Fuller's 1845 - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

After a string of bad beers and realizing I need some space in my fridge to fit my most recent purchases from the LCBO, I decided that Fuller's usually has good stuff that will be able to break me out of this rut. Got this one from Ludachris, and it has a best before is 28/7/2010

Appearance: Clearly a bottle conditioned beer, as there is a large amount of yeasty sediment. Produced only a finger of had that did lace and retain somewhat. The beer itself is a dark red copper color.

Smell: A very nice dried fruit smell, specifically noticing apricots. Has a good background of malts and a bit of a dry hop smell. Didn't take any warming to come out either.

Taste: Starts with a very rich malt texture that gets quite a bit milder as you drink it that ends with a light dusting of dry hops. It's nice, but not quite as fruity or diverse as I expected it to be.

Mouthfeel: Well the carbonation is quite good and it transitions fairly well but it does leave a little bit too much of a dry sensation for my liking. The aftertaste is alright, but it does linger for a bit too long.

Drinkability: The dry texture really stops me from putting this down and it's not all that refreshing. I mean no gas or bloating issues but it just doesn't seem to do that much for me. It's alright, but it just seems to be missing the mark.

Final Thoughts: All in all, a good beer but I wouldn't say it's exceptional. I certainly appreciated the Fullers ESB a lot more then this. It's worth one try, but I wouldn't go past that.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 01:17:57 | More by TheHammer

WesWes

New York

3.38/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a nice ruby red color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a weak malty scent that boasts of pale and some crystal malts. It seems dry and a bit breadlike with little hops. The taste is average. It has a very dry and bitter flavor that is bland and stale. It goes down slow and reveals it's elevated abv. in the finish. It has a decent malt palate that consists of pale and crystal malts. There is also English hops in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a decent brew, but nothing special. I don't care for the grain bill or the hop selection. It's one and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2005 00:37:59 | More by WesWes

NiceGuyMike

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a dark amber reddish hue. Limited off white head with little lacing.

Pretty much tastes as it smells. This beer has a very sweet malty Chocolaty character (sugar Daddy). Slight bitterness with strong alcohol character. Too much considering it has 6% ABV. Aside from bitterness, almost no hoppiness. Average mouthfeel.

I cant say I'm overly impressed with this beer. I give it a 3.5 for taste because the style describes it as such.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2005 23:40:17 | More by NiceGuyMike

TheBungyo

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This poured into my nonic from the bottle with a whopper of a head. The Mount Ranier of heads ...
My curious sniffing picked up mostly the smell of fruity hops. Not what I expected out of an English ale by a longshot. Pronlonged sniffage reveals mellow carmel malts ... they for some reason remind me of Fat Tire Amber Ale by New Belgium, and the Abbey Ale New Belgium makes as well. There's a strange aftertaste I get with those beers that reminds me of must, mildew or a wet dog. I'm picking that up now as well.

The taste is ever so slightly bitter, followed by caramel, and then that unpleasant musty taste which I dread. A shame because this has more lace to offer than Victoria Secret.
One is certaintly enough for me. I have no desire for another.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2006 05:50:44 | More by TheBungyo

SaunaKing

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A rich copper color with a nice tan head thats creamy and long lasting with nice lacing makes this look like a great English Ale. The smell is sweet butterscotch, with a creamy tangy sweet taste mainly of caramel and malts. The mouthfeel is spicy & tangy - maybe a little too much and while this is a nice beer, its not one of my favorites because others in the style I enjoy are much more drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2004 19:02:59 | More by SaunaKing

Wildman

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I found this to be a very drinkable beer. It poured a copper gold color and formed a small bubby white head that left trace lace as it subsided. The aroma was of malt and hops. The flavor was of malt and hops and the finish was a touch astrigent, yet bitter. I hope to find other of Fuller's products that hold up as well or better.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2002 16:11:38 | More by Wildman

bark

Sweden

3.43/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The large head is made of fine, yellowish foam that disappears slowly, building a fine, hard crater. The Colour is deep copper red; the liquid is a little hazy.

