Fuller's Vintage Ale - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

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

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(this was a 2008 bottle - notes from a tasting last month)

A deep amber/rosy and very cloudy ale. The head started sizzling and fizzling immediately, somehow leaving a short, foamy, off-white cap atop which I can only guess can be attributed to much (late) hopping. Are we looking at an infection, hmm?

Smells great, though. Toasty, graham-cracker, vinous (more sherry or cherry) and kind of leathery. Definitely richly malty. Floral alcohol aromatics - mild, highlighting. More so as it warms up indications of infection come through. Sour-spicy marginally reminiscent of Brett, but more like mold. Something's not right.

The flavor is slightly more complex with this funk. But not too bad. Oxidized caramel, raisin - generally damn malty. Quite estery as well, with a slight funky tang in the finish. Says "old ale" to me. No hops, no bitter to speak of. No funk and it scores higher. Still drinkable enough.

The light burn and prickly sensation with each sip was distracting (is that an appropriate word here?). Little bit of a "numbness" left on the tongue. Its pleasantly med-full, almost syrupy body comes to the rescue, sparing my floor a sticky, back-washed mess.

It was certainly drinkable, but I'm finding it funny how many bottle-conditioned, higher-gravity UK (strong, old) ales that I get are straight-up infected. The majority so far. Leaves me to wonder why they are even sent over here if the brewery and/or the distributors and retail outlets can't or won't handle them properly.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 02:34:38 | More by Bouleboubier

hardy008

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2011 Vintage. Pours a clear amber color with a 2 finger beige head with decent retention and spotty lacing. The aroma has caramel, apples, pears, grapes, and spices.

Tastes sweet with grapes, caramel, apples, pears, brown sugar, and alcohol. There is some hop bitterness to provide balance as well. I wish the alcohol was disguised, but still good.

Light to medium bodied with average carbonation and a booze aftertaste. A nice beer, but I would have scored it higher if the alcohol was less prominent.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 00:40:34 | More by hardy008

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage enjoyed 08/26/2012
Bottle 009168
500ml bottle into tumbler.

Slight hazy burnt copper pour, two finger, soapy egg shell head. Lacing is excellent.

Sweet biscuits, dried apricots, orange marmalade, vanilla, brown sugar and slight alcohol.

Brown sugar, vanilla, digestive cookies, orange marmalade, slight maple syrup. With a quick bitter finish.

Medium bodied, sticky on the lips slightly syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 21:47:20 | More by korguy123

brianwakeforestnc

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2007 bottle with a number of 127524, bought from a beer bottle (can't remember where) shop in Greensboro, NC.
A: Reddish brown, hazy, with clumps of yeast. Dull color. Not remarkable but to be expected from a 5 year old beer rested on the lee's. Very little carbonation with pretty much no head, leaves a nice lacing though.
S: Rich, figgy, yeastyness in the background, almost wine like. Little bit of funk that quickly gives away to a sweetness that reminds me of a dessert wine, almost like a tawny port but different. Hard to put the finger on, like it's spoiled in a really good way, like over ripe fruit.
T: Taste follows the smell closely. Soft sweetness, still get that figgyness, like a fig pastry, a little honey, followed by that yeasty funk that quickly fades.
M: The best part of this beer. Really fills the mouth, rolling it around this beer really coats the mouth leaving a long and lingering flavor. A pleasure to drink in a tactile way that is unusual but leaves you wanting another sip. Sad to see the end of this one.
O: Highly recommended if you have a sweet tooth. Complex and different, and interesting compared with a fresh beer. I've aged a couple beers but usually not this long. In addition I more fully see what they were trying to do with Kasteel Cuvee du Chateau as a result of drinking this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 04:27:53 | More by brianwakeforestnc

beerpirates

Belgium

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

50 cl bottle poured into my lost abbey stemware glass

Bottle from 2004
Bottle Nr. 14191

Pours a transparent, muddy amber with a clumpy, white head. Smells of figs, raisins, rum, brown sugar, caramel, a little port, just a touch oxidized.
Flavor is cinnamon , brown sugar, vanilla, cardamon, raisins, figs, candied orange zest, sherry,
Finish is slightly bitter , full bodied and still a touch sweet.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 14:16:07 | More by beerpirates

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from 2005 shared by Patrick.

