Fuller's Vintage Ale - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

JDV

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -48.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

'05 bottle shared by chadspivey
Pours a clear copper color with light offwhite head. Very strong fruity, cherry to strawberry candy like smell to it. Reminded me of the hard strawberry candies with the gooey centers. Taste, however is quite mild and bland with some fruity maltiness . Not too offensive, some guazy flavors and super tame, I thought.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 00:44:21 | More by JDV

Erdinger2003

Iowa

2.2/5  rDev -47.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The beer pours a nice clear brown/gold color that looks nice with no head and a little lacing. The smell is very light and hard to smell very well, but there's a slight hoppiness to it, but the hops flavor/aroma has morphed almost into a metallic flavor. The mouthfeel isn't so great, it's a little offensive. Overall I wouldn't try this ever again, not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 08:13:53 | More by Erdinger2003

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

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -40.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This is the 2008 version, bottle #04631. Now my brother tried this and said he wasn't impressed. Thought I'd give it a go, since I have the 2009 bottle sitting in the cellar.

Apperance: A body cloudy orange which has some minor carbonation and a single finger of creamy head. The isn't very much in the way of lacing and the retention is a bit better then average.

Smell: The dominating scent of brandy with touches of apricots really make their presence known as the muted background of tea, toffee malt and a slight touch of floral hops struggle to overcome it. Didn't take much warming to come out though.

Taste: My brother in this case hit the nail on the head. This beer tastes like someone took an English ale and mixed Brandy into it. The beginning has the fainest taste of apricots, dominated by a strong brandy/alcohol presence. The malt then tries to make an appearance but is crushed by a spirit like flavor whose potency is increased by the floral hops at the end.

Mouthfeel: Very bitter aftertaste that lingers for far too long, and frankly is somewhat reminiscent of solvent. The transitioning is also weak, because the Brandy taste destroys any other flavors. Carbonation is alright though.

Drinkability: Surprisingly refreshing, but it is giving me a little bit of heartburn, which I'm blaming on the high alcohol content. I wouldn't call it a smooth drinker, and is far too "snooty" in taste to pound back.

Final Thoughts: If you are a fan of brandy, maybe this will be your cup of tea. I however found this beer to be quite a disappointment. I'm not looking forward to that bottle of 2009. Maybe if I let it sit for a year I can trade it away later, because I really would not want to have this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 05:29:09 | More by TheHammer

cjgator3

Florida

2.58/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

2006 vintage, # 89117

Comes in a classy red box. Poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark amber/brown with a small fizzy head that quickly disappears. The aroma is sweet malt and dark fruits that is almost unpleasantly metallic and alcoholic. The taste is malty with some caramel and a dry, spicy and boozy finish from the alcohol. This one definitely needs some aging. I found it to be rather harsh and unpleasant when consumed fresh and I struggled to finish the whole thing.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2007 03:21:31 | More by cjgator3

WhiteOak

Connecticut

2.58/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Lt. Ed. Bottle No. 148180
G- INAO Tasting Glass, to try to coax a smell out of this uncooperative brew.

A- Coarse-bubbled head. Light copper-amber.

S- Dead nose. The only aroma detectable is a touch of sulfur-metallic hints. This beer disappointingly smells like nothing more inviting than London Public tap water.

T- Simple slightly sweet malt flavor. Touch of toffee.

The complete lack of aroma and one dimensional flavor of this beer were disppointments, and I don't consider it worthy of the special packaging.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2010 01:01:16 | More by WhiteOak

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 12/16/2008 (2006 bottle #77764):

Pours a reddish brownish color body. Clearish, with an okay sized white head, but soon diminishing. Dark fruit aroma, fig, raisin. Some mustiness, and a little alcohol too. Cherry too. Some hops balance the nose, but not a lot. Not a very strong aroma. Some coffee/toffee tastes. Muted taste, some fig taste. Some dark cherry. But there's not much flavor present. Okay mouthfeel, carbonated. This one might not have aged as well in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2009 22:04:17 | More by jujubeast6000

TurdFurgison

Ohio

2.9/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I tried this at the Hopleaf in Chicago and didn't like it. Kind of against the grain as this is a highly rated beer but I know what I don't like.

