Vintage Ale (2011)
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
7.31
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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
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
No RB score
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Mar 2025
at 20:26
7/10
Consumed many times, most recently June 2020. Still holding up well but showing some age.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jun 2020
at 20:23
7.5/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Dec. 2017 vertical with Goose Island brewers: Maltier this time around than the 2009 and 2010. The leftover yeast has subsided, and now we get a bit of black pepper, which may have been actually added, or may have been part of the fermentation. 6-7-7-8-7
Whole bottle, June 13, 2025. This is the only vintage in my vertical of which I've got 3 bottles, so let's give one up. Deep brown, but somewhat luminous. Thin ring of foam around the edge. Smell is cherry leather, sweater wool, Belgian brewing spices. No dead yeast, a pleasant surprise. Taste is of a light caramel malt, with hints of red wine. This has held up incredibly well over 14 years! Not a behemoth, but nice cellar dive.
Whole bottle, June 13, 2025. This is the only vintage in my vertical of which I've got 3 bottles, so let's give one up. Deep brown, but somewhat luminous. Thin ring of foam around the edge. Smell is cherry leather, sweater wool, Belgian brewing spices. No dead yeast, a pleasant surprise. Taste is of a light caramel malt, with hints of red wine. This has held up incredibly well over 14 years! Not a behemoth, but nice cellar dive.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Feb 2018
at 20:37
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
750 ml bottle from Trader Joe’s when it was released. I didn’t realize that I hadn’t rated it. Best by 7 6 2016. Nose is light cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg in front of a malty background. Hazy brown with a big tan head. Flavor is moderately sweet, peppery, and malty caramel. Still drinking excellently without any hint of oxidation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Apr 2016
at 14:19
6.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Poured from a bottle. Aroma is fairly spicy with ginger, allspice, anise. Some notes of lemongrass and clove as well. Medium light toasted malt notes with hints of roast, chocolate and toffee. Light fruit notes of raisins and prunes. A touch of alcohol. Big pop upon opening, but no geyser. Pours a very dark brown with hits of burnt amber and a big, moderately thick, dark tan head that slowly, but steadily recedes to a thin film that lingers. Light lacing and moderate legs. Flavor is slightly to moderately sweet. Some toffee and caramel with toasted bread and light roast with hints of chocolate. A weird note in the finish that reminds me of those Haribo Cola Gummy candies. Not as much spice as in the aroma, but some sarsaparilla, ginger and anise. Medium bitterness, a bit harsh and grassy. Light alcohol notes. Hints of raisins and prunes. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a touch watery with medium high carbonation. Medium low astringency and low alcohol warmth. Overall, an odd beer. The aroma is alright, but the flavor is totally different than the aroma and tastes like a mix between a cola flavored gummy and an herbal mouth lozenge. It tastes a bit better than that sounds like it would. Far from full bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2014
at 22:33
6/10
Tried
on 18 Sep 2013
at 14:26
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle: Poured a deep burgundy color ale with a huge light brown foamy head with good retention and some good lacing. Aroma consists of caramelized Belgian malt with some coriander and the famous Unibroue yeast ester. Taste is also a well balanced mix of caramelized Belgian style malt with some coriander and some light peppery notes with the famous Unibroue yeast ester. Body is full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Doesn’t stray away from the brewer standards which is a good thing knowing how he masters the style.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Sep 2013
at 10:40
10/10
Tried
on 21 May 2013
at 22:00
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle as shown. Pours a dark brown with paperthin beige head. The aroma is bready malt and licorice. Medium mouth with sugary malt and light grain finish. A good Belgian strong ale.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Apr 2013
at 13:55
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle shared by SpringsLicker at the RBWG grand tasting
Appearance: Clear dark brown with a small beige head
Aroma: Raisins and plums
Taste: Roasted malts and dark pit fruit
Decent, some hot alcohols
Appearance: Clear dark brown with a small beige head
Aroma: Raisins and plums
Taste: Roasted malts and dark pit fruit
Decent, some hot alcohols
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Feb 2013
at 10:55