Gulden Draak Vintage

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

Pleasant aromas of candi sugar, plum, figs, malts and caramel. Body was deep brown with a decent light tan cap that faded quickly, mouthfeel was a little sticky with a slight carbonation bite. Flavors were similar to the aroma with the bready malt back and the fruity, and spicy notes serve a complimentary role. Overall it was a nice beer, flavorful and smooth, not as aggressive as the original.

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

Sampled on 1/8/2010. This Belgian Strong Ale pours a medium brown color from a 750ml bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel, brown sugar and cinnamon and nutmeg. A medium bodied BSA. The Malts are fruity and sweet, caramel, brown sugar. The hops are earthy. Fruity and sweet, but nicely balanced by the spices, so it is not cloying. Lively carbonation. Mellows as it warms. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle: Poured a clear brown color ale with a super huge light brown color head with great retention and perfect lacing. Aroma of candi sugar with nice Belgian malt and notes a dry hops and a peppery yeast. Taste is also dominated by sweet creamy malt which are well balanced with candi sugar and a spicy and peppery yeasty finish. Body is quite full with great carbonation and very light alcoholic ester are noticeable. Well done and a very good example of Belgian ale.

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

Vintage 2007; Sampled February 2008
I am actually excited that this is not as strong as the regular version. This is very well carbonated, a careful pour produces ahead that starts out a full four-fingers in height and then continues to grow three-finger above the tops of my glass before it reaches an equilibrium. The head is a dirty-amber tinged, tan color and sits on top of a dark, burnt amber colored brew. When held up to the light the beer shows a brilliantly clear, rich cranberry hue. The aroma is a nice mix of malt, fruit and spice notes. The aroma has notes of apples, figs, brown sugar, sweet berries, toasted grain, caramelized malt, dusty malt, raisins, prunes, clove, a touch of ginger, soft lemon zest, and notes similar to dark holiday sweet breads. This brew has a very rich, decadent smelling aroma that I am quite enjoying.

Lightly sweet flavors remind me of rip plums (sweet with just a touch of tartness to it). The beer has prickly carbonation that causes the beer to dance across the tongue and also provides a peppery carbonic bit that helps to balance the sweetness. The beer has certain heft to it that gets pretty well cleaned up by the carbonation, keeping this beer fairly light and easy drinking. Dark fruit notes of raisins join somewhat concentrated plum notes as well as malty flavors of caramelized sugar, lightly toasted malt and a touch of biscuit flavors. The finish definitely has a touch of hot alcohol to it that provides a bit of warming character and also combines with the ample fruit notes to provide light flavors of brandy. There is a bit of spiciness that comes through towards and into the finish that also helps to balance the sweet fruit notes found up front; light spice notes of pepper, ginger, definite clove and a light herbal note are noticeable.

This has a rich fruitiness to it that is quite nice and appropriate for a beer with a winter-themed label. I do like that, despite the rich fruit notes, this beer is fairly easy drinking. This is definitely more enjoyable than the regular version, the sweetness and palate fullness of the original is not so overwhelming here and allows this version to be much better balanced and palatable (apparently most people like big powerful flavors, as the average scores are reversed for most, so feel free to ignore my perspective). Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

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

Bottled. Ruby red colour, beige head. Plummy malty aroma. Flavour of malts, hops and some plummy sweet hints. Not that special. I do prefer the normal Gulden Draak over this one.