Subsidiaries
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
OK, so the first Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale not made by Unibroue – not happy about this, but let’s see. 750mL bottle, pours a deep dark brown with a large beige head. Aroma has a nice Belgian yeast expression, some root beer-like anise and licorice. Flavour has some nice coriander-like spiciness, anise, black liquorice, some cola… quite a different yeast expression to Unibroue. Carbonation is a bit soft for the style but pleasant enough. It’s good but no Unibroue.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2026
at 02:46
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Dark brown, with a thick head. There's some light spice on the nose, but with a slightly plummy, raisiny dark malt aroma. Off-dry, with some sweet stuff, a touch of plum. A touch of alcohol in the finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2026
at 02:39
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Poured from 750mL bottle (thanks Nathan). Clear copper brown with beige head. Belgian yeast, feint hint of phenols, dark fruits with hint of cola spices. Completely different from when Unibroue was brewing the vintage ales. Okay.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Apr 2026
at 02:33
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
750mL bottle. Pours dark brown with a beige head. Dark brown sugars, brown bread, and and a touch of clove-like spices on the nose. Flavour has dark brown sugar, dry bready malts, cola, cloves. Yeast is coming across differently that I expected. Carbonation is a bit low. Not bad.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Apr 2026
at 22:42
7/10
Tried
from Can
on 30 Mar 2026
at 00:54
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
750ml cork and caged bottle from a local Trader Joe's, (Laguna Hills) bought for me by my daughter and son in law, shared with Matt, my son in law on 27th March 2026 (I had the Lion's share). Poured into two old Corsendonk stemmed tulip glasses, it looked happy and eager to please. Dark brown body, wispy beige roof, slight haze in the brew. I thought it had a Gulden Draak and De Garre aroma/taste, and as it's brewed by the same guys I am not far off what's going on within this very pleasant and very drinkable Belgian Ale.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Mar 2026
at 18:45
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Slightly hazy amber wtih moderate light tan head. Caramel malt, pine, and grapefruit peel aroma. Mildy sweet caramel malt, and moderately bitter grapefruit peel flavor. Good body. Pretty good.
Tried
from Can
on 22 Mar 2026
at 00:46
6.5/10
Tried
from Can
on 11 Mar 2026
at 03:42
7/10
Tried
from Can
on 08 Mar 2026
at 21:53
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bit of a gush after I pop the cork, but not a geyser. Nice, thick tan head over a brown/black body. Nose has some Belgian spices, like anise, licorice, dark roast malt. No sugar or alcohol in the nose. Sips nice and dry, a bit coffee roast in the malt, some Belgian farmhouse tang. Nice mouthfeel, slightly thick, leaving very little sugar on my lip. No strong alcohol in the mouthfeel, either. A nice example of a Belgian dark.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Trader Joe's - Downers Grove
on 17 Jan 2026
at 04:52