Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2012

Brewed by Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Chambly, Canada

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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750 c&c from Trader Joe’s in Davis, CA. Pours dark brown with orange glints and a creamy, somewhat fizzy, tan head. Aromas of dark fruit, some brown sugar, and a touch of anise. Full bodied. Flavor has more anise than the aroma suggested. Heat’s not an issue til it reaches the esophagus. Finishes pretty much per the flavor, with the addition of some bitterness. Somewhere a suggestion of the flavors commonly found in a wit (minus the citrus) comes out. Moderately complex and tasty ale.

Free sample from. 750 ml bottle, thank you Mr Joe. Dark brown color, huge tan head. Aroma of caramel, paper, medicine. Taste is boiled vegetables and a hint of chocolate.

Bottle. Pours with a near black hued body with a lasting tan head that leaves good lace. Aromas are spicy, cardamom, Unibroue house yeast, dark fruit, candied figs, tobacco with a complex maltiness. Flavors show a low but slightly persistent roast, cardamom, spicy phenols, cola. Warming, medium malt, somewhat bitter, earthy, tobacco notes in the finish. Warming with lively carbonation and a dry, effervescent finish. Always a steal and something I look forward to every year. Possibly not my favorite vintage, but at $4 per 750, buying a case to drink/sit on might be in order!

Dark brown pour with a khaki head. Herbal nose with some sweet brown sugar, a little alcohol, and some light spices. Raisin, light roast, and a hint of chocolate. Lots of herbal notes to the flavor. Roast, some chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit. A touch of alcohol and brown sugar.

750mL bottle. Poured medium brown with a well-formed khaki head. The aroma picked up lots of black pepper, rye, and clove spicage over molasses and a touch of maple.. very yeasty, but enjoyable. The flavor found prickly carbonation and cloves on the tip of the tongue, with warm molasses, caramel, and maple following.. peppery red notes and tart, red vinous character around.. finished with tight carbonation and lots of spice, with banana and molasses coming back after the swallow. Medium-bodied and well-carbonated on the palate.. spicy, yeasty, and engaging.. a bit too much carbonation for my liking.. overall a very good drinker.

C&C 750 mL bottle from Trader Joe’s Virginia Beach. Pours a clear dark brown color with a huge brown foamy head (4 fingers atop 3 fingers of beer. Aroma of big spice notes, candi sugar, chestnuts, herbal notes and tart fruits. The taste is candi sugar, pineapple, stone fruits, spices, herbal hops. Very fruity. High carbonation, medium bodied. Decent.

Bottle. Dark brown beer with a dark tan/grey head. Rich malt and spice aroma. Rich malt and light fruit flavor with spice and yeast. Medium bodied. Spice and yeast linger with dark fruit and rich malt.

The corked and caged 750mL pours with a dark brown body that supports a mocha colored head of foam. The aroma offers up full holiday spices and ginger as well as Belgian candi sugar and a slight hint of coffee. The taste delivers malt and apple sweetness with layers of various winter spice notes. Into the finish the sweet malts and sweet apple like esteriness shine through as the spices slowly fade away.

750mL at a party. Pours a hazy collar red. Large beige foam. Nose is heavy house yeast, fruit cake, cinnamon, gingerbread. Some sage and mint. Taste begins with light chocolate, mineral water, dark cherries, spicy mint and sage. Palate is minerally, aerated. Finishes too dry and papery. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle from TJs Berkeley. Black with a fluffy off white head. Cola citrus nutmeg cinnamon and allspice aroma. Lively silky but slightly sticky palate. Tastes of chocolate and light orange followed by hazelnut cola and Ginger bread and finishing with hot cinnamon and alcohol and with lingering sweet spice notes. Very good.