Fullers Vintage Ale 2007

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

This smells creamy, a hint of rye almost. Very good. The flavor is sweet but not strong. Very tasty and drinkable. I really like this, more than many of the others.

50cl dark brown bottle, as shown. 2007 vintage, tasted and reviewed in Oct, 2009. Bottle No. 55926. Vintage, bottle-conditioned ale pours a beautiful, slightly hazy copper and a medium, soapy beige head with decent lacing. Pretty intense aroma of ripe plums, coupled with noticeable hops and an orange-peel edge. Heavy-bodied ale, with low carbonation and creamy (but not thick) mouth feel. Stewed dark fruit dominate the taste at first, with a strong but beautifully integrated note of malty alcohol for additional "gravitas". Sweet and bitter notes continue to vie for your attention as the beer goes down; finish is dry, hoppy - with a lingering, complex sweet-and-bitter after taste. Fullers have done it again: It’s a pricey brew (at almost 8.00 euros per bottle), but a rich and rewarding one. How could a strong ale possibly be better balanced and smoother than this? Great beer that drinks like a great wine.

Bottle pours a vibrant golden amber with a light mid-sized head. My only wish is that the grassy note was slightly more subdued. Perhaps it will mellow out in a short time before I have my next bottle

Ouch! Bitter, then sweet and rich. By Jove! I have to say I’m stumped by this one. Lady Crabapple was not too impressed; I’m afraid I might have to differ with her on this one. I rather liked it! I have had two bottles of this peculiar brew, but am saving four for a later date. I seem to recall that the 2006 was a little sweeter, a little less bitter. But I’m not at all sure. Well, I really enjoyed this, almost as much as the Coopers vintage ale!

Bottle # 143239. First aroma is leather. Rich leathery notes with some fruitiness and a touch of peat. Upon drinking this stuff explodes into a rainbow of English Ale standards. Leather, caramel malt, a touch of must and some bitterness. Pours amber with tan head. Definitely a winner, and worth the extra cash.

Bottle #18549. Bright amber with a white head. Malty aroma with a peachy fruitiness. Rich, alcoholic Christmas cake taste, sweet, malty and utterly smooth. Little bitter touch at the back of the throat. Top ale.

500mL bottle thanks to Tupalev, big thanks Jeff! I was going to put this one off for a while, but alas, I just couldn’t help myself. Pours a hazy ruby with a big, but quickly dissipating rich khaki head. The aroma is complex bliss, sharp hop character, pineapples, caramalt, and an almost sour yeasty aspect to it which is very intriuging. Nice! Flavour is even better, caramel candy sweetness all the way through with faint Brit hops adding a bit of balance. Subtle biscuit aspect is in there too which I really like. Minor toffee, smoke and tobacco flavours show up as it warms. Very thick and chalky feeling which I like, feels ’big’. Yeasty esters abound with a dry finish. This is a fantastic beer. Bottle # 05117.

Appearance: Dark brownish red. Quite cloudy. Little head. Bottle no 66681. Aroma: Some dark malt. Prunes, some alcohol. Taste: Dark malt. Raisins, prunes. Info: 500ml bottle, 11/1-2009, (171/300)