The smell of this ale is mild, pleasing and a little bit on the sweet side. There are some yeast and lots of malts. There are hints of that special, sour smell that bottle conditioning creates.

The first part of the taste is alcohol, but just for a short moment. Then, a fresh mix of sweet malts and mild hops appears, slowly increasing the bitterness into a dry, long and balanced aftertaste.

The carbon dioxide is conservative with small bubbles.

The taste is complex, yet I found it somewhat avoiding and hard to put my finger on its special character. I have to compare it with Fuller’s ESB, one of my favourite ales. And my conclusion is that 1845 is common ale with some extra alcohol, while ESB is ale with extra everything: More alcohol, more malt, more hops and more grit.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2004 11:19:53 | More by bark

JDV

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours maroon and clear with a medium sized lasting beige head. Smell is biscuity, slightly tart malt. Taste is surprisingly hoppy compared to the nose with dark bready and caramel malt flavor to accompany the hops. Slightly full bodied and crisp yet soft carbonation. Pretty balanced and drinkable with a nice mild hop character. Pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 18:09:00 | More by JDV

heygeebee

Australia

3.43/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a good deep mahogany brown with a lovely head. Large bubbels in head, creamy coloured.

Aromas of toffee, caramel, toast.

Taste is a let-down hoppy and dry, not o my preferance of style.

Mouthfeel solid enough.

Overall just too hoppy and dry pour moi for an English Strong Ale. Bring on the malts!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 10:46:11 | More by heygeebee

bklynbeerbaron

New York

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

1 pint, 0.9 oz. bottle, poured into an imperial pint glass.

Appearance: A clear mahogany with a thin, bubbly head, like a soda.

Smell: A sweet, plum aroma, almost like a brandy. Similar to their Vintage Ale, actually.

Taste and mouthfeel: Alcohol is right up front, harsh, almost completely overwhelming the sweetness underneath. Softens a bit as the beer warms. Mildly creamy back that becomes more noticeable in the finish. Medium mouthfeel with lively carbonation.

Drinkability: Hard to see drinking more than one in a sitting.

Notes: There was just something a little unbalanced with this one; definitely let this warm up significantly. Maybe I'll give it another try sometime.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2007 04:29:22 | More by bklynbeerbaron

nickynick

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Fuller's 1845 Ale poured an excellent ruby amber with an very nice fluffy head. Smell was of light yeast. The taste I found very complex, but at times it was unpleasant. Caramel, dark fruit, some chocolate. Some crisp hops in the finish. But at times it seemed harsh. Mouthfeel was ok as well as the drinkability. I really wanted to like this beer, because at times it was excellent, challenging and flavorful, but something in the flavor at times that didn't hit me right. I will give this another try because of the notes that I liked in it. This beer left me with more questions than answers.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 13:51:25 | More by nickynick

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

from notes

A - crisp red bubbly body, white head constituted of large bubbles

S - sweet and dry malts, relatively bland

T - a syrupy sweetness, and fairly dry.

M - thin, and the carbonation is a bit harsh.

D - easy enough to drink, not very interesting or good-tasting

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 16:10:06 | More by ColdPoncho

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Brownish amber, low carbonation provides almost no head. Very malty aroma totally dominates the old hops hints. Fruity (plums, grapes), toasted bread and roasted nuts maltiness. Notes of cake, oak, cloves, nutmeg... Surprisingly has a moderate acid bite that hurts a bit the roundness and development of the deep malt flavors. Slight smoke in the finish. Medium to full bodied, low carbonation. This is not as well elaborated as the vintages in terms of flavor balance and appears a bit disappointing to me.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2004 03:11:59 | More by Rastacouere

Goldorak

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled this fine brew with fellow BAs 3Vandoo and Beersignal, and I can't remember who brought this one so I'll just thank them both!

Appearance: Burnished copper with a clingy salt and pepper head.

Smell: Alcoholic vapors rushed up my nose, they felt peaty at first but mellowed to show a side of oily golding hops.

