Fuller’s 1845

Brewed by Fuller’s
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

She comes in a brown bottle whose cap pops in giddy delight as I take in the sights. Hazy browns under a soft khaki head wink seductively while her head proudly sports a ringlet of delicate bubbles. Treacle, that English sugar concoction for which an inordinate amount of people have no idea what it smells like or tastes like is there in proud standing. Keeping her company are fresh red apples, cinnamon-raisin toast right out of the oven, toffee, and dry nuts in the finish. A breeze of straw and baled hay flitters in the background as a subtle afterthought. I am duly impressed, but I figured I would be. Taking in her aromatics, I dive right into her liquid bounty for a sweet kiss up front with her malt dominating a goodly portion of my first impressions. Grass, straw, and baled hay provide a bitter-dry undercurrent while toffee crunchies and treacle coat my lips and soothe my palate. Her toffee profile is prominent in the middle and back, with a heavier mouthfeel than I was initially expecting. Apples and pears are ripe for the eating, and as I bite through crisp skins, their sweet juices trickle down my throat, melding perfectly with the toffee and treacle for an interesting take on fall candied fruit goodness. Raisin bread adds to her chewy mouthfeel while bitter nuts sneak into her finish; almonds come to mind. Separately her menagerie of flavors would have been a jumble mess, but her palate melded each flavor together in seamless quaffing enjoyment. Where one ended, another one was already beginning, and before I knew it, another flavor was already there making merry and keeping the party going. Well played, and an excellent example of a classic English bottle-conditioned ale that is thankfully easy to find.

Fuller’s was one of my gateway breweries back in the day. I enjoy them now as I did then, though with a bit more of a critical eye. I can’t speak for a few of their other beers over the years, but I can say for sure that their 1845 is still as good now as it was then.

Pleasant bitterness, medium body. From a bottle, a very good beer. Not as good as Fuller’s ESB (which was from a tap on a beautiful sunny afternoon in San Diego, which probably influenced THAT experience).

Poured from bottle @ sanctuary house. Malty dried fruit aroma. Opaque amber in color. Flavors of malt, nut, molasses , hops. A bit boozy. This one is similar to some Belgian brews I’ve tried. Good feel, but became heavy at end.

In the bottle on 11/13/09. Pours orange with a medium thick off-white head. This is a fairly pedestrian beer. It has a medium hop finish. The flavor has mild caramel and toffee notes. It’s ok but nothing special. In fact, I think the regular Fullers ESB is a much better beer.

Appearance - This beer poured a nice amber color with a descent off white. Smell - Interesing aroma here. Nice smells of fruits and some breadiness. Taste - Very interesting with a nice breadiness or biscuit like taste to it. The fruit really is present in the taste. Mouthfeel - A very full and thick body with medium carbonation. Overall - damn good beer.

500ml bottle. Appearance is great, pours a lovely hazy dark brown, with an off white head. Aroma is heavy on the malt, caramel and some spiciness. Malt and spice on the taste, with a bitter, dry finish. Has a good body to it, could be a bit thicker. Really quite nice.

This is an awesome beer. Great flavors of burnt fruits and malty tones. Finish is warm and simply amazing. I love this beer.

UPDATED: OCT 16, 2010 Aroma is dark fruits, raisins and roasted date plum. A lot of sweetness in aroma. Taste is again dark fruits, some burnt wood, roasted malts, some chocolate and coffee. Finish is balanced bitterness and sweet.