Fullers Vintage Ale 2004

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

Has that sour, wet bread aroma so common in true English ales. A beautiful garnet color accompanies a thin but lingering head also typical of English ales. Delicious malt sweetness with notes of licorice and caramel greet the tastebuds with some mild yeastiness and hoppiness on the palate. This is really very good; a classic English pale ale with a slight kick to it. The alcohol is nearly un-noticable.

Bottle 37989 I gave out a slew of these instead of single malt scotch and got great feedback while saving laods of money for more beer for me. Deliciously hoppy, pale ale with barley that remains long on the palate.

A copper coloured body topped by a good sized, beige head is what we have here. The head is short lived though, leaving some nice lace. Aromas are nutty, molasses, malty, and toasty. taste is sweet caramel malts, roasted nuts, with medium sweetness. Perhaps a bit too watery and light on the finish, which tells me that my other bottles should wait to be cracked open. Still a solid ale.

Tasting along with the 1999, 2000, 2002 vintages: Beautiful ruby hue with shortlived frothy head but still produced an outstanding lace. The aroma has notes of grassy and herbal hops, caramelized malts, fresh oak, and earthy esters. The taste starts quite fruity but as expected younger taste and fresher. The caramel and toffee notes are there, but have not fully developed has in the older vintages. A touch of clean oak and golding hops are found on the finish. The feel is much more lively than the other vintages tasted in the session, almost like a Fullers ESB than a vintage ale. Moderate alcohol notes that have not incorporated themselves in the complexity expected. I have never drank a Fuller Vintage this young and now I know why. Please for the love of beer, cellar this till at least 2006. I have two more more that will not see the light of day for many many moons. It is nowhere near ready for the beer geek palate. So it has been said, so it shall be written.

Bottle number 81156. Reddish brown color with a very thin head. Malt and yeast aroma that has a scent of the alcohol in it. Grain and hops easy to find in the taste. First sip is harch, but it gets smoother as you go. With age this stuff could get VERY good.

forgot which bottle # this was, but it was 84000 something. medium copper amber color with a generous frothy head. woody hops, green grapes, some thin caramel aromas show up, and the flavor is slightly earthy and fruity. quite good, very smooth and drinkable for 8.5%...this is a beer that i should lay down for a few years....

Bottle #87592: Deep rich amber color with a generous light beige head. Aroma is sweet, dark fruit and a hint of port. Flavor is complex starting with a caramel richness, some fruity flavors turning tangy with with a light tartness and finishing kinda sweet with a light hop bitterness. Palate is rich and smooth.

Bottle #81717: Great looking beer, a glowing copper body with a solid but creamy beige head. The aroma is a toasty malt with both floral and orange scents lingering on top. It’s a medium-bodied, smooth and warm drink. The flavor is a well balanced malt and herbal hops. Apple and pear tastes make themselves known as well. It’s got a sticky but dry, alcoholic finish. Warms the belly. Hopefully I’ll be able to try more of this vintage in a few years.