Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2005

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

One of the best bargains in beer for sure. Pours a nearly pitch brown, medium head that fades fast. You can tell by the aroma that thisis Unibroue. \ Fruity, pears and cherries, sweet clover, lemon, and a mild bread quality. Flavor is sweet, apples, cherry, vanilla, wood, grass, and alcohol notes, a slight smokiness. Very nice, indeed.

A dark brown pour, tan head, aroma is estery yeast with dark fruity malt. Taste follows brown belgian profile, that is dark fruitiness, caramel malt with yeasty spiciness. Lots of carbonation, body is lighter than expected, but good overall balance and does a good job of hiding the alcohol. Good but this one could use some cellaring.

Bottle (750mL corked and caged) courtesy of JohnnyFlake. Pours dark brown to near black opaquenes with a tall fluffy tan head. Nose is yeasty and semi-sweet with dark fruits(raisins and plums), chewy malts, spices and light flowery notes. Taste is typical Unibroue. But this is a good thing! Rich spiciness, Belgian yeast, raisins, plums, rum cake, sweet malts and a bit of cocoa. Very nice! I can understand the Trois Pistoles comparison, now. Body is medium with lots of carbonation prickling my mouth. After that dies down a bit, it smooth out and starts to feel creamy. Finishes with a bit of chocolate pudding, more Blegian yeast, spices, sweet malts, and raisins. Light alcohol notes begin to creep in here, but it doesn’t lessen this at all. Very nice!

Dark brown almost opaque black of a pour with a nice brown head. Clove, mixed fruit and malt mixed in the aroma. Flavor is nice and fruity with a definite maltiness and a nice bitterness. Palate is a nice combination of sweet and bitterness. Good brew from Unibroue and Trader Joe’s. Thumbs up on this one! Great price for a truly enjoyable beer.

Pours dark brown, with a tan head. Aromas are sugar, malt fruit, and spice. Flavors are fruit, spice, malt, and sugar. Body is too light, but this isn’t bad considering the price.

It’s a very easy-drinking (read: mellow) belgian strong ale. I was very impressed, and I enjoyeed it greatly. Usually, I like my beer with a little more "flavor punch", but this one satisfies completely. With it’s high alcohol content, I didn’t expect to drink the entire 750ml bottle by myself, but it tasted so good, I drank the whole bottle with dinner. Now, I’m a slight bit "warm". I love it.

Bottle: Dark brown, darker than most other Unibroue examples, large light brown foamy head, spotty lacing.   Sweet candyish nose, very slight floral and fruit, somewhat reminds me of a triple.   Soft breadiness up front, sweet, but not as candyish or floral as the nose suggested.   By the finish it falls off somewhat quickly.   Body and mouthfeel are rather average.   Given how dark it was I am surprised its not more robust.   9% ABV is hidden well, but it does hit you by the time you finish the bottle.   Overall I find this one a bit lighter than other Unibroue beers, not as flavorful, but while remaining clean and very easy to drink.   Just needs more umph on the tongue.

Bottle. Dark beer with a big beige head. Fruity (plum/date) aroma with sweet malt. Sweet malt flavor with caramel, fruit, and a nice yeasiy spiciness. Dry finish. Could use just a bit more depth.