Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2007

Formerly brewed at Unibroue (Sapporo)
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Chambly, Canada

750mL bottle from oldstylecubfan poured into a tulip. Pours dark chestnut brown in the glass that has lots of orange when held up to light. The head is a creamy beige two-finger cap that recedes to a big collar and a swirl along the top. The aroma is sweet with candi sugar taking a lead role with some compliments from dark fruits, especially raisins. There is also a sweet yeast aroma with a light spiciness capping off the aroma. The taste is sweet but doesn’t have quite the same overpowering candi sugar and yeast presence as the aroma. They’re certainly there but the spices and dark malts seem to be more prevalent. The finish is where the spices really come out. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sugary sweet but with more than enough carbonation to keep it from becoming cloying. Between the spices and carbonation, it’s very lively on the palate. A very good Belgian dubbel that balances the sweetness and spiciness very well and remains very drinkable. It’s not a great beer, but the Trader Joes vintages are clearly one of the best value Belgian-style beers for the money.

750 ml corked and caged bottle, best before 10/28/2010. Served in a goblet, the beer pours a murky brownish/copper color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is good, lacing is OK. It smells like raisins, molasses, brown sugar, caramel, raspberries and a bit of spice. The taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like dark fruit, caramel, brown sugar and some peppery spice and also an herbal flavor. Taste isn’t as sweet compared to the aroma. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it’s a bit creamy and it’s well carbonated. Drinkability is decent, would be better if the carbonation was a bit lower. Overall I think it’s a decent brew, I liked it.

750ml corked and caged bottle. Pours a cloudy dark chocolate brown with a 2 finger creamy tan head that leaves decent lacing. The nose is molasses, dark fruit, caramel and brown sugar. The taste is dark fruit, caramel malt, spicy yeast and rock candy. Medium, semi-creamy mouthfeel. Typical Unibroue – decent, no flaws, yet on the boring side.

12/18/2008: Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale 2007... Appearance: Deep amber color, transparent; foamy beige head. Aroma: Sweet and yeasty, hints of bubblegum and fruity caramel. Flavor: Strong (more like "assertive"), but not "in your face"; fruity and balanced, subtle spice, fruity yeastiness; alcohol is warming but not noticeable in the flavor. Palate: Mediumb-bodied, smooth; good mouthfeel. Overall: Good, but nohting unique; pairs very well the the homemade date pudding that I am eating!

1 pt. 9.4 fl. oz. corked and caged bottle (9% alc./vol.; Best Before: 10-28-2010) from Tmoney99. Thanks Tom! Rating #157 for this beer.

Dark brownish copper color with a big fluffy beige head. The foam dies out quickly leaving no lacing. Aroma is very gingery with additional accents of chocolate mousse, raspberry, brown sugar, bubblegum, and dried dark fruit. Very complex and intriguing aroma but overall it’s just too sweet smelling. Flavor is less sweet but it’s also less complex. Dark crusty bread, light spices, leather, pepper. Dry, astringent finish with some alcohol warmth. Body is too thin and carbonation is much too high and it’s coarse to boot. Lacks the expected Belgian fullness and refinement. Not bad for the very cheap price tag.

Not bad. reasonably priced compared to other unibroue beers. worth a try.

Deep copper/amber in colour with a thin but lingering off-white head, good lacing. The aroma is yeasty, lots of candy sweetness, dark fruits with some light alcohol. The flavour is sweet at first, yeasty, malty, very fruity with some noticeable alcohol. Sweet mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes with a lingering sweetness, warm.

A step back from the 2006, seems to be lacking some oomph. Lackluster Unibroue.

750ml bottle obtained in a trade with rustychiles, thanks Rusty.
Opened on July 24, 2008.
Vintage 2007.