Coopers Vintage Ale

Brewed by Coopers Brewery
Style: English Strong Ale
Regency Park, South Australia, Australia

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

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(2000) Great Aussie version of an English Ale not Belgan. Malty & hoppy, quite complex variety of flavours. Must be aged though.

Bottle at home, from the Pipeline Pours clear dark tawny, with a reddish flash. Thick off-white head, soft lacing Nose is many faceted; red berries: raspberry, blackberry, currant, cherry, bubblegum. Flavours oflight red fruits, red and black licorice, currants, tobacco, and steely prunes. A fine beer, if a bit of a downer...

From a BA review of Aug 2008: 2007 Vintage, 375 brown bottle. Poured into one of my Duvel glasses, just to watch how the beer copes. This may be a bit early for an 07 brew, but I was thirsty and wanted to try it out. Even though I poured slowly, a fair amount of sediment flew into the glass, I had intended to have a clear beer and then half way through add the ’bits and pieces’ that remained. Bugger! I now had a dark orange cloudy beer with black grimbly bits floating around looking for a fight. On top of the body sat an off white thin scum of foam. Luckily anything in a Duvel glass tends to look a Million Dollars to me, although a score of 3 is about fair for this beer. The aroma was of toffee and Dolly Mixtures (the little sweets). Not your normal Aussie beer smell that’s for sure. Thank goodness the sweetness fell away as the beer warmed and some beery aromas arrived later. My tastebuds picked up a sourness and bitterness that were completely hidden in the original smells. It tasted like a proper beer, even though it had an aroma from a sweet shop. Not bad, not bad at all. Not sure an English Strong Ale is what I tasted, but it was a fine beer whatever bracket you want to label it in. The alcohol obviously comes through in the mouthfeel, but it isn’t OTT and you can tell this is a well crafted beer. Complexed, interesting and contrasting flavours make this a beer to drink slowly and enjoy to the full. Most likely the best Aussie beer I’ve ever had (only been once). I wonder what flavours are around if you cellar one for a few years?

0.375 l bottle (vintage 2010) from Systembolaget. Hazy dark amber color. Toffeish and fruity aroma with passion fruit, orange and tart fruity alcohol. The flavor is pretty much the same. Some wine gums in finish. Medium body, light drinkability for this strength. Nice complex fruitiness.

2012 - 04 - 04 375ml bottle. hazy orange golden colour. small white head. spicey aroma. sweet, light bitter taste.

Had this many times over the years, the first being in AUS back in 2001. I don’t think I have ever had one fresh. This brew definitely improves with age. I have bought a couple cases and tried one every month or two. Sweet malty with light amber color, the 2007 I just tried had a little sour/oxidation note that worked well.

Botella de 330ml.Copa Túlipa.Saboreada en nov´11.Color cobre anaranjado.Espuma amarillenta y túpida.Capa de burbuja amplia que se disipa con rapidez.En nariz: levadura,azúcar.lígero aroma de malta tostada y matices de caramelo.Agradable sabor malteado de entrada. Notas de especias y brandy.Piel de naranja y azúcar.Cálida percepción de alcohol y amargor subyacente.Final afrutado.Cuerpo intenso y suave carbonatación.Retrogusto de envejecido en madera.Placentero y pausado trago de noche.Bien equilibrada. 330ml bottle.Tulip glass.Enjoyed on nov´11.Orangish cooper.Close froth,yellowish in color.Large bubbled quickly dissipated head. Yeast, sugar,slightly toasted malt aroma & hints of candies to the nose.Gentle malty flavor at first sip.Notes of spices & brandy.Orange zest & sugar. Kind warming alcohol & bitter underneath.Fruity finish.Full body,soft carbonation.Woody aged aftertaste.Pleasant & paused drink in the evening.Well balanced beer.

Amber colour. Caramel toffee taste and aromas. Nice beer, will try to age one

Bottled. A hazy orange beer with a small white head. Aroma is sweet and malty, caramel notes. Taste is also sweet, caramel, fruity. Warming alcohol and bitter finish.

There are important notes to my rating: It’s important to note that this beer needs to age! I had the benefit of having three samples in front of me at the same time. When I tasted in early 2012, I tasted a 2011, 2008 and a 2006 vintage. Ideally, I hear around 8 years is the best. The difference was quite substantial between my samples. I’ve rated the the 2006 which was the best because it is very close to what can be experienced with this beer. Pours an orange amber colour with next to no head but has plenty of residue. Aroma is sweet malt, yeast and some hops. Taste is also sweet malt with some smooth caramel and yeasty notes. Soft mouthfeel. Really lovely and simply, shits all over the 2011 which was quite ordinary and obviously too young.

As cervejas da Coopers possem uma bela aparência. Essa em especial demonstra uma coloração laranja enferrujada, com visíveis fragmentos de lúpulo no copo. Cerveja bem forte, mas ao mesmo tempo bem maltado, dando uma sensação notavelmente encorpada. Safra 2009. Uma cerveja de respeito! Muito boa.