Fuller’s Vintage Ale 1998

Formerly brewed at Fuller’s
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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Just bought 3 bottles of Vintage 98. Trust me I am not an easy reviewer....it’s just this beer ages sooooo well.I’ve drank one and must say that it is absolutely exquisitie. The malt profile has the magic flavor that only a strong ale that has aged well attains. Its exactly like those times when you drink a an aged wine that is so perfect when it hits your mouth something chemically happens that it implores you to take another sip. Beautiful beer and a definitional beer to age.

Bottle No: 19570, drunk 28 October 2002 to celebrate the birth of my second child (and first boy). Happy Birthday Aidan John Edward Schmidt! This was a fabulous beer--better than my recollection of the famed 1999 vintage. Pours with the kind of head that I generally don’t like--a little bit loosely constructed and quick to diminish. Enchanting aroma, with raisins, caramel, and woody notes, with some slightly fresher fruitiness anticipated in a hint of grape. The flavor is the great unifier: something to put an end to squabbles over "hops vs. malts"--malts are obviously apparent, but the fuggles(?) come out clearly and cleanly. Sweet aftertaste, but firmly in balance. I just can’t wait to take my next creamy, full-bodied mouthful and as a result I’m drinking it too fast! My warning to slow down is the alcohol which keeps rising through. It is a warmingly alcoholic flavor, however, quite unlike the ugliness found in some alcoholic flavors. There are complexities all over the place to take one’s mind off the alcohol, including the sense that there are some autumnal fruits in here (grapes, and black currants) not to mention the caramel, like some strange concoction (caramel-dipped currants soaked in port wine) that you might find on offer at a century-old fall festival in some out-of-the-way New England town. It all works so well. I’m over the moon about this beer and my son. A toast, to Aidan!

Bottle#38344.Aroma of sweet malt and alcohol. A little caramel in there also.First sip brings a huge creamy mouthfeel. Malt is dominant with just enough hops to balance. Sweet aftertaste.Alcohol is very evident for an 8.5 abv.

Bottle #37603: On the pour a cloudy orange-amber color, the head is beige and moderate in size and texture, the lace is quite decent sheets that cling to the glass to the very end. Nose is Malt, plummish, earthy, hints of Alcohol. Yo Baby Yo Baby I’m going to like this one and I haven’t even touch it to my lips! Front is somewhat sweet, the top is medium, the finish is Acidic, dry, nice hop spicy bite, and a bit alcohol bitter, and I can also feel the ’Tummy Warming’. I guess I need to borrow the 5 ton low-boy, and go pick up a dozen or so pallets of Vintage Fuller’s Ranks #134 on my current 1000 beer master list.

UPDATED: NOV 29, 2003 Bottle #13013 sampled on 7/27/02. Another blow your mind Fuller's Vintage Ale. A creamy beige head quickly diminishing on an amber body. The aroma is woody, malty, herbal, raisin fruity, and with notes of alcohol. Creamy smooth and bursts with flavor in the back of the mouth. The fruity flavors come through with pear and peaches. As it warms it transmutates into a stronger more intense beer with a warming alcohol presence. Bottle @ Toronado on 11/28/03. Reddish brown color with a tan head. Sweet malty caramel flavors. Smooth as ever with a slick oily palate. A subtle chocolate and toffee mix. Warming. Beautiful.

No. 37661: Beautiful deep honey amber color -hazy. Pours with large head, loosly carbonated, dissipates quickly. Medium strength nose of sweet malt, very light hop notes - also a bit metalic. Unique flavor - overall flavors dominated by bitter hops, to a lesser degree some muted/musty malt notes ... followed by a bit of metalic notes. The appreciation is realizing this is a 4-year old beer and thus an education to one’s sensory knowledge. Not at incredible beer by any means - but important nonetheless due to its age.

No: 31867. Heavy malt, dark fruity aroma. Not as thick on the palate as I expected but maintains drinkability alongside its smooth texture. Malts from start to finish, port-like flavors, yeasty with some dryness. Maraschino cherries add extra sweetness with a lingering jammy aftertatse while a considerable alcohol warmth wraps things up.

(No. 17512, sampled 5/30/02) Very nice sweet maltiness, minimal hops compared to American barleywines. While this is a very fine ale, it doesn’t live up to its price.

Thick and rich mouthfeel. Multilayered malt flavors with sweetish finish, but not cloying. There is a little bit of chalk in the finish. A very well made beer.

Sweet, malty aroma, deep amber color with a well balanced bitterness and alcohol content. Based on the many beers I have had in this class, I would have to guess the alcohol content to be about 9.5 to 10% by volume.