Taste: Boozy and round, with pale malt character and a crisp bitterness that was short, but the hooch stayed on a while in the aftermath.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2005 22:27:49 | More by Goldorak

LordChesterfield

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The bottle over flowed when I opened it! Oh well. What's more is it poured with a weak head that quickly disipated. This is a really special ale I think. It's crazy. So many tastes, sweet malt and heavy hops with wood and bread! I don't really understand how those chemicals like phenols and diacytal and ester taste, but I think these are probably in here, because there are a lot of flavors that I can acount for, that show up in just about every English Ale I taste. The color is almost like some one took ale and poured either blood or transmition fluid in it. Definitely complex, as with most english ales I've tasted, it gets smoother as it warms up. I wouldn't really drink alot of these the way I would other beers, oh wait, yes I would. I can imagine most people drinking this to inebreation. That's not to say it isn't drinkable, but when compared with drinkable beers, it's definitely not as drinkable. Really, pay attention to the recommended 50 degree serving temperature.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2005 07:57:32 | More by LordChesterfield

Slats

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Looks: Dark coppery color. Nice sticky lace. Clean and clear when held up to the light.

Smell: Sweet malty smell with a fruity prune like background.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Sweet malts are right there but balanced with some bitter. Alcohol warms to reveal the prune flavor (I grabed a box of prunes to make sure I wasn't crazy). Hop bite throughout. I love the flavors but the bitterness is a bit taxing in this brew.

Drinkability: Not bad but I wouldn't be able to do more than one in a sitting.

Overall decent but I wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2007 01:20:45 | More by Slats

AltBock

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tall 500ml bottle with a classic white with gold border label that has the Fuller's crest at the top, "1845" in big black letters, and one phrase that every craft beer drinker loves to see on the label, "Bottle Conditioned." Big rectangle back label that has a brief sentence about the beer and another sentence that talks about the brewery. At the bottom of the back label is a best before date of 21/May/09.

Appearance: When poured into a Brooklyn Imperial pint glass, "1845" is a murky brownish color with a small tint of cranberry red. Sitting on top of this beer was a 1 1/2 inch head of fizzy white foam. This head of foam quickly fizzled away, but did mange to leave behind a small white film, foamy rings along the edge, and a fair amount of spots of white lace around the glass.

The aroma to this English Strong Ale was nice and toasted with biscuit malts, dried juicy fruits, dried floral hops, and ended with a subtle hint of English toffee. Although there weren't that many aromas in the beer, the overall toasted aspect of this beer was good enough for me.

This dry English Ale starts right off the bat by being hoppy with crispy floral hops, a hint of yeast, and a subtle touch of tart grapefruit. After the grapefruit was through, the taste then gets lightly malty with toasted biscuit malts, dried juicy fruits, and a tiny splash of English toffee. Even though it was a tad bit more hoppy than malty, it was still a well balanced English Ale.

It was a light bodied beer with a decent sized aftertaste of yeast, dried juicy fruits, toasted biscuit malts, and a few cripsy floral hops here and there. The yeast and dried fruits were the only ones who stuck around for a minute or two.

I'm usually not too keen on true English beers, but I enjoyed this one. It wasn't too dry, hoppy, or malty. It had all the right levels for each and every one of them. I would probably go back to this one again if I was ever in the mood for an English Strong Ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2008 21:27:19 | More by AltBock

zhanson88

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1845 pours a medium ruby color with mahogany highlights. About 1.5 fingers of off-white head forms. Retention and lacing are decent.

Smell: Caramel, toffee, a bit of fruity presence, and slight biscuity malts. Maybe just a hint of floral hops as well.

Taste: Biscuity and caramel malts, toffee, mild dark fruits, and slight floral hops on the back end. Not bad at all.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This beer is pretty light bodied with quite a bit of carbonation, but it's pretty fine carbonation and drinks pretty smoothly. Overall, this is a fairly solid beer that holds it's own.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 01:54:15 | More by zhanson88

Shultzerdugen

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1 pint 2.6 oz. brown bottle with best before date of 19/oct/05.

