Fuller's Brewery Vintage Ale 2017

Vintage Ale 2017

 

Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick, Greater London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

  Traditional Beer - Old Ale Series Out of Production
Score
7.53
ABV: 8.5% IBU: - Ticks: 106
This year’s Vintage Ale is the 21st edition of our limited edition brew and, like any great 21st, we’ve celebrated in style. The 2017 recipe has been created by our new Head Brewer, Georgina Young, and, in the spirit of all things new, uses a malt and hop combination never seen before in a Fuller’s beer.

The Denali hop has a big, inviting aroma that imparts pineapple, citrus and pine notes – perfect for bringing a tropical touch to the Vintage Ale series. It’s been used here both late in the boil and for dry hopping, dovetailing with classic British hop varieties Target and Goldings.

We’ve also used a new malting barley this year – a British variety called Laureate. New varieties don’t come along very often, so we thought it fitting to use one this year alongside our new American hop.

As with every Vintage Ale, it’s a special beer inside and out, perfect as a gift or to add to your collection.
 

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8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle shared by Jay J. 7/11/25. Thanks! Slightly hazy copper, medium tan head, average retention. Aroma of toffee, raisin, caramel. Taste is earthy hop, caramel, toasty malt. Well balanced.

Tried from Bottle on 12 Jul 2025 at 02:39


7.8
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7

Bottle shared at home, after 9 months of cellaring. Pours copper with thin off-white head. Nose is nice malt-forward, showing nutty, dried fruity, bready notes. Taste follows the aroma, showing some honey and booze in addition. Closes with long lasting sweet finish, has light to medium body and soft carbonation, drinks below the ABV. Nice malty beer, tastes like a lighter English bw.

Tried from Bottle on 17 Mar 2025 at 12:21


7.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Floral, and herbal, light citrus and biscuity malts. Soft grasses, a little boozy, chewy malts, hints if caramel and fruit cake.. Really nice stuff.

Tried on 28 Feb 2025 at 06:28


7.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

500ml bottle from Waitrose nearly 4 years ago & cellared since. Pours light brown with a off white head. Aromas & tastes of Dark fruits, marmalade, toffee, honey, raisins, fruit cake, pine, brown sugar, herbal tea & caramel malt. Medium to full body. Alcohol well hidden. Long light bitter finish. Highly enjoyable

Tried from Bottle on 28 Jan 2025 at 17:21


8.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Clearing the vault for some final reviews on Ratebeer. Bottle No 076140. Clear amber pour with a small white head. Aromas of heather, honey, orange (peel), malt. Taste is marmalade, honey, red berries, some herbs, raisins. Definitely aged well.

Tried from Bottle on 19 Jan 2025 at 22:35


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. A- Toffee, malt, faintly nutty, A- Brown color, mostly opaque liquid, minimal off white head. T- Caramel, malt, nutty, mild bitterness. P- Full body, average texture, average carbonation balanced finish. O- Honestly, a bit underwhelming. 6 years of age. It was a decent barleywine but ventured more into the American style in my opinion. A solid beer no doubt, but not worth seeking out, at least this ventage. Perhaps it was because of the hop choice and or new head brewer.

Tried from Bottle on 18 Feb 2024 at 20:46


7.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Boxed 500ml bottle (number 33284), drank at home on 8th February 2024. Poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard, my fifth and final beer in a mini-tasting with myself. Hazed mahogany brown pour, wispy covering, initial smell and sip came across as a Barley Wine. Those thoughts never left me and as it warmed in the glass it became even more 'boozy' and Barley Wine like (which is good in my eyes). Sweet, malty, dried red fruity flavours, earthy and nice. I love these Vintage brews from Fuller's (not so keen on the prices though) and this years version is lovely in my opinion, really suits my sweet tooth. I would say now is the right time to broach your bottle as it's ready!

Tried from Bottle on 08 Feb 2024 at 20:49


8.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 9.5

Bottle at home, 28th December 2023. Pours a chestnut brown and clear, aroma is nutty, caramel and malty. Taste is smooth, mellow, nutty, grains and malts, dark fruit. Excellent and extremely enjoyable.

Tried from Bottle on 28 Dec 2023 at 20:57


8

Actual vintage stock

Tried on 15 Dec 2023 at 12:55


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottled (from Alko). Amber colour, small off-white head. Aroma is fruity, floral, some spicy and mild toffeeish notes. Flavour is toffee, spices, mild alcohol and some fruity notes. Tastes more vintage than the one year it was by the time of drinking.

Tried from Bottle on 28 May 2023 at 08:08