Vintage Ale (2018)
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
7.08
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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 ale 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. 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 shilled, 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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7.5/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Mar 2025
at 20:53
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Raisin, light leather like just getting into the lifestyle and some fig. Florals. Dark brown pour with decent head and lacing. Light sweet end. Bottle from trader Joe's.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Jul 2019
at 02:50
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle from Trader Joe's in Burlington, VT that pours a dark colour, almost black as hard to find highlights. The head is bubbly, almost creamy with good retention and lots of lacing. Spicy nose over roasted malts that give out dark fruit notes. Eventually, hints of mint appear. The taste shows nice spices throughout the mild dark fruits. The ending lingers maple syrup, but not overly sweet, nor syrupy. Goes down very swell.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 May 2019
at 00:38
7/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
750 mL bottle obviously from a Trader Joe's, probably Charlottesvile. Had it a while so I'm not 100% sure. The cork explosively popped off a hit the ceiling. Dark reddish brown, large frothy brown head, fair retention. Aroma of yeast, nuts, cherry, plum, spice. Taste is caramel, bread, raisin, spice, cherry. Thin-medium bodied, booze well hidden, lingering spice. Solid.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Feb 2019
at 06:22
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Pour clear mahogany-black, large fizzy beige head, dissipates to wispy head with a bit of lacing. Aroma is belgian yeast, dark fruits, raisin, date, malt, dust, floral notes. Flavor is light plus sweet, light bitter, coriander. Medium body, fizzy carbonation, perhaps a bit too much; some swirling improves things. Pretty solid.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Feb 2019
at 04:59
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750ml bottle, bought from Trader Joes (obviously). Aroma was strong dark brown sugar notes, nutty notes, creamy sugar and spices. Light funky notes come through a bit more this year, but it's pretty similar to how it was in the past. Flavor was really nice dark fruits, light raisin in particular here. Brown sugar, light sweet, slightly toasted malts. Really nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Feb 2019
at 06:52
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Pours mahogany tinged black into a tulip. Tan head with excellent retention recedes leaving trailing sheets. Prune and fig aromas. Soft with hot chocolate covered dark raisins, prunes and fig front to back. Warm, dusty allspice in the lasting finish.
Tried
on 08 Jan 2019
at 02:21
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
Dark brown, thin head. Lots of coriander on the nose, with a mellow sweet figgy note. On the palate, it’s got a fair bit of strength, and then some dark fruits, lots of coriander and the usual estery, phenolic fruitiness. The usual Unibroue TJ vintage stuff.
Tried
on 28 Dec 2018
at 19:17
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Tasting at Oakes' Manor, corked bottle
Dark brown colour with beige creamy head. The spice comes through evidently, star anise maybe, getting a smell of soap. Good body strength, lean, moderately sweet; it has a good malt depth, some caramel, light walnuts, gentle spices, light raisins.
Good.
Dark brown colour with beige creamy head. The spice comes through evidently, star anise maybe, getting a smell of soap. Good body strength, lean, moderately sweet; it has a good malt depth, some caramel, light walnuts, gentle spices, light raisins.
Good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Dec 2018
at 17:41
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Spiced malts and toffee. Cloudy brown with a small beige head. Caramel, cola and some spice. A little over carbed.
Tried
on 28 Dec 2018
at 03:27