Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2007

Formerly brewed at Fuller’s
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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Bottled, 500ml (no. 63156) from Sainsbury’s in Banbury. Orange amber with no head. This was flat unfortunately. Initially, malty, fruity, quite sweet, then it is overtaken with quite a spiced note, more pronounced than previous versions of this than I remember, quite peppery with a hint of curry powder. Because of the lack of condition there is no real finish to it, it’s over and you take the next sip. It’s ok, but certainly not the best vintage.

Bottle... Hazy orange ale with a mid-sized, frothy, off-white head. Terrific retention. The aroma is a malty swirl of toffee and caramel. Full-bodied with a velvety mouthfeel and tickling carbonation. The initial flavor screams caramel malt; however, 2007’s version is heavily bittered as well - medium sweetness and heavy, metallic bitterness. Finishes bitter-sweet, but then there’s a lingering bitterness that seemingly lasts forever. Muchos kudos to bu11zeye for floating this baby my way!

courtesy of oh6gdx, bottle #91889 - pours a clear reddish-amber colour with a slightly beige head; aroma of caramel, red fruits and malt; nice flowery hoppiness; full-bodied, slightly sticky, lively palate, robust and slightly astringent bitterness; long and very bitter finish with more red fruits and malts and a light alcohol touch - definitely needs some ageing

Bottle #93463: Almost clear, light amber coloured, stable creamy beige head with a little lace; sweet aroma of dried fruits, supported by a solid hoppiness; robust, almost a bit dry, bitter-sweet flavour, medium to full bodied; enormous noble hops in the dry lingering bitter-caramelly finish. Oh hoppy day........

(bottle, # 93463) Hazy, amber colour with a big and beige foamy head. Sweet caramel-malty aroma with subtle grainy and fruity (lime) accents, accompanied by caramel, liquorice and spicy hops. Sweet and hop- and toasty bitter flavour, full bodied with a soft carbonation. Quite dry toast-malty base with light fruity notes and moderate burnt elements, as well as elaborated hoppy flavours, leading into an almost dry and toasty hop bitter finish. Pretty hop-accented vintage. 24.III.10

Bottle shared courtesy of egajdzis. Bottle # 113930. Poured a medium and clear orange color with a medium sized off white head. Aromas of earthiness, caramel, toffee, and fruity. Tastes of carame, toffee, some fruitiness, and citrus.

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.

UPDATED: DEC 29, 2010 Bottled. (The Mark and Clare 9 year anniversary dinner). Bottle number 76137. A copper coloured beer with a slim off-white coloured head. Nice slightly sweet sherry notes in the aroma together with earthy plentiful hops. Good warming alcohol in the mouth. Nice length and balance with interesting boozy fruit. A typically tasty and robust Fullers Vintage Ale but there are better years. Score 3.8
Subsequent rating scored 4.2 Average becomes 4.0

Cask (Gallows Bird, Espoo, Real Ale Festival 2008) Fruit cake, woody, moist pipe tobacco. Sweet sticky malty body, apple pie and raisins, spicy and warming. Very young, I expect an old one to be more sophisticated.

(Stockholm Beer Festival 2007) Cask. Golden/amber color, small head. Yeasty, malty fruity aroma with raisins and some figs. Vinous malty flavor, raisins, sweet fruitsd and some bitter notes. Good beer and this will of course improve with time.