Fullers Vintage Ale 2004

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

Cask@Twickenham BF. Nose is quite malty and strong. palate is quite sticky, with raisin and a little caramel/toffee. Some quite dry dark fruit and Christmas cake flavours, a bit salty. A touch of alcohol comes thhrough at the end.

Bottle: 67509.
Clear reddish amber body, smooth creamy head formation. Yeasty aroma, berry fruitiness, mildly toasted. Palate is yeasty with tart raspberry fruitiness, slight roastiness, fairly hoppy and bitter in the finish. Nice balance of flavors, just not as complex as I would have hoped.

Bottle@Home. Aroma of bread, tea and apricot. That would make nice breakfast. Hazy, light brown color, off-white head, fair lace. Sweet, obviously aged (already), madeira, bitter, toffee, very bitter in the finish. Sticky and light dusty mouthfeel.

Bottle # 73165 Light amber color with a beige head. Aroma of caramel and some alcohol. Flavor is woody and smokey. With a finish of alcohol and hops.

Bottle 75155. Clear, amber body with copper streaks and tight, fluffy, tan bubbles sitting atop. Sweet aroma of raisin, toffee, bread pudding, toasted grains, marshmellow, cinnamon rolls,very mild hops and some light, warming alcohol. Off notes of lightly soured milk. The body is thick, full and lightly carbonated. The flavor is dominated by the sweetness. The toffee, caramel and the nuts are the strong suit, but bits of earthy, noble character shine from time to time. The warming alcohol is soothing and fulfilling. While not the best Fuller’s Vintage, it’s still not terrible.

Bottle No. 58503 Copper coloured with low but thick head. Light fruity, somewhat acidic aroma. Thick and sweet-ish mouthfeel. Notes of liquorice and hazelnuts. Big bitterness from a combination of hops and alcohol. Nice ale, but it will improve with age.

Pours a clear dark copper with a thin off-white head. Aroma is a musty blend of sweet caramel malt and dry English hops. Starts with a touch of malt syrup and toffee, turning more dry toward a sticky warming finish. I think this could definitely use some age as it’s a bit unbalanced right now. Still not a bad rendition.

Tasted in Toronto. Obtained from Queen’s Quay LCBO. Part of very special seasonal import. Tasted in English Pint Glass. THIS IS MY NUMBER 500!!!!!! YIPIEEEEEEE!!!!!! Ok, ’focus numb jaw’, here we go...... Appearance in the glass is copper red / brown, clear with a nice sustained white head. Good looking ale, right off the start. Aroma is of sweet malt, chocolate, some bitters / finings. Absolutely no alcohol in the aroma, which, I have to say is slightly present in the 1845. Flavour is bold and fairly complex. Hints of nut, caramel, toffe and malty goodness. Finish is laden with hop bitterness with a well rounded alcohol ending. Good stuff. This means a third trip this week to the Queen’s Quay LCBO!!! (The last 2 trips resulted in me buying out the stores qty of La Terrible. Oh wallet pain!!!!!).