Gales Prize Old Ale

[only 2 years old] The aroma is fruity with notes of grapes, yeast, wine, and alcohol. The color is dark brown - opaque with no head. The flavor is round and rather sweet and fruity with notes of plums. It is rather complex, a little acidic with no bitterness. It has a good palate, but it is very light for a 9% ABV. I had expected more, but maybe that's because of the youth of my sample.

Bottled (2 different bottles), 2004 vintage. Cloudy ruby, very lively. The cork shoots off with a big bang and leaves a sour, yeasty cloud behind it. Citric like lambic. Vinous and fruity, behind the acid some toffee and a little bit of alcohol. It might gain from aging, but I’m not very likely to waste my money and shelf space.
Bottled (Milestone’s Pale Ale) Bottled (corked). Nut brown. Pours thick. Aroma of plums vinegar and dried fruit. Strange mellow maltiness, lightly acidic. Sweet and syrupy. Sweaty thick bitter finish. Although not bad, this is nowhere near George Gale in top shape. Must be brewed on a monday morning.

(Bottle 27,5 cl) Vintage 2004 Almost mahogany - "Cuba-mahogany", Pernille claims - a statement I didn’t inquire any further into. Almost completely absent head. Lovely nose of port. Pronounced sweetness and lots of complex flavours of dried fruit. And yet manages to remain rather dry. Probably wil improve a lot with aging, so I guess I’ll store the rest of my sixpack till I retire. 010605

(Bottle 27,5 cl) Vintage 1988 7/4/5/3/12=3,1 280705

Excellent beer. Stylish and complex. Dark fruit flavours, smooth malt palate and a hint of acidity in the finish. I’ve got some of this in my cellar.

27.5 cL bottle. Pours hazy brown/redish with a completely diminished off-white head. Mouldy and malt sweet aroma. Slight note of raisins. No carbonation. Thick malty flavour, dry and heavily oxidiced. Ends very dry. Needs a rerate.