Fuller's Vintage Ale - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

hustlesworth

Ohio

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2010 vintage no. 084075

A- there's nothin like that fizz when you pour a bottle conditioned beer. The head on this one rivals the beauty of any dubbel or BSDA- it's buttercream colored and bubbly and lacey and is a masterpiece floating atop this splendiforous murky burnt orange rusty colored ale.

S- imagine Fullers ESB on meth, with more pronounced toffee type aromas and lighter on the chocolatey 'darker' ones. Every type of caramel and praline, milk chocolate, toffee, butterscotch, hazelnut, raisin, date, fig, almost burnt cookies, earthy notes of pipe tobacco and leather, mineral water, and sandalwood.

T- the first thing i notice is a ridiculously concentrated flavor of toffee and deeply toasted marshmallow, leading into sweet nuttiness and caramel and a balancing earthy dark woodsy bitterness. This is an extraordinary ale. Compared to the flavor, the aroma now seems to lean on the fruity side, but the taste of melon and pineapple alcohol are prevalent, adding a fine layer of softly sophisticated heat, like chocolate with just a tiny bit of chili pepper. Fig, date, prune and black grape skin take on darker, more caramelized tones here as they would after being doused with cognac and cooked into a reduction sauce. A bit of peppery spice bounces around in the finish with lingering tea like very mellow bitterness thanks to masterful use of hops and careful aging.

MF- cream on cream on cream. Cream city, bitch. When I think of bottle conditioned perfection, I naturally think Belgian. Well, first I think quad and then I think Belgian. Anyway, it's because of what happens to the beer inside that bottle. It's zippy, natural, fresh, and sometimes surprising. Thats one end of the spectrum- this old ale showcases the other softer end which for me, often goes unappreciated. Delicate yet noticeable. Mild mannered but authoritative, enhancing the obvious generosity and quality of ingredients in such a way that it somehow (and it may be the yeast manipulating me here) seems an extension of the figurative creaminess itself, as perhaps a swashbuckler's rapier would be an extension of his own arm. Or for you beer geeks out there, darth vader's red phallic light saber. Either way, there's a seamless, streamlined melding from bubbles to body and I'd give it a 6 if I could.

D- expletives should be used here. This one hasn't even reached its 'peak' (which the brewery states is 3-4 years of aging) yet it is perfect to me after only two. I hold much delight in knowing that I can grab a couple more bottles of the 2010 to lay down for a few more years. This is a commanding beer, fit for celebration and commencement, and when we cross paths again it won't be used for amusement on a boring Tuesday night.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 03:08:36 | More by hustlesworth

speter

New Jersey

4.59/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage.

A: Deep ruby that poured clear before I swirled the yeasty goodness that lent a tinge of cloud to the glass. Large bubble, off-white head quickly dissipated, leaving virtually no lacing nor residual carbonation.

S: Toffee, caramel, raisins, and toasted biscuits, with a faint hint of hay and a touch of yeast.

T: Follows the nose closely, with a dose of toffee up front giving way to more bready goodness in mid palate and a balancing bit of bitterness in the finish. However, the malt's the star here. As the ale opens up, the raisins give way to darker fruit and an almost oaky/bourbony quality.

M: Mouth-coating and syrupy, especially due to the light British carbonation levels. This would be a perfect crisp fall day beer.

O: This is a truly superb brew that captures the best of the British Isles. Akin to a German Doppelbock, this has a biscuity quality I have come to love in real British ales, along with the subtle understatement of Goldings. I am going to get more of these, laying them down for 3-4 years as recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 23:24:45 | More by speter

dhardman7

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-16-2013 17:25:07 | More by dhardman7

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-16-2013 06:00:58 | More by ShemRahBoo

HisBoyElroy

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-15-2013 20:33:26 | More by HisBoyElroy

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-15-2013 18:58:05 | More by TheBeeraholic

TT--Cashout

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-15-2013 02:21:57 | More by TT--Cashout

Docrock

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-14-2013 16:47:58 | More by Docrock

AndyPublican

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Burnt taste, really like black tea, it is very bitter. The flavors of malt and hops are intertwined. Tried vintage 2010, apparently was too young. Such beer to withstand the maximum, only if it is fully revealed. Suffice it to yourself to get a certain characteristics to safely call it in English, tough ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 13:47:49 | More by AndyPublican

Hsraiders9688

Arizona

5/5  rDev +19.3%

06-13-2013 13:03:30 | More by Hsraiders9688

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-13-2013 02:16:30 | More by kawilliams81

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2011 Vintage poured into a snifter

A- Pours very murky/hazy orange amber color. A frothey off white head.

S- This beer smells like an aged IPA surprisingly. A bitter Fruit smell. A lot of grapefruit, candied raisins. A slight cinnamon and spice. A sticky syrupy sweet smelling brew.

T- A big malty flavor to this beer. A light caramel and a sweet toffee flavor. A slight roastyness. A sticky dark fruit flavor. A massive plum presence and a candied raisin. A very nice grain flavor and yeastyness. A slight spiciness as well. A remaining hop bitterness but most of the flavor has faded.

M- A lighter body then I expected. Perfect carbonation and an overall pleasing brew on the palate.

O- A very solid Old ale. I would love to try some older vintages and have no doubt this would age well.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 22:15:41 | More by TwelveOunces

mungus

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-11-2013 11:48:50 | More by mungus

Isotope

Texas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-05-2013 21:45:18 | More by Isotope

J_Dub

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-04-2013 18:25:56 | More by J_Dub

beernads

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-03-2013 18:42:08 | More by beernads

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev -28.4%

06-01-2013 19:31:21 | More by schnarr84

funkengruven

Ontario (Canada)

4.73/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

2006 vintage, bottle # 67668, had this sitting in my cellar since i acquired it nearly 7 years ago. I was expecting this to be a little off, not even a little bit.

This poured a deep clear ruby with a little off white head, smell is very strong mostly of caramel malt with some hops. Flavor is very bold and full of malt with some hops in the finish. Alcohol is definitely present but it's taste is well concealed in the brew.
Mouthfeel is very full and strong, this is something you want to take nice and slow.

I'm very glad i let this one rest a bit before giving it a go. I imagine that a fresh one would be very sweet and very boozy. I will have to get another one of these once they are available again to sit in my cellar for a while.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 23:32:00 | More by funkengruven

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-26-2013 19:45:06 | More by Slatetank

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

05-23-2013 03:17:05 | More by kvnstfrd

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 00:47:38 | More by Kmat10

2GOOFY

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-18-2013 04:52:31 | More by 2GOOFY

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

emaciated

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-09-2013 01:59:08 | More by emaciated

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-07-2013 23:00:02 | More by dalepryor