To start with it was low in carbonation. The aroma was malty sweet with no hops, and smelled like a cross between sherry and cough syrup. There were lots of flavors (caramel, figs, a little bit of cherry or almond), but honestly the overall impression was cough syrup.

I won't try it again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2006 22:08:13 | More by TurdFurgison

ktrillionaire

Florida

2.9/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

I have been looking forward to this beer for quite a while. I couldn't crack it 'til at least 2010 though.

A – Like iced tea, cloudy, with an orange-brownish hue, and a smallish tan head

S – Real buttery, with toffee and caramel dominating and a muted hop aroma, grassy and vaguely earthy.

T – Too sweet, caramelly and unexciting. There is also a horrendous green tea aftertaste, coupled with the lack of wood or cognac or 'old', booo!!! I am bitterly disappointed. I looked forward to it so… And I don’t feel like it could get better with age.

M – Fuller’s ESB.

D – Never again 2008!!! I hated almost everything about the year 2008, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this sheisty beer. What a waste of $8! I could've bought a million superior beers at $8 a bottle.

Overall, I would say this is one of the most disappointing beers I've ever had. It is certainly not the worst, it really isn't even bad, but I'd drink Bud Light over this as a protest.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 09:53:58 | More by ktrillionaire

joehiatt

Maryland

3/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 1.5

Bottle #122117 of 145000 of 2008. Drunk March 2010.

Appearance: Gorgeous, in all respects. The bottling and packaging is unique, the bottle itself is enviable, and it only gets better once poured. The color is a rich, though light copper, the head is clean ivory with fine bubbles, though no lacing as one would expect on a bottle-conditioned ale. The beer is slightly hazy despite careful pouring (at refrigerator temps) though this chill haze dissipates with warming.

Smell: Alcohol dominates. Toffee and Raisins present. Reminiscent of a whiskey. Some vanilla as well.

Taste: Grows on you. If you aren't expecting, which you won't be, comes as something of a shock. Quite sweet, though not cloying. Back-of-the-throat burn do to alcohol, perhaps. Again, in this way reminiscent of whiskey. A little unbalanced. Maybe more than a little.

Mouthfeel: Great. The saving grace of this beer. Excellent carbonation predominantly; allows it it be sweet with out being cloying and heavy yet still refreshing.

Drinkability: Poor. Harsh aftertaste and strong, unmatched flavors made one bottle between two certainly enough to satisfy.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 21:40:41 | More by joehiatt

mzwolinski

California

3.05/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a very attractive amber in color with a thin, white head which, alas, poops out pretty quick. Aroma is dominated by sweet caramel malt and a strong scent of alcohol. Alcohol hits you right up front in the taste, too, followed by a fruity, pear-like malt sweetness, and finally a rather grassy hop finish. Alcohol taste is present pretty much throughout the sip, and a bit too strong for the flavor of the beer. The other flavors seem a bit unbalanced as well -- the malt and hops just don't seem to "fit" together very well. Mouthfeel is full and coating, which adds to the medicinal effect created by the over-strong alcohol flavor. I could understand these problems if this were a new beer, but this has been aging for a while. I can't see myself having another.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2003 08:49:41 | More by mzwolinski

bditty187

Nebraska

3.08/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2004 Vintage; bottle #90477

Served at cellar temperature.

It pours a wonderful bright crimson in hue; perfectly ruby when backlight. I also notice how strikingly clear the fluid is; in other words no yeast. I thought Vintage Ale wasn’t filter, clearly (ha! what a pun) I was misinformed. Off-white head, at the apex the foam was almost two fingers tall. Head retention was excellent, a soapy cap lasted the entire consumption. Subsequent lacing was spotty but noticeable. Overall, the appearance is excellent.

Disappointing nose. Buttery notes in the distance, kind of fruity and sort of malty. I can’t detect a trace of the 8.5% ABV. The nose is shockingly lame; no complexity, no invitation to take a sip. I am baffled by the overall lack of aroma. Average... at best.

The palate is nominally livelier than the nose, for what that is worth. Moderately malty, sort of sweet with some fruitiness and a kiss of bitterness; sadly there are also metal undercurrents. The aftertaste is a condensed version of the palate; it packs a little life but some odd “moldy” jam fruitiness. Really there isn’t much going on here, there are no attributes that standout enough for me to say I can taste them individually. I feel like a rookie writing this review but, hey, there is just nothing to say.

