Trader Joe's Vintage Ale (2012)

Vintage Ale (2012)

 

Trader Joe's in Monrovia, California, United States 🇺🇸

Brewed at/by: Unibroue
  Belgian Style - Quadrupel / Dark Strong Rotating Out of Production
Score
6.99
ABV: 9.0% IBU: - Ticks: 38
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.

This year’s vintage: 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.
 

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6.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
750mL bottle shared by Willrunforbeer on 8/9/25.
Clear, dark, dark beige head.
Pepper, pepper, anise, pepper, anise, pepper and anise.
Similar flavors. Ok texture, super attenuated. But not thin. Pepper and anise!
Tried from Bottle on 09 Aug 2025 at 23:42

7.3/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 7
Bottle pour. Opaque dark brown with thin ring of head, no lacing. Aroma is strong black molasses, toffee, mild dark fruit. Taste is strong caramel, dark fruit/raisin, molasses. Smooth, thick texture, flat-to-soft carbonation and finish as taste. Belgian on the dark side. Pretty decent.
Tried from Bottle on 09 Aug 2025 at 22:57

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
750 ml bottle, Thanks to Brain on the share. For a 13 year old borttle it held crazy good! Aroma has clove, Christmas spice and fennel. Flavor follows. Texture is very thin. Good news is there is almost no oxidation. Wow!
Tried from Bottle on 09 Aug 2025 at 22:41

6.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 5.5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Someone shared this old bre. Brownish pour and filmy beige head. Nose is rootbeer and dark fruit. Tastes of cherry’s rootbeer, golden raisins. Body is light and old.
Tried on 09 Aug 2025 at 22:13

6/10
Tried from Bottle on 09 Aug 2025 at 19:32

8/10
Tried from Bottle on 17 Mar 2025 at 20:28

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Dec. 2017 vertical at Goose Island's staff bottle share. Notably fresher tasting as we move up through the vintages, still a surprise for a five-year old bottle. The specialty Belgian malts are on display here. This remains very pleasant after a few more tastings, with a few subtle spice notes.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Feb 2018 at 20:39

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
From a 75 cl bottle purchased at Trader Joe's. Pours a clear deep amber with an ecru head. Caramel aroma. Sweet flavors of cherries and toffee.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Dec 2016 at 15:41

6/10
Tried on 09 Oct 2016 at 21:46

5.2/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 5
Bottle share courtesy of Toby. This one didn’t seem to hold up too well in aging. Dark pour with small airy head, seemed kind of flat and dull. Aroma and taste were in the right zone for the style, but it seemed it had started to go down hill, dusty, dirty, funky elements. Too bad...
Tried from Bottle on 17 Jun 2016 at 13:43