Fullers Vintage Ale 2007

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

This beer was very strong for its relatively low imperial abv. I liked that the alcohol was there with every sip because it really pressed the spicier notes against the palate. Time would unquestionably make this beer much better, as it tastes very green now, but mine was good with only a year on it. The sugars would have helped if they were ripened though. Still I thought it was great.

Bottle. Ruddy amber color, loose layer of foam that quickly dissipates. Toasted grains, mild muddy hops, more alcohol present than the other vintage ale I’ve had. Taste is malt forward, but gets some vanilla tastes, some alcohol and pepper notes, murky hops. Overall, very nice, perhaps could use a little time.

Bouteille 500ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur cuivrée foncée et claire. Nez malté de caramel et léger de biscuits, moyen d’alcool et de houblon floral aux notes herbeuses, léger d’épices (poivre doux) ainsi que des notes de levures fruitées (léger de raisins et de figues, notes d’agrumes). Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture légèrement crémeuse et sirupeuse. Léger goût de levures fruitées (raisins aux faibles notes vineuses, dates, agrumes) et d’épices (léger de clou de girofle, traces de cannelle) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté de caramel toffee, un léger goût de pain et des notes de biscuits. Parallèlement, l’on retrouve une amertume bien présente d’alcool légèrement réchauffante ainsi qu’un goût de houblon herbeux (léger de thé), légèrement floral et terreux jusqu’en finale, où on note aussi la présence d’un léger goût épicé (poivre doux) et boisé ainsi que des notes de noix asséchantes. Post-goût moyen-long et aux petites notes sèches, moyen-amer de houblon herbeux, légèrement terreux et floral, moyen d’alcool et avec des notes fruitées (moût de raisins et de figues, notes de zest d’agrumes), boisées et de noix.

I have been getting one of these in my stocking at X-mas for the past four years. I always look forward to drinking it. Absolutely excellent ale. Everything has been said already.

Clear deep red amber, nice lasting head. Strong aroma of Over ripe fruit. caramalt and spices. mores spices/black pepper developes in mouth. Flavour is sweet and bitter dry finish with warming alcohol. Well balanced,

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazed brown/ amber with a small white ring. Nice lightly hopped nose, with some spice and toasted malt. Flavor held good spice, hop bitterness and sweet malts.....slightly fruity.

Bottle: Poured a deep copper color ale with a huge foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of sweet malt with some noticeable English dry hops. Taste is also a mix between some sweet caramel and light toffee malt with some dry hops thought less then anticipated which may be due to the 8 months of aging. Body is a bit thinner then I would have hope with some great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. I don’t know why they always insist on using so much hops when this type of beer should rely on malt. A very good beer nonetheless but still not the best year overall.

(bottle #119732): Pours an amber brownish color. Good sized head, whitish, diminishing. A Strong beer aroma, malty sypup & dark fruits. Balanced taste, dusty, some hops & corresponding English-tasting malts. Not an overpowering taste, hides the alcohol well. Has a grain-like, sweet taste. I like it.