Medium in body, low carbonation; the mouthfeel is noticeably thin and uneventful.

Overall, this is beer is quite average. How can 1845 rock so much while Vintage Ale is so lame? Is my bottle “old?” Mistreated? I have kept it in my cellar for a couple years but I fail to remember where I purchased it; Missouri I would guess. I am quite bummed but if I see another bottle I might considered trying it again as Fullers is an excellent brewery and this beer seems out of character for them.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2008 15:02:30 | More by bditty187

nick76

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Year 2008. The aroma is rich and sweet with malt, caramel, light fruit, alcohol, lemon, and vanilla. The appearance is amber with a small but foamy head. The flavor is like the aroma but very alcoholic even for a beer at 8.5%. The palate is a little thin but OK. The aftertaste is soapy. Even though this beer has some good qualities the whole is not better than the sum of the parts.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 21:20:21 | More by nick76

hotstuff

Indiana

3.2/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle #02245. This beer poured a medium sized head with medium sized bubbles. The body was clear and the hue of this beer was brown. There was good lacing on the sides of my glass. The nose was hoppy and it had a bitter aftertaste to it. This beer was just so-so in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2003 18:52:37 | More by hotstuff

claytong

Vermont

3.23/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

had a 2009 last night. enjoy the style, had mediocre to high expectations especially from the price.

appearance - almost a 4 but just was too lifeless, blood red in color, beautiful color, like no beer i have seen, but also made me think this wasnt going to taste like beer. no head or lacing until stirred and poured in the last bit then got a half inch head that died within a couple seconds and left no trace

smell - cherry and sherry, not much else, smelt sour at first opening and after pour smelt very sweet

taste - cherry and sherry and nothing else. overly sweet, and i love sweet beers. a tiny bit of cough medicine from the overly sweetness and syrup like feel

mouthfeel - syrup, odd body, medium i guess

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 18:38:17 | More by claytong

setexascustoms

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

2010 Vintage poured into a wine glass.

A- Deep amber, almost a maple color, not much head to speak of (very gentle pour). Little lacing, and what was there didn't have much stick.

S- Sweet malts with dark fruit, raisins and booze.

T- Again very sweet, almost cloying to me. Some raisin and some maple flavor. No real bitterness to speak of, I'm having a hard time find any hop flavors. To me, not very balanced. It reminded me of some mead my wife and I were given for our wedding, but with maple replacing the honey. Also some warming booze, this beer seems to do nothing to hide the 8.5% ABV.

M- Full and almost syrupy, very little carbonation.

O- Maybe my palate is not advanced enough, or maybe this doesn't have enough age on it. I have another bottle I'll probably sit on for three of four more years, then I'll revisit this. But I had a hard time finishing a glass. I'm not going to bash the rating too bad because this is my first strong ale, but the cloying sweetness prevented me from finishing this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 13:38:37 | More by setexascustoms

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a vintage 2004 bottle. Number on the label says that it is bottle number 89505. Poured into a sniffer a honey color with reddish hues. Head was large at first, but soon became smaller, with good retention. The aroma held plenty of alcohol, and a backing of fruit and chocolate. Flavor had some husky grains, followed by fruit, and then ending with a sort of bitter, taste bud numbing effect. Mouthfeel was relatively medium, with a hint of carbonation. Drinkable? Yes, but one was more than enough for me. The last time I had this it was a new bottle, so I honestly can't remember the differences brought on by age. I might see myself picking this vintage year up again and putting it in the basement for a few more years to mature. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2007 23:07:17 | More by jamie2dope

jwhawkins81

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2006 Vintage No 84199

Aroma - Sweet light malt with a hint of wine and alcohol.

Appearance - Good light tan head with a trickle of carbonation. Beer was a golden red color.

Taste - Slight oxidation with hints of woody flavors a touches of muted flavors reminiscent of Fuller's 1845. Not sweet nor bitter. Initially I don't think this beer is very complex. Alcohol burn on the back of the throat.