The pour is a clear amber color with a very small off-white head. A bit of a sherry-like aroma. Quite fruity (raisins and cherries) with some vanilla and cream. Interesting aroma. The flavor is also heavy on the vanilla, sweet fruit, sugar, and caramel. A touch of sherry and oxidation in there as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 15:44:17 | More by womencantsail

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

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

2009 Vintage opened in 2012

Appearance – Pours a golden brownish red with a thin head and medium-low lacing.

Smell – A sweet boozey smell, with notes of oak, caramel, and vanilla.

Taste – Malty and oakey, with a touch of caramel, but not as much sweetness as I would have thought from the smell. Just a touch of hops as well.

Mouthfeel – Smooth, lightly carbonated, and lightly creamy with a little bite to it.

Drinkability – Although it’s not a fantastic old ale, I found it surprisingly drinkable for 8.5%abv, and went through the bottle far quicker than expected, so I'll bump up the overall score by a half point.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 06:37:41 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have been excited to try this beer since we bought it. We grabbed this one at Jungle Jim’s International Market, and it is one of several Fuller’s beers on our list. This one is special, though. It comes in a box! The bottle is in a box, I mean. Scott Shrewsberry (a friend from Google+) had a bottle of this the other night. He has had several, and said it was pretty great. That, and each bottle is individually labeled. That is an attention to detail that I can appreciate.

In the Glass: The beer sits there silky smooth almost pouring like whiskey. There is very little head, and no lace to speak of. When you swill it gets a nice copper line around the rim, but nothing to write home about. Based on what I know about this beer, that is exactly what I expected.

Nose: It smells incredible. Imagine sniffing a barleywine. It has a very sweet nose with the expected copper notes at the end of the sniff. I am smelling this right out of the bottle right out of the fridge, and as this sits the aroma will start to increase, and the flavors will expand. But I was too eager to write, so I wanted to just pull it out and pour!

Flavor: Wow. This beer is loaded with flavor. It is very similar to a barleywine. I am not big on old ales, nor do I know many more that exist. But I do know that I have lately been falling for a good barleywine. I love the high ABV and the sweetness it brings to the palate. They usually have a pretty solid aftertaste, too.

Mouthfeel: This beer is very smooth as it slides across the palate. It has the consistency of a spirit more than a beer. There are no bubbles, which I like. I like in a beer like this, that is. It is not a beer you would chug, and while the ABV is only 8.5%, it still has the consistency of a beer you would sip and appreciate.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is smooth and sweet with a malty finish. The aftertaste sticks around for a while, and it is not overwhelming but those sweet notes that you picked up on the nose and in the flavor aren’t going anywhere. This is a delicious beer and one that might be better with a big fancy cigar.

LIke I said, I am a big fan of barleywine and this one is very close to the Brooklyn, my favorite affordable barleywine. Maybe I will go out and find some more old ales to try. We have tried a couple from Fuller’s, and I have been impressed. If you like a beer that has a smooth finish and a subtle sweetness, try Fuller’s Vintage Ale. This makes me want to find different years. Oh, and to buy one to cellar! Bottoms up, people!

Fuller’s Vintage Ale - The bottle (and in this case, the box) says: “Limited Edition: I have crafted this very special ale from the finest Golding hops, Tipple malted barley and of our unique yeast to create a truly extraordinary limited edition brew.

“Individually packaged and numbered, this bottle is one of only one hundred and sixty thousand produced.

“Although we are obliged to state a best before date of 2012, like a fine wine or whiskey this mellow golden ale will improve with age for many more years. For best results keep upright in a cook, dark room or cellar.

“This 2009 edition marks 12 years of brewing this magnificent ale. Further information on preview Vintage Ales can be found inside.

“Being bottle conditioned, this beer will form a natural sediment; so pour carefully, sit back, and enjoy this, the very finest of Fuller’s ales. - John Keeling, BREW MASTER”

*Each bottle of Fuller’s Vintage Ale is numbered.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 05:54:53 | More by rickyleepotts

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Light chestnut brown colour that borders on an amber-brown look with a bubbly, thumb sized white head on the top that looks creamy at times. Great retention, slowly receeding to a pinky size then stays throughout.

