Fuller's Vintage Ale 2000

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

The 2000 is my least favourite. A bit too sweet on the tongue and the alcohol is far more warming as it goes down. Smooth yes, but not very mellow. Maybe I needed more than one bottle.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Reddish brown with a low creamy disappearing tan-coloured foam. Mature aroma of sweets, cherries, caramel, fudge, port and raisins. Medium to full-bodied with strong notes of over-riped dark fruits, raisins, caramel, herbs, sweet licorice and gentle alcohol. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Long flavourful, balanced and harmounious finish of caramel, oak, raisins, oregano, pepper and mild warming alcohol.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottled. Amber colour, beige mediumsized head. Aroma is sweet caramel, alcohol, malts, hops and mild oxidation. Flavour is raisins, malts, some hops and spices. Also mild notes of alcohol.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 8

08.07.05 500ml bottle, #45367. Organic, eh? Pretty copper-amber pour, slightly hazed, medium, lasting, off-white froth. Autumn garden aromas of wilted flowers, used peat, and nutty wood. Touches of sweetness on nose carry through to flavor but diminish across the palate, never getting cloying. Size is impeccably hidden under great bitter earth notes. Lots of caramel despite medium dryness. I don’t get much exposure to target hops, but I’m liking the stark bitterness, reminds me of forests just before a first snow, dry, eager, crisp. Alcohol comes on late as a warming compliment. Very nice, in fact, better than I’d expected; perhaps on the wane, I’m glad I decided to open this one tonight.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

This is the best of the three vintages I've had of Fuller's Vintage Ale. The 1999 may have been past it's peak perhaps and the 2001 struck me as too bitter and alcoholic for a good balance. This however, was excellent. Very fruity and malty body balances the alcholic flavors and aroma and the bittering hops peak through only enough to prevent the malts from running away with the flavor. Considering the 1999, this beer has perhaps peaked and probably should be consumed soon. The appearance could use a more lively head, but who cares when the flavor is this good.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle: Poured a deep clear brown color ale with a medium off-white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma of figs and dry raisins is quite enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by the figs and the dry raisins with some strong malt. What I thought was surprising what the piney and citrusy ending courtesy of too many hops IMHO for this type of beer. Body is above average but could be more consistent and carbonation is also above average. Good but I would say not as good as the previous vintage years I had the luck of drinking.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Bottle # 61830... Poured a light garnet color with an off white head. Aroma of hops, caramel, dark fruits. Taste included sweet malt, and candy sugar. Alcohol not very noticeable. I thought the 99 vintage was alittle better.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

It was oxidized. Nice copper color with a tan head. Malty. Hoppy aroma. Lots of hops. good.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Bottle #58432. Pours a coudy brown color with a thick tan head. Excellent lacing. Aroma is balanced and alcoholic. Very similar to a refined barley wine...tart, thick, sweet aroma. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy, but rather smooth. Flavor is sweet and alcoholic...no attempt has been made to hide the high alcohol content of this thing. Reminds me of a very smooth, refined barley wine in taste. Finishes rather clean however, surprisingly so considering the sheer amount of flavor! Has a nice, sweet fruity tartness to the body that blends pretty well with the alcoholic warming sensation. I will be buying more of this one...should age well.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Cloudy amber color with aromas of sweet malts, dried fruits and light dough. The aroma isn’t over the top but warming. Taste is more malt, yeasty and some banana. A bit more hoppy than even the ’01. This is warming like a barleywine as the malty syrup is a bit too sweet.