Fullers Vintage Ale 1997

Formerly brewed at Fullers
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

Vinous, chocolate cocoa, grapey aroma with some maderization and light alcohol notes apparent. Opaque amber-brown with a decent and lasting cover of fine-bubbled head that leaves some slight lace. Vinous flavour has notes of green leaves, pine, grapes, marzipan, pastry dough, alcohol and plenty of sherry-like oxidation. Mild bitterness. Medium body seems somewhat tired with low carbonation. Bottle (#84041) enjoyed with beerbuzzmontreal, MartinT, Olivier_MTL, Rastacouere and Yowie.

8-year-old bottle:

The Lure:
Maderisation genuflects in front of the hefty dark chocolate fruit and the barley-winish caramel peaches. Superb sherry alcohol notes show sagacity, light years away from senility.

The Festivities:
Mouthfeel, even though round, is more tired than the glowing aroma. Earthy yeast dominates the caramel and berries. Still, overall, a marvelous aging experiment.

Transcendence:
A awe-inspiring nocturnal visit into a cave cellar.

Pours a murky dark amber color with a very thin head. Excellent aroma and flavor of candy and caramel with heavy malts and mild alcohol. Light to medium body, creamy texture, soft carbonation. Great stuff. Merci David !

Orange to dark copper body. Surprising initial beige head slowly diminishes to leave a whiskey looking beer. Complex chocolate and slightly oxidized nose. Strong Madeira, clover, caramel, molasses barleywine-like sweetness is aptly marrying the slightly floral and earthy residue that time have blended into the soft alcohol vapours. Anise hints were born to match that honey aspect that charms the nostrils. The palate didn’t quite hold up as well where it feels a bit thinned out by now. The carbonation is very low and the floral Madeira makes images of oxidation spring to the mind. Sticky sweet feels, slightly acid and gently earthy marries otter. Great aging material. My second favourite after the 99. Thanks John!

Pours a somewhat hazy orangeish-amber with a nice small head. Aroma is great with notes of nice roasty malts, dark fruits (raisins, plums), some alcohol. Flavor is wonderful...more bigger sweet malts, mild hop bitterness, bigger alcohol...leading up to a great bitter finish. Like the ’98, a bit thin, but the palate is smooth and creamy. Great ale that has stood up to time well. Second bottle was much better than the first....all the great qualities of my first tasting, but just that much better. Outstanding English Strong Ale.

(Bottle, # 84043) Pours a carbonated, cloudy amber body with a thick frothy head. Aroma of caramel, fruit, and toffee. Flavor of malt, caramel, and scotch. Chewy mouthfeel. Thanks for sharing Walt!

Poured honey amber color with a big bubbled brown head...smell is yeasty with lots of delicate cognac too...taste is sweet and the mouthfeel is active with lots of small furious bubbles tickling the tongue...finish is warm and amazingly still alcoholic warm...

Bottle #84043. Wonderful woody tannic honey nose. Very "old" smell-must and honey. Smells great. Taste-lots and lots of wood. Cherry, sawdust, peaty, bitter, and chewy. Very very nice. Just a fantastic beer.