Fullers Vintage Ale 2004

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.

500 ml bottle poured a clear amber with a small lasting light amber head. Aromas of raisins, figs, apples and molasses. Palate was fulll bodied and warming. Flavors of dark fruit, molasses, some earthiness and toffee with a smooth warming lingering sweet finish.