Coopers Vintage Ale

Brewed by Coopers Brewery
Style: English Strong Ale
Regency Park, South Australia, Australia

Cloudy amber copper. Pours with big head that disappears fairly quickly. Aroma of rich malts and subtle citrus notes. Rich flavors of amber/brown malts, carob, minerals, white pepper, grain, alcohol, bitter fruit rinds. This is a fresh bottle from a holiday selection, but I’ve had it in the past, perhaps with some age, and I remember it as being richer and tastier.

Pours a deep brown color with golden and reddish hues. Thin off-white head that dissipates to a film quickly. Spotty lacing on the glass. Light nuts and malt in the nose with hints of peppery alcohol. Medium-bodied and well-carbonated with flavors of nuts, figs and malt. Touches of spicy hops and alcohol as well. The finish is chewy and sweet with a light astringency in the background. Above average overall.

12.7oz bottle. Slightly hazy brown with almost no head. Malty, nutty and earthy aroma with some toffee. The flavor is malt oriented, starts a little sweet and then finishes dry and slightly acidic with a high dose of alcohol. Hops don’t assert themselves at all. Clean and hard palate with a hot finish. Overall, tastes messy and hot; I’m not a fan, not really pleasant at all to sip on.

BCA from Tesco. Sweet malty caramel. Slight hints of alcohol. A little plummy fruit. I was unimpressed by this.

Pretty darn good. Aroma is complex and inviting. The esters are a welcome addition. Not too alchoholic but with good mouthfeel. A copper color, with a decent head that disappears quite quickly. There isn’t a date of the batch on the bottle. No hops and carmel, alcohol and esters dominate the flavor profile. Another winner from the beers of the world pack.

37,5cl bottle. 2007 vintage. This is an unclear amber colour with a smallish off-white head that rapidly diminishes. Its aromas are sweet and full of raw malty characteristics with the slight appearance of alcohol. The alcohol is also noticeable in the flavours, but the main flavour profiles are fruity, however none appear terribly distinguishable. A pleasing bitter finish with some dryness of the palate.

2007 Vintage. Hazy orange brown. Not a pretty sight. Raw, slightly painty caramel aroma, but there’s a pear fruitiness too. Alcohol dominates the taste with sour fruitiness followed by a little dryness. It’s the sort of beer you label as ’interesting’ rather than ’delicious’.

Was orange brown colour, but had no head, some sedimentation. Good bitterness with sherry undertones. Subdued odour which is slightly floral. Slight heaviness but well carbonated in the mouth. Well pleasing beer.