Notes - Its good just nothing special and maybe not worth the wait. Maybe this bottle was a little mistreated before I purchased it temperature wise but not the complex flavors I was expecting and I usually love everything Fuller's puts out.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2010 19:14:05 | More by jwhawkins81

Cresant

Kentucky

3.3/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured this 1 pint .09 oz. heavy brown bottle into a becker. 2004 vintage, bottle stated, "best before end of 2007". Three fingers of creamy, beige head sat atop a dull yet clear amber/golden body.

Smell was strong and aromatic. Dried fruits and mild rum. Brown sugar.

Taste was like sweet fruitcake. Boozy without being overpowering. Vinous. Moist brown bread. Slight caramel flavor. Tangy prunes. Complex and interesting. A bit too heavy in alcohol flavor.

Mouthfeel was smooth and somewhat oily. Mildly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2007 01:07:23 | More by Cresant

hopsleeroy

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage.
A-Cloudy, mysterious beer, alot of carbonation bubbles, caramel amber color
S-Caramel, earthy, biscuity, very malt forward smell
T-Slighty caramel/toffee, biscuity malt, earthy, grassy hops, not really coming together for me
M-Medium to full fairly carbonated, creamy
D-Not sure I want to drink anymore of these

I've had this before but not rated it-This needs to age a little more and I think the taste will smooth out.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2008 03:24:46 | More by hopsleeroy

NorCalYeti

California

3.33/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

taste- malty, bitter, slight fruit

color- orange amber

clarity- clear

smell- soft sweet alcoholic malt

body- medium-full

appearance- medium color, off-white head

overall impression- good beer. drinkable, not my preference in a bottle conditioned beer

notes- this review is for a 2000 vintage tasted in 2004

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 03:54:03 | More by NorCalYeti

throwitallaway

Alabama

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 16.9oz. bottle into a snifter. Amber color. Big head that dissipates to a small layer of foam. Aroma of caramel, plums, a little spice and alcohol. Taste of caramel, spice, and alcohol. Black licorice on the finish. Mouthfeel is nice and creamy. Ultimately there's too much alcohol in the flavor profile for me, making this an okay beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2008 00:41:00 | More by throwitallaway

jbphoto88

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007 Bottle of Vintage Ale, aged a couple of years but still before the "suggested" best by 2010 date. Pours a deep orange garnet and is slightly hazed. The head is sticky, off white and falls slowly to a medium thin level of bubbles.

The nose is unimpressive. Toasty malts and a boozy caramel, toffee.

Taste is good but not great. I am greeted with a sweet malt flavor that transitions to a gritty grain and caramelized sugar. The background is earthy and woody but not to the point of tasting like a barrel aged product. It's a flavor that is more obstructive and kind of musty then pleasant. A light everclear soaked malt ball finish me off leaving a nice warmth in my throat.

Bittered extremely well and balanced by a nice smooth, creamy characteristic. To me this is the best part of the beer. I enjoy the acidic nature of it offset by the smoothness. I don't love the mature flavors, I would imagine that it's better fresher but the mellowed mouthfeel is worth the few years. My bottle number is 140,956 out 150K. Maybe these last 10,000 are the bottom of the barrel and not the best offering. I will have to look for a fresh bottle to compare because this one frankly is a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 20:55:51 | More by jbphoto88

stcules

Italy

3.4/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2003 Vintage.
Reddish color, quite dark, ruby reflexes.
Beautiful head, average in compactness.
Malt and caramel in the smell, with a sweet fruitiness. Maybe hints of raspberry, and musk. Red fruit (even sour black cherry). Good balance between sweet and bitter.
Same notes in the taste, with red fruit. Interesting. Alcohol well hidden.
Good beer, probabilly suitable for aging.
Good hop in the aftertaste, quite earthy.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2007 20:44:31 | More by stcules

JRed

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours an orange, caramel hue. A sweet butterscotch, woody flavor with some light fruit notes in the aroma. A dull taste of wood, molasses, unsweetened butterscotch, bitter oranges. The aftertaste is a dull, orange rind off flavor with tang that doesn't sit well with my palate. Light in body with little to no carbonation. This syrup, caramelized ale doesn't stand out among the rest of the pack.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 20:15:29 | More by JRed