Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2005

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

A hazy brown beer with a red shine underneath a very fast disappearing beige head. The aroma is sweet with powerful notes of berries, as well as lighter notes of wood and herbs. The flavor is sweet again with strong notes of berries, which gives it a slight acidity that bites lightly in the throat, combined with lighter notes of wood and herbs. It reminds me somewhat of a Flemmish Sour. I find the body thin inspite of the 9% ABV. I find it solid, but I’m not blown away by it.

(Bottle 75 cl) Pours slightly hazy reddish brown with a rather rough, off-white head. Extremely fruity nose. Full, sweet body with tons of fruit and dried fruits and some very sweet accents of brown sugar. Rather lovely - but over-carbonated as always from Unibroue. 240706

Bottled. Dark brown, clear. Sparkling berryish aroma. Medium sweet and medium bodied with lively, soft mouthfeel and notes of lingonberry. A light yeast character. Feels fresh and intriguingly flavourful. Unibroue-quality...

Bottle. Cloudy red brown coloured with a medium sized but fast disappearing head. Aroma of dried fruits and spices. Flavour of fruits, dried fruits and spices.

Near black colour. Light aroma, kind of figgy, pruney, plummy. The flavour again has figgy notes and is mainly malty (dark but understated malts with the usual molasses, brown sugar type stuff, but quite mellow). Hint of alcohol late and a hint of the Unibroue yeast.

Bottle. Almost black colour with a small beige head. Dark fruits, light alcoholic aroma and a sweet dark fruits, light citrus taste. Medium body with a sweet finish.

Quickly fading beige head initially mounts up the dark cola body. Active carbonation keeps trying to give some vigor back to the head without success. Typically Unibrouesque liquorice and cakey, slightly vinous chocolate and floral flavours. Not as fruity as expected, even surprisingly hinting slightly at plastic, but it catches back on the tongue. There, dates, anise and growing fruitiness accompany the usual chocolate flavours which come out in a powdery fashion. Caramel shines by its absence, the results being a rather dry product, with moderately high carbonation that doesn’t bite and a airy medium body. Good stuff.

Bottle... Opaque, very dark ale with a huge, frothy, khaki head. Terrific retention. Yeasty, dark fruit nose with notes of light molasses, light mint, spicy phenols, black bread, dates and raisins. Big, malty brew with just enough bitterness to prevent it from becoming annoyingly sweet. Mildly chocolaty with light acidity and warming alcohol. Full-bodied with a milky mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. Lengthy, gently sweet, softly bitter, warming finish. A big THANKS to vyvvy for shipping the bottle out east!