Fullers Vintage Ale 2007

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

Name: Vintage Ale
Date: 02/13/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Roadtrip
Vintage: 2007

Appearance: clear dark copper, big frothy off white head, bits of lace,
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with dark caramel sweetness and earthy balance plus a touch of alcohol,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: rich fruity flavor, caramel sweetness brings out the fruitiness, light earthyness, light tartness, lasting bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Bottle # 06962, bright amber-orangeish color, with a fluffly beige-whiteish head, and leaving laces, fruity, sweet toasted malt nose, of faint candied apricot peach note, with a subtle toffeish, honeyed pale malt fruitiness in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a soft mellow, toasty malt character, with a nice flowery hop leafiness, when the gets warm, with a faint fruity accent of candied peaches, oranges, hint of toffee, within a warmth mouthfeel, leading towards a malty, fruity, warm, hoppy dry finish.

500 ml bottle poured a lightly hazy orange with a small lingering amber head. Aromas of carmel, spice, fruitiness and a hint of toffee. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of toffee, carmel, light fruitiness and a faint hint of spice with a smooth warming bittersweet finish.

500ml Bottle: Pours light brown, lighter than I’d expected, with a large tan foamy head. The aroma offers lots of floral hops, sweet fruits, raisins, chocolate, and oranges. I was impressed by the differences in the flavour, pulling out plums, prunes, clover, alcohol, anise, caramel malts, and lots of fresh hoppiness. I imagine the alcohol will mute a bit over time, but I enjoyed it now!

While it is accepted this style needs time to age, this is a great vintage year. The nose and flavor are as balanced as the 2006 and still have years to mature. Not to mention this is the NY Giants Lucky Ale of Choice! Enjoy often, but save and cellar for next years run at the Super Bowl!!!

No. 143619. Aromas of roasted malt and floral hop. Not bad for a green beer. Rich coppery amber color and a white head that went down immediately. Near medium body with creamy carbonation. Roasted caramel/toffee flavors, with a bit of heat and floral/grassy hop. Hints of cacao. Finish is dryish, floralish and delicious. Got one aside for a few years down the road - if I can hold off.

Cask @ Somewhere, somehow. Good, malty, flowery and fruity aroma. Taste chocolate, toffee, sugarcane. Looks amber, no head.

Bottle # 48281. A bright, reddish amber colour with a medium-sized, slightly off-white head. Plenty of malt notes in this beer, both in terms of aroma and flavour. The aromas, however are a fairly standard caramel-like component. Toffee (apple) and caramel flavours with a rather pleasant syrupy texture. Despite the alcohol content, this didn’t get too cloying, neither did it ever becoming particularly overwhelming. Would quite probably benefit from a touch of aging.