Very, very sweet to begin with, mainly toffee and sugar to kick thing off and closely followed by some earthy malts, vanilla and a sweet fruit aroma that may include figs and even some butterscotch. There is a little caramel at the end along with some other non-de-script smells.

Very nice to begin with, there is a good hop presence that is backed up with a lot of sweetness and a solid malt base. I can detect the sugar and fruits from the smell as well and even some caramel. I had a feeling this would be a pretty heavy beer but this was not the case with vanilla in there and a touch of toffee and yeast.

A full body and a very creamy, smooth mouthfeel that is quite filling. Moderate carbonation is coupled with a very sweet taste and touches of bitter in the finish although these are light and pass quickly.

Not as good as I had been hoping to begin with but once the beer had been given a chance to open up a bit it was a much better beer for it, with a lot more flavour and character as well as a much better mouthfeel. It had a good balance throughout and the 8.5% abv. was really only noticeable right at the end.

1001 Beers Blog:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 13:07:18 | More by flyingpig

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is an 09 vintage of this beer.

The beer pours a very attractive reddish brown color with some nice cream lacing and a bit of cream colored head. Opaque for sure.

The smell isn't as present as id like, but the very nice musty caramel notes and toasted dark bread is very enticing. Has a bit of anise in the nose and some plum dark fruit too. Just a solid old ale smell, textbook.

The taste is the smell with more juicy sweet and savory notes added on top, I really enjoy the sugar covered dark fruit notes and Irish soda bread favors in this beer, it really is the standard for old ales in my opinion. A touch of alcohol hits at the back of the tongue with a bittersweet flavor, though there isn't any burn at all...the feel is slick and maybe not as thick as I would like but rolls over nicely anyway. No hops to speak of, it's all malt and cellar flavor in this nice beer.

This beer is a classic and should be sitting and aging in every true beer lovers cellar.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:31:53 | More by Dreadnaught33

king75

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 2008
A- An amber red color with a solid inch of creamy foam colored head with generous lacing and long retention.

S- This one smells delicious! I pick up hints of figs and plums, a boozy smell of brandy/bourbon, and a strong bready malt sensation.

T- well balanced and full bodied. A strong flavor of fig, and prunes throughout with a slight citrus flavor of mellowed hops. Strong malt flavor that gives it a medium body. Light and fluid across the palate with substantial tartness.

overall, this was a very unique and flavorful beer that I will definitely search out in the future. worth the buy and holds up well to age.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 15:09:51 | More by king75

Drinkerofales

California

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Clear golden amber, with a huge light tan head that slowly dissipates.

Smell is a tad mild, rich caramel maltiness, a bit of fruity hop, but that lessens as it warms.

Taste is toasted caramel, a hint of leather, and a strange aftertaste I can't bring myself to love.

Texture is medium bodied, lightly viscous, and very smooth. Texture leads to easy drinking, but the flavor makes it slow down.

I wasn't expecting much for this beer, and I got a lot more what I thought. I might age one, then again...

DOA

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 20:08:15 | More by Drinkerofales

vkv822

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

16.9oz bottle into tulip snifter.
2010 vintage.
bottle No. 089838

Pours a clear amber, with slight orange hues. A bubbly, foamy off white colored head.

Really pleasant nose. Sweet toffee and caramel, boozy oak notes.
Light leathery, dark fruit notes.

Taste follows the nose, with sweet toffee and caramel followed by light oaky, boozy, leathery and dark fruit.

A thin to medium mouthfeel with low carbonation.

Very inviting nose, with good taste and a bit of an average/unexciting mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 08:55:21 | More by vkv822

Kinsman

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 vintage. Pours a hazy dark copper color with a creamy than head sitting nicely on top. Wonderful malty sweet aromas greet the nose. Vanilla and brown sugar mix in with some nice fruit notes.

