RateBeer

Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2005

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
93
overall
Formerly brewed at Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale

Chambly, Canada

bottling
unknown

on tap
unknown

distribution
unknown

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
1233.68/5.03.64/5.0Special9%83.1Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
Trader Joe's Vintage Ale is a dark Belgian style beer of great distinction produced by traditional top fermentation methods resulting in a rich and full-bodied flavour. Brewed once a year in limited quantity, please enjoy Trader Joe's inaugural Vintage Ale.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 sneagrams3 (1747), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20
Nov 7, 2007  
Tasted 11/3/07. 750ml bottle. Opaque with slight garnet highlights. Finger width of taupe head. Quickly dissipating head. Woody toffee aromas. Full bodied with toffee and dark berry flavors. High effervescence. Citrus note with a belgian yeast flavor. Bready yeasty. Pruney raisin flavor. A cocoa nuance evolves as it warms. More depth and complexity as the level drops and the temperature rises. Cloying but with a nice sticky flavor. Good aging. Good juice!


 rudolf (1758), Buffalo, New York, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/513/20
Aug 20, 2007  
Thanks to Maya and Patrick for this. Very dark brown, tan head. Nose is unibroue spice, ginger, yeast, toffee, alcohol. Ginger is overpowering. Flavor is spice, ginger, cola, rich malt is buried below the abundant spicing. There is just too much here, leading to dissonance. Creamby body despite the high carbonation level. All around weird. Tastes like 2004 but with dark malt.


 YogiBeera (2437), Hamburg, Germany
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/104/516/20
Apr 29, 2007  
Very enjoyable while Joe was releasing that he once was actually a fire cracker dealer ;-) - September 2006 - Nice drak ruby color, a bit leggy on the headside. Vingary -. nice sourness. Great balanced - I just loved it.


 pivo (2535), Germany
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Apr 8, 2007  
Earthy nose with hint of leaves, brown color, huge foamy head. Yeasty note comes forward quickly, with a vanilla flavor in the background. Leaves a sweet toffee taste on the lips. Big bold beer and well balanced. Good one.


 CaptainCougar (5420), Rockville, Maryland, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Mar 20, 2007  
Bottle sampled on 9/20/06: Pours a dark brown with nicely-lacing frothy light tan head. Aroma has a nice, sweet bready dark malty presence with good Belgian yeastiness. Body starts sweet and toasty with a good dark caramel malty flavor and authentic trademark Unibroue Belgian yeastiness. A good Belgian dark strong ale.


Spliffy (55), Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/513/20
Mar 19, 2007  
A very nice brew with a dark look. Molasses and fruity and a pretty nice mouthfeel. Suprised to pick it up at TJ’s, but happy. Nice slow sipper


 rmussman (905), California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Feb 27, 2007  
I was very suprised at Trader Joes to see this beer was from Unibroue. After pouring it was easy to tell that it was certainly from them. The high carbonation and light acidic texture of the beer was classic Unibroue. Very dark nature was rare from them but expected. Very nice.


 Rockinout (945), Kent, Ohio, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 15, 2007  
Sweet molasses and root beerish nose, taste of the same and some dark fruits. Soft on the palate yet warming from the alcohol.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC