Fullers Vintage Ale 2004

Original rating in 2005 (kept this score): Sweet candy-like, leafy, orange hop nose is pleasantly inviting. Clear amber-brown with excellent clarity and a decent tan head that recedes to a lasting cover. Very fruity and full flavoured with leafy, orange hop notes leading to a dry well-attenuated, crisp, tart finish that is assertive in its bitterness. Gentle sweet fruitiness returns in the aftertaste. Moderate carbonation is engaging on the tongue while medium, strongly malty body feels perhaps lighter than it really is due to the dryness. Very good, on the verge of excellent. Perhaps a little time in the cellar will round off some of the rough edges. Bottle No. 39298 (LCBO Dec. 2004).
Rerate in 2009 (6-2-7-2-13=3.0): Sherry-like oxidation is starting to show in the nose although cherry fruitiness is still quite apparent along with a marzipan sweet malt base. Hazy deep copper coloured body is topped by a low off white head that recedes quite rapidly to ring. Cherry, plum, and peach-like fruit flavours are joined by vanilla, bread dough and some alcohol in the flavour. Bitterness is subdued although there is some spicy, earthy, herbal hop character in the finish. Medium body with fair if somewhat short-lived carbonation. Seems to have gone just beyond it’s life expectancy at this point. Bottle #39324 sampled at the Fuller’s vertical tasting with uhlan.

Pours a hazy amber color with a thin white head. Aroma of golding hops. Flavor of golding hops, citrus, there’s an unpleasant citric flavor and some sweetness. Sticky texture, soft carbonation. This is definitely a let down.

Beautiful orange dark apricot color, decent off-white head, fading completely. Soft malty aroma with citric fruit notes, apricot and oranges dominating. Faint dryness is supported by sawdust and almond skin tones. Strong fruitiness on the palate, lightly tart, lightly earthy and lightly vegetal. Well, this was disappointing, citric and without depth all the while possessing an unexciting light carbonation over a thin-medium body, Raw and grainy.. atypical for fullers. Will retry because it doesn’t feel like what a fullers vintage ale is supposed to taste..

Good lacing on the off white head. Colour is dark amber closing in on brown. Aroma is a blend of hops, spices, some pepper, wood and caramel. Full bodied, some sweetness that finishes with a hop bite.

Bottle 46580. Golden orange beer with a thin white head. Sweet malty aroma, spicy hops in here as well. Orange citrus, loads of pale malt, some subtle caramel notes. Flavour is heavy on sweet caramel, loads of hops lend an assertive, but balanced finish. Bitterness then drops off, leaving a long lingering sweetness. Good, but could use a bit more age to smooth it out.

Shiny copper colour. Aroma is heavy caramel, toasty viennaish malts, a little mineral. The palate is richly caramelly, with lots of brown sugar...rich, syrupy. It has its moments I suppose but isn’t really to my taste.

Bottle. Numbered 92660. Vintage 2004. Gorgeous copper. Small tannish head. Dissipates quickly. Aroma is hints of toffee, whiskey, alcohol soaked fruits, light wood and raisins. Taste is a bit different. Bitter with light floral notes, caramel, ripe fruits, alcohol and toffee notes. This is a bit young. I have had the 2002 and 2003 after a couple of years and only then did it begin to develop. This may need some more time, so I am glad I picked up another bottle. Body is medium and clightly creamy. Light alcohol warmth. Lingering bitterness. Finish is slightly bitter again with flowery notes, rum soaked fruits, whiskey, toffee, and light peaty notes. Good but needs some age.

Bottle # 95,000: might be a little young....sour mash whiskey aroma with a note of pineapple; sweet and fairly mild, musty and earthy flavor, hints of bread and toffee; alcoholic; not very complex; well balanced, tasty, and moderately full bodied; I expected more, though.