Fuller’s 1845

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

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

Absolutely top notch! Pours with a good head, the liquid is deeply red in colour. This is one to be savoured. The balance is Just how I like it, not too much hoppy bitterness and plenty of malt. So overall a perfectly balanced ale with dry, fruity finish. I must put one away and let I develop fully....

UPDATED: MAY 2, 2011 Poured 500ml bottle in pint glass - small beige and thick head, maybe one finger, very little carbonation with nice lacing; nice rich mahogany color with slight haziness; roasted malt and sweet aroma with hint of figs or dates; medium body creamy texture; excellent balance with touch of bitterness against a wonderful toffee flavor and slight hint of smoke; smooth lasting finish to dry and hoppy; fabulous beer!

UPDATED: JAN 3, 2012 Tasted from bottle into tulip glass. Poured a deep reddish-brown color with full off-white foam, some retention, excellent lace. Aromas of mild English hops, fresh baked bread, caramelized brown sugar, boiled fruit preserves. Rich sweetness of a complex grainbill (toasty, biscuity, caramelly, roasty) stands up to a pronounced hops bitterness, tastes of roasted nuts, raisins, apricot, plum, black currants, cranberries, black licorice. Medium body and almost "chewy" mouthfeel. Superb bottle conditioning carbonation. Significant alcohol by volume, which is pleasantly warming but in no way harsh. As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the world’s greatest beers, and the very model for a big brown ale.

Complex dark fruit dominates the aroma. The flavor is strongly malty and fruity, like an ESB on steroids plus some. A very lingering finish to this, an incredibly great ale, not one of this brewery’s ales is anything other than awesome and this ale more than helps to prove that.

UPDATED: DEC 21, 2009 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!

Thick head, (you can write your name in it). Rich, full-bodied taste. Sweet, fruity aroma. A favorite in my book.

Yummy. These are cellar-able and I have had bottles that were a year old and they mellow out nicely. A true hidden gem.

Rerate: Looks amazing - a beautiful mahougony. Just a top beer. </P>Original:Amazing beer which was much more bitter last time I tried it than I had remembered. Hops, smokeiness and dried fruit in taste.