Trader Joe's Vintage Ale 2008

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

Bottle: Poured a hazy deep brown color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of typical Unibroue Belgian ester with deep rich malt with hints of candi sugar. Taste is also a nice mix between some rich Belgian malt with notes of candi sugar and that typical Unibroue ester. Body is quite full with great carbonation and no signs of alcohol. Very well done though quite similar to prior year vintage.

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

had this late in the afternoon, from what i can remember, thanks lindsey .. . dark marmalade .. . very smooth .. . kinda mild .. . when it comes to lemons, i'm your main squeeze...an enjoyable brew .. thank you big harry, sorry little AL..

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

An interesting beer but nothing of grand outstanding quality; we were told that this would be a great beer to age for 3-5 years. That is an amazing feat for a Trader Joe's Beer. Typical Belgian yeast/sugar taste with some plumminess and some malt background. Really tame in taste

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

The aroma is very fruity-like with hints of dark fruit, like plum, and maybe some dark berries or other dark fruit with a slight scent of yeast with floral-like tendencies. The appearance is very dark and earthy and creamy-like and is an extremely dark burgundy that can not be penetrated even when held to the light with a nice bubbly head on top that is light brown and sticks to the glass and remains. The mouthfeel is very full and robust with much fruity complexity and has good balance with a nice, wet pallet that is coated evenly. The flavor is of fruit, like plum and berries, with maybe hints of banana with some slight raisin accent with an aftertaste that is somewhat yeasty with slight hints of alcohol with a finish that turns to bitter with some alcohol burn when it goes down. Overall, a very tasty ale with good alcohol quantity that is masked well and surprisingly smooth and creamy to drink. This one definitely is refreshing and nice to sip.

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

This is definately better than last year's offering. I don't know how much of the recipe changes, but this doesn't seem as harshly spiced as previous year's editions have been. The spicing is there (cinnamon, brown sugar, cloves, and some other zingy doo-dads) but the flavors are mixed and balanced really well. There is also more fruit (grapes, sweet raisins, plums, cherries) in this than I remember. The faintest hints of coffee and chocolate in there also. Looks the same as I remember it: dark brown with a solid yummy cap of beige foam. Smells of yeasty bicuits, spice, and some sweet fruits. The alcohol is exceptionally well hidden. As this "breathes" in the glass and warms up a bit, it becomes even better. This is really and outstanding beer. Much more than I was expecting. The wife and I thoroughly enjoyed drinking the 2008 vintage and were thoroughly upset when the bottle was empty.