Fullers Vintage Ale 2004

Formerly brewed at Fullers
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

I had a 2004 vintage # 75579 The presentation is fantastic in this beautiful collectors box and inside is a unique 18.6 oz brown pint bottle. It looked very light while pouring, but it sits in the glass at a coppery transparent color. Huge head! I got like four fingers of head in my oversized Victory pint glass. Significant lacing. It has a great smell of gentle port. Hint of sweet fruit like a tangerine, then grapes. As it warmed the smell got to a darker fruit like raisins or figs. It makes me think of wine. (?) The taste is fantastic but pretty straight foreword. Extremely malty flavor with hints of dark fruit, and gentle on the taste buds. It is so soft on the taste bud I can’t imagine anyone saying it tastes bad; even if it is not there preference. The mouthfeel is amazing (so much so I consider it a highlight of this beer). If I had not poured it myself I’d have thought it was on-cask. It is the creamiest feel. This is full bodied but light and frothy. One of the most gentle creamy mouthfeels I have ever experienced. Each sip you just want to last forever; it just feels right! It is fantastically drinkable. It’s so pleasant in the mouth that I would anticipate the next the next sip; yet it is a beer that can’t be rushed. It is too pleasant to rush through. In other words it is worth the money. Someone complained it was $6 a bottle. I only wish I lived in that state. In PA its $9 a bottle and WELL worth the money. --- EDIT: In fact I went back and bought three more to age for another year. --- Hope this is helpful. Cheers!

Sampled at the Odds and Ends Tasting on 8/16/06: Pours a clear dark amber color with a thin beige head that lasts alright. Thin spotty lacing. Aroma of ripe fruit and earthy malts. Medium-bodied with a smooth and sweet character. Roasted malt, raisin and spice flavors are all represented, along with a pinch of yeast. The finish is spicy with a mild hops aftertaste. All in all this beer held up pretty well.

Hazy ruby, frothy tan head. Nose of unsweetened cranberries, other subtle fruits, earthy hops. Same flavors on top of a rich malt base, lively and easy to drink. Medium/full body, balanced. Tasty brew.

This beer, very much superior to the 1845, is delicious. Less harsh and far richer. Smooth and soothing. Comforting to the jaded palate. It should give you a lift.

Bottle #58410. AMber, somewhat hazy, with a nice offwhite head. Great aroma from malts, milky, creamy, toffee, vanilla, nutty notes, some figs, some fruit and with milk chocolate. Malty flavor, some glue, toffee notes, hops are more present than it was in aroma, strong malty finish without letting alcohol through. Whisky notes in flavor. Classy bottle, classy lable, classy beer....

Bottle from the <a href=http://www.lcbo.com target=blank>LCBO in Peterborough. Bottle #39440. Rich copper in colour, large off-white head, nice retention, lasting pillowy lace. The aroma is of sweet caramel malts, plums, raisins, some minor alcohol, some earth. The flavour is sweet, lots of caramel/toffee malts, earthy, dark fruits and cake. Light alcohol, sweet mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes with a small alcohol warmth, sweet with some gingerbread. Pretty much the same at the 2005.

Bottle 72314. Poured an amber orange color with a nice head that sustained itself well and provided ok lacing. The aroma was nice and malty (caramel) and somewhat fruity hoppy smelling. The flavor was very nice, some caramel malts form the backbone, some sort of darker malts mix in there (not strong coffee or chocolate, but something like that), raisins and grapes also come to play. As it warms, honey and maple come out a bit. The mouthfeel is moderate (thick for the style), very nice. Nice presence of bittering hops in the finish. Enjoyable.

Bottle conditioned? Never seen one this sparklingly clear. Sparkling amber,small beige head.Sweet carmel malt nose.Full bodied carmelly butterscotch flavor. Not too shabby.Alcohol is more pronounced as it warms.