to breathe for 10 minutes, initial smell was not appealing but given time lends to an inviting yeast/malt aroma before drinking. Doesn't scream "drink me", but you forget about that after the first sip.

This is my favorite English Ale (Old Ale/Strong Ale). That being said I have not opened my Curmudgeons Better Half yet either. The sweet caramel, toasty malts and tongue rolling viscosity take this above all other ales. Almost tastes like a lighter Barleywine mixed with a Quad - in a very good way.

Slides down the throat with a little more than a medium alcohol vapor which stays in the mouth, but also keeps the great flavors lingering. Very creamy and sweet.

Not sure how readily available around the US, but easily accessible in Pa/New Jersey. Bottle prices range from 8.99 to 14.99. Have had every year except 1997, which I will open and review 11/3, have been waiting a while to do so. Seek this brew, from what I have tasted if properly stored it doesn't matter what year you find.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 03:29:42 | More by Valleyview06