Fullers Vintage Ale 2008

Brewed by Fullers
Style: English Strong Ale
London, England

Bottle #41670. Copper to a bright brown color with a very small cap. Sweet woody malts slightly roasted, mild amounts of alcohol and a out of place but pleasant banana is showing up in the aroma. My Marks for the aroma are only low because of the mildness of it not because it smells bad. Beer is rich an full with a bitter finish a large chocolaty flavour consumes the flavour of this beer. Lots of coffee and high quality dirt also show up. Can’t taste the alcohol but my stomach is getting very warm. Slight metallic flavour when brew starts to warm up. I can’t believe how sweet this is starting to taste but it finishes very bitter so it has a balance. Mmmmm…there’s that yummy taste of Alcohol in small amounts I like. Beer is ok

Bottle from LCBO. Coppery orange body, thin off-white head. Nose is rich raisiny malt, nice crisp English hop, some dark fruit character, nuttiness. Flavor is very nice rich caramel & toffee, raisin, a very slight burnt note, pleasant herbal hop. Long rich malt/raising & fruit finish.

I liked this strong beer. Had very malty molasses like taste to it. Cloudy amber color. Too bad only bought one of them at time!

Bottle. Pours cloudy amber with small amount of beige head. Lots of honey sweetness to balance the alcohol, nice hoppy finish. I look forward to trying again afer some aging.

Orange amber color with a small, stable light taupe colored head. Caramel,light fruit and a bit of sweet herbal tea. Moderate heft, with just a bit of zip in it. Light fruit and malt start. Currants and raisins, mingle with floor malt. Middle has some herbal hops which carry into the finish. Some slightly rough edges here and there. Hints of alcohol in the finish and linger. A bit of bite in the finish. A decent strong ale, just does not seem as refined as previous vintages, at least in my memory.

500 ml bottle from LCBO (29176). Pours a clear rich amber with small slightly off-white head. Aroma is sweet malt with alcohol evident Taste is very sweet with alcohol and some hoppiness present towards the end.

So far, this might be my favorite year of Fullers Vintage ale. I’ve always enjoyed ESA’s and this one is in fine form. An aroma caramel apples, baked pears, wet dirt, and chocolate. Flavor is sweet but still enjoyable. Honey, rum raisins, a bit plummy with a touch of earthy hops and alcohol to keep things from going off the deep end of sweetness.

Bottle #54841. Beautiful sparkling amber, firm lacey beige head. Malt syrupy nose, hint of orange marmalade, very low hops, kinda like cheap sweet berry liqueur. Flavor is sweet and mellow, mild resiny hops, rowanberry and raspberry in the finish, slight warming alcohol. Mämmi-like bitter orange and stronger alcohol kick in as it warms up. Medium to full bodied, lush low carbonation. Kinda restrained strong ale, and I’m not too crazy about them berrywine notes.