Deliciously rich and malty Old ale with a complex array of vanilla and caramel sweetness with some fruits on top. Nice bready flavor underlying it all with just a hint of alcohol in there as well.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a nice full-bodied texture. Overall, the Fullers Vintage ales truly are tasty treat well worth the price per bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 23:51:50 | More by Kinsman

IPA4LIFE

United Kingdom (England)

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Absolutely gorgeous deep copper color. Just off of crystal clear. Medium 1 finger egg-shell head rose up with fairly low retention and relatively little lacing. Great color, and the head is just what I would expect for a beer that is two years old.

S- Sweet scotch barrel notes up front in a big way with lots of booze and lots of oak. A little brown sugar and some dark fruits (fig) as well. Pretty good smell. The oak barrel notes are outstanding.

T- Again, scotch is the big thing I am getting on the taste. Rich and oaky with a solid dose of booze at the beginning. There is some sweetness underneath that. A little vanilla and maybe a touch of cherry. Amazingly complex and robust. Outstanding overall taste.

M- Maybe a bit too carbonated for the flavors, but I'm being super picky there. Overall mouthfeel is good.

O- Awesome beer. Rich and warming with a good amount of booze. This is an absolutely world class beer that shows amazing potential to age. I have a few bottles of 2009 vintage that I plan on hanging on to for a few more years.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 16:59:28 | More by IPA4LIFE

oline73

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass, this bottle was from the 2010 vintage.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber with a slight reddish hue. There is a half finger of off white head that goes away rather quickly.

Smell: Sweet and rather malty, I'm getting caramel and some fruity notes. Dark fruits and some mild grapes.

Taste: Sweet, but not quite as sweet as the smell. Malty, lots of caramel and some grape notes. Also getting some dark fruits, raisins and figs. The finish has some alcohol and more sweet malt flavors.

Mouthfeel: The body is just on the thick side of medium with tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I didn't know much about this one going in, but I was quite happy with it. A very nice after dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 02:22:56 | More by oline73

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

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

vintage 2010.

bottle number 106751.

poured into oversized snifter glass.

Appearance: dark amber to light brown bodied beer that glows red when held to light. 3 fingers of head from a moderately hard pour. Head drops down to a thin cap.

Smell: really malty. Its bready with honey notes. The smell almost reminds me of how honey wheat pretzel braids taste. The beer is also fruity and spicy. The nose has a candy sweetness to it as well. It kind of reminds me of a belgian triple.

Taste: Its moderately sweet and has a wine like vinous taste to it as well. Mid palate the beer gets fruity and spicy. Pears, apples, and white grapes are fairly apparent. The beer finishes fruity and spicy. The hops are felt with the addition of a mild spiciness like pepper and herbal notes in the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. The carbonation is done really well in this beer imparting a creamy mouthfeel and a semi-dri finish.

Overall: This beer smells nice and the mouthfeel is great. It tastes like a belgian triple to me, not an old ale. It let me down a little bit. Decent beer, but if you want a really good Old Ale get yourself some Hair of the Dog Adam!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 02:01:36 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

popery

California

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 edition.

Pours a warm amber color with a small beige cap. The glass glows with beer as the lacing slowly slides down the walls. The aroma is rich with sugary malt notes. Toffee, dates, raisins, light citrus, pastry dough, caramel, coffee cake, honey, earth, wood, fresh biscuits and glazed donuts are some flavors that come to mind. The taste is luxuriously sweet, like wrapping your tongue in a warm blanket of malt candy. There's still a touch of hop presence from the Challenger/Northdown, and it comes across with a light resin and earth bitterness in the finish. Lots of honey and dark fruit. It's just a pleasure to drink. The alcohol warms the palate. Carbonation is light. A tasty, tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:48:41 | More by popery

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle poured into tulip - 2009 vintage

Pours a hazed dark brown with a cloud of tanned head on top. Filmy retention with some spotty lacing on the glass.

Very malty and rich in the nose. Touches of dark fruit with raisin and bread crust. Some caramel and syrupy sweetness. Light warmth from the alcohol as well.

Malty and robust up front with some roasty tones. Dark malts with touches of candied fruit and some burnt sugar. Dates and raisins with some syrupy notes and sweetness. Warm and full on the finish.

Fuller body, decent carbonation, sticky and lingering on the tongue. Pretty rich, lasting beer although it might not be worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 16:36:55 | More by xnicknj