Fuller's Vintage Ale - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

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

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

pkenkman

Estonia

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-06-2013 15:43:37 | More by pkenkman

HoistinBrews

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-05-2013 03:04:06 | More by HoistinBrews

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

innominat

Ireland

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-03-2013 16:23:01 | More by innominat

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

Jordantb313

Colorado

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-23-2013 20:57:02 | More by Jordantb313

ObeMaltKinobee

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

04-23-2013 13:52:44 | More by ObeMaltKinobee

YamagamiTravis

Japan

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-23-2013 13:36:47 | More by YamagamiTravis

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

GRUUMSH

Belgium

5/5  rDev +19.3%

04-08-2013 15:11:22 | More by GRUUMSH

VaporDome

New York

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

04-07-2013 21:22:53 | More by VaporDome

KingSlayer

Mexico

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

04-07-2013 20:31:31 | More by KingSlayer

bigbeerfan

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-01-2013 04:17:41 | More by bigbeerfan

Teddy-Pickles

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

03-30-2013 00:34:00 | More by Teddy-Pickles

DarthKostrizer

California

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

03-27-2013 08:18:07 | More by DarthKostrizer

Pelicanrocks

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

03-21-2013 22:27:53 | More by Pelicanrocks

BGsWo22

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

03-21-2013 00:20:11 | More by BGsWo22

beertardis

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -4.5%

03-14-2013 18:24:28 | More by beertardis

patre_tim

China

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

03-12-2013 04:05:11 | More by patre_tim