BC Brew Review: Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2008

Beer and patience aren’t words you would normally associate with one another. With an old ale like Fuller’s Vintage Ale, however, controlling your impulse to open this beer will pay dividends like a maturing investment. Its high alcohol and the yeast added to the bottle mean that you can cellar this ale for years after its best before date. Like a fine wine, this beer will improve with age. You could track this over a decade by buying a half dozen bottles, opening one immediately and then one every two years. More inside…

Fuller’s Vintage Ale is a special winter seasonal offering that has been made by the head brewer annually in limited volume since 1997. Consequently, each beer is dated and bottles are individually numbered. Like Anchor Christmas Ale, Fuller’s Vintage Ale is made with a different recipe each year. A set of tasting notes for the previous beers is included in the box for those wanting a multi-year vertical tasting.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2008 was made with Challenger & Northdown hops and premium English Maris Otter malt. Only 145,000 bottles were produced. Bottle No. 19381 poured a clear dark copper colour with moderate carbonation and a quickly-dissipating off-white head. This year’s vintage is noticeably stronger and maltier than previous versions, almost achieving the characteristics of an English barley wine but of medium body. A malt sweetness dominates the aroma and flavour, which begins sherry-like, then finishes dry and bitter. Nevertheless, there isn’t sufficient hop bitterness to mask the immediately apparent alcoholic warmth, as with an American barley wine.

Given the English penchant for balance, it would seem this beer was brewed to age. In the coming years, the strong flavours will soften and the contrasts recede, becoming more complex with time. Whenever you do decide to open your bottle, enjoy this winter warmer on a chilly evening in a snifter paired with a fine aged hard cheese — like Gouda or Gruyère — or a creamy blue cheese, such as a Little Qualicum Blue Claire.

Brewer: Fuller Smith & Turner
ABV: 8.5%
Category: Old Ale
Appearance: 4
Aroma: 4
Flavour: 3.5
Mouthfeel: 4.5
Overall: 4
Score: 20/25
Availability: BCLS and better private stores.

~ RG

Tagged as: Anchor, Anchor Christmas Ale, barley wine, barleywine, blue cheese, Blue Claire, Challenger, Cheese, Fuller Smith & Turner, Fuller's, Fuller's Vintage Ale, Gouda, Gruyère, hops, Little Qualicum, Maris Otter, Northdown, old ale