Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2005

Formerly brewed at Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chambly, Canada

Opaque dark brown, thick head formation. Sweet, fruity, clove spice nose. Sweet malty palate with licorice, chestnut, mild chocolate and raisins. Fairly yeasty, mildly burnt in the finish. Kudos to Trader Joe’s for using Unibroue.

Had a sweet roasted aroma and asdo detected a wood aroma. Black body with a big fizzy head that diminished quickly. Flavor had a fermented bitterness for the most part. Also some spice and sweet roasted flavor as well. Flavor was an odd mix. At 4.95 will have to get another one and age it and come back and rerate.

Very dark deep red color with medium sized tan head. Aroma is full of belgain esters, with notes of plums, dates, vanilla, toasted sugar. Flavor is malty, crisp, with hints of bananna, figs, burnt caramel, a mildly sweet finish with just a hint of bitterness as it finishes. Carbonation is prominent. A very subtle note of alcohol is present almost as an afterthought.

Dark brown to black color with a thick tan head. Aroma or rasins and yeast. Flavor is sweet and the alcohol is well hidden. Not as heavy bodied as I had expected looking at it.

Bottle from Cincy store. Dark brown color with a large light brown head that diminished slowly and produced good lacing. Good malty, fruit and spice aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Full complex fruit and malt sweet flavor with a long finish with a small alcohol tone. Good brew at a fair price.

Very dark brown, bordering on black. Head is light brown but totally diminishing after only a few seconds. Yeasty aroma, with notes of ripened plums, dates, raisins, brown sugar, and a slight hint of alcohol. Flavor of licorice, sweet malt, raisins, and the slightest trace of sourdough bread. The flavor doesn’t "pop" as much as I’d like; seems rather subdued. Medium bodied with very fizzy carbonation, too much so for my tastes. My 1000th rating.

Very similar in taste to La Terrible. Pours a very dark brown in color, with a huge brown head(a bit over carbonated). Aroma is fruity, like dates, figs and plums, with a dark brown sugar added(I pick up a little molasses). Mouth feel is tangy. Sweet finish with an underlining tartness. Good Beer and at $5 a bottle, a can’t miss. I think this beer will age fantastically too!

Enjoyed this with elnadeau on our first homebrew excursion. A good example of a belgian brown with nice fruityness levels on the nose (not overpowering) and no off flavors. Carbonation level was a bit high, so mouth feel had a bit too much bite for my tastes, but this could mellow with age. Certainly a good deal and a good beer, I think I’ll buy another.