Fullers 1845

tasting sample on 11/5/09... pours a light red / orange with a small off white head... some apple and light hops on the nose... medium body with more apple, some grapes, caramel and a touch of spice. sweet finish.

I was not overfly impressed with this beer. It had a very sour malt flavor that was overly evident. The alcohol was not hidden like some other posters claimed, though it was alos not overbearing. The color was much more cloudy that I hoping as well. Overall, I found it to be rather average.

500 ml bottle from Total Wine in Tustin ($3.49). Pours a lovely deep brownish ruby color with one finger of off-white head. Aroma is full of sweet caramel and sweet fruits (overripe plum, berries, and a hint of citrus). Taste is mildly sweet with toasted malts, rich fruit, spice (nutmeg, yes), and a certain earthiness. Finish is noticeably dry with a bit of citric hops emerging in the end which takes an edge off the sweetness. Great aroma, good flavor.

50cl dark brown bottle, as pictured. Pours a perfect, clear mahogany with a big, frothy beige head. Good retention, plenty of lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, toffee and ripe plums. Body is a little lighter than that of "Golden Pride" and "Vintage Ale", but ultra smooth, with low carbonation. Oily mouth feel. Complex taste of caramel, coffee, and dark fruit, but with a compensating note of dry hops that quickly negates the initial sweetness. Gets more bitter as you keep drinking and the beer warm up a little. Dry, hoppy finish and lingering, medium bitter after taste. Despite the increased abv, there’s no real alcoholic note to speak of. Smooth! Another superbly balanced and eminently sessionable brew from Fuller’s (I must get around to visiting their Chiswick brewery next time I’m in London), with sweet and bitter notes superbly complementing each other. A wee heavy winner in the strong ale category. Drink irresponsibly!

Pours a fairly transparent brown with a gorgeous frothy head and very nice lacing. Aroma of bitter malt, nut, and hop- subtle, but nice. Flavor is delicious- a tad bit thin, but really smooth. Excellent stuff.

Bottle 50 cl. Pours a copper red with a small head and an aroma of raisins, sweet malts, syrup, caramel and some bitter hops. The flavor is sweet, mainly malty with notes of raisins, vanilla, honey, caramel, ripe fruits, ontbijtkoek and mybe some cream. A nice hoppy finish. Good but a bit too expensive for me.

Bottle. Colour... golden-orange with a thick head. Nose... sweet malt, toffee and Christmas cake. Palate... gently carbonated, plenty of toffee, treacle sirup, delicate hops, dates and a lengthy finish.

Good looking amber color with a nice head. Flavors of bready malt and a nice bitter hop complex.