Lightly hazed dark copper/deep garnet in color. Rowdy light tan colored froth. Lace work doesn't even come close to describing the way the head stuck to the glass. Amazing.

Light fruits and caramel come out first in the nose. Underlying spices reminded me of cinnamon, plus a bit of a metallic thing.

Caramel and light fruits are also in the taste, along with the trace metallic vibe. Woody oak characters come out as it warms. A bit thin on the palate until the finish, where nice hops let themselves be known.

This beer got better and better as it warmed, but was not my pint of beer at the start. I think I just need a little more time away from beer from Jolly Old to rest my taste buds and purge a bad memory of a crappy English beer. Cheerio!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2005 20:31:23 | More by Shultzerdugen

Chadbrew

Delaware

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Appearance - I like the appearance of this beer, it's hearty looking with decent but not over-the-top carbonation and head.
Aroma - Lots of malt in the aroma of this with a fair amount of caramel too. Hint of alcohol.
Taste, mouthfeel - Very rich and creamy and then almost immediately there is a big hit of bitterness on the back of the tongue that borders on astringency. Fortunately there is also some sweetness and a light tartness that is pleasant. There are some hot alcohol flavors that come through too.
Drinkability - A tad heavy to be something I'd call highly drinkable, one bottle will be about enough for the evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2006 23:10:51 | More by Chadbrew

Padron4KM

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16.9 oz bottle, best before 20 june 06 printed on the label.

pours burnt orange, with a thick, long lasting, two finger head. Sticky rings of lace are left behind.

aromas of raisins, caramel, coffee and toast. Some yeastiness also.

Dark fruit flavors, raisin, prune with some orange and spice in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2006 07:49:15 | More by Padron4KM

ultralarry2006

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 500ml. bottle. Leaves a tan colored one finger head with good retention and good lacing. Body is a hazy garnet.

Smell - much diacetyl, malt bread, figs, and plums.

Taste - like the smell. Much diacetyl, malt bread. Also, rye crackers ( although there is no rye in here, as far I know ). Figs and plums.

Mouthfeel - full, dry.

Drinkability - this is good and sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2006 15:44:02 | More by ultralarry2006

jeffboo

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A bottle conditioned real ale from Fullers. A staight-forward strong bitter? The color is a brilliant dark copper with nice tan head that lasts the whole glass. Fruity aroma, earthy hops and sweet caramel malt. The taste is of caramel malt with nice bitterness to offset. The hop flavors are earthy with a little spice, the body is medium,maybe not full enough for the alcohol, which appears as the beer warms. A decent drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2003 13:36:24 | More by jeffboo

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big ole 1 pnt 2.6 fl oz. attractive embossed dual label bottle with "Best by July 2005" and "6.3 ABV Bottle Conditioned" declared.

Crystal clear copper pour with a foamy cake like khaki head. Tiny carbonation. Good looking pour with tons of lace.

Ginger snaps cookie aroma. Overall light vanilla & nutmeg (maybe ginger?) and yeasty aromas. Detection of brandy hints.

First swigs: Ginger snap cookie and dry finish. Malty base. Dry biscuit and plain Buisquik pancake like tastes. Some sugary syrup hints.

Crisp carbonation and slighly buttery. Briak spicey robust style but a bit foamy.

Last swigs: A balanced but malty spice ale like a liquid gingerbread. Much anticipation preceded this FULLER'S but slightly over-hyped. Thanks to BA Shapudding for offering this at a tasting.

Beer is good. Happy beering.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2004 04:33:03 | More by blitheringidiot

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured in to Duvel tulip.

A - Medium translucent copper/amber colour with one finger of cream coloured head that quickly receded.

S - Toffee, dark fruit, caramel, raisins.

T - Toffee, Dark Caramel, raisins, a good hop bitterness and some floral notes. The finish is dry and bitter.

M - Medium body. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 00:45:51 | More by TheSevenDuffs