Vintage Ale (2015)
Trader Joe's in Monrovia, California, United States 🇺🇸
Brewed at/by: UnibroueBelgian Style - Quadrupel / Dark Strong Rotating Out of Production
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Score
7.20
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Unique and limited edition, this Belgian style ale is crafted once a year as a special treat for those of you who appreciate flavorful, bottle conditioned ales with character.
Our Vintage Ale is a rich , dark and full-bodied ale with a fine and generous coffee-colored beige foam. It’s ready to enjoy right away and you may also wish to cellar a few bottles. It will evolve interestingly well, developing more complex flavors as the years go by. Keep the bottle upright in storage.
Brewed with a delicate balance of noble hops, roasted malts and spices, this is a remarkably smooth ale with a wonderfully complex finish. It is best served slightly chilled, around 53 degrees Fahrenheit and pairs exceptionally well with grilled salmon steaks, curried lamb, beef, or tuna au poivre. Crafted and bottled exclusively for Trader Joe’s.
Our Vintage Ale is a rich , dark and full-bodied ale with a fine and generous coffee-colored beige foam. It’s ready to enjoy right away and you may also wish to cellar a few bottles. It will evolve interestingly well, developing more complex flavors as the years go by. Keep the bottle upright in storage.
Brewed with a delicate balance of noble hops, roasted malts and spices, this is a remarkably smooth ale with a wonderfully complex finish. It is best served slightly chilled, around 53 degrees Fahrenheit and pairs exceptionally well with grilled salmon steaks, curried lamb, beef, or tuna au poivre. Crafted and bottled exclusively for Trader Joe’s.
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7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Pour is a almost black with a large tan head. Aroma is a really nice mix of dark sugar and plumbs with a vinuos yeast. Flavor is more dry than sweet with some cherry and a almost char malt. Not enough char to give this a stout feel but enough to overpower the candi sugar and not leave a huge sweetness. Finish leaves some cherry cordial on the tongue. Pretty solid and the price is always right.
Tried
from Can
on 02 Apr 2016
at 18:43
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Why do we keep separating these vintages? The price point is great and its always the consistent Unibroue Belgian beer that I enjoy. This year doesn’t taste like it has any spices. I know in the past I have had some spicier versions. Which year? Who the fuck knows, its almost the same beer every year. I see more variability from the weather in Seattle in the winter. Oh and good beer that tastes like every Unibroue Belgian Dark. Belgian malts, not crazy Belgian yeast but prominent and very Unibroue. Have I made my point?
Tried
on 26 Mar 2016
at 01:30
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Bottle. Dark mahogany-brown beer with a dark cream head. Yeast and dark fruit aroma with light caramel. Yeast and dark fruit flavor with light caramel. Medium bodied. Yeast and dark fruit linger with dried fruit, light caramel, and light spice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jan 2016
at 17:40
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750 ml corked and crowned bottle. Translucent dark brown color. Moderate creamy beige head with nice staying power. Spicy toasted malt nose. Redolent of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Upfront, notes of dark brown sugar, holiday spices and herbal hops. Warming alcohol and cardamom in middle. Subtle black pepper in finish with dryish notes. A nice Belgian-style ale at a great value at $5.99.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jan 2016
at 20:35
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
750mL bottle, pours a deep dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma is hugely spicy, with lots of cloves, coriander and nutmeg, Belgian yeast, and licorice. Flavour is along the same lines, with the spices upfront and dominant, followed by Belgian yeast, licorice and a touch of dark fruits. Carbonation is a tad too high, with a high amount of yeast and spices. Far from my favourite Trader Joe's Vintage ale, as this is way too dominated by the spices. Good, but not my thing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2016
at 23:16