This is Trader Joe's yearly Vintage Ale. I had one last year and it was one of the beers that introduced me to vintage beers. In an age of born on dating being a selling point for some commercial beers it often forgotten that beer can be aged and can get better with age. This year I got two bottles one for today and one for next year.
This beer has a malt sweet smell, even a little brown sugar smell. There is also some nut aroma to the beer. The appearance is a medium brown, with lots of white foam.
This beer has a nutty or woody taste that is very different. There is only a little bitterness to the beer, but it comes across differently than other beers, it might be a tannin bitterness for the grain. As I keep drinking I think the bitterness might be coming across as harsh acetone taste, or a fruit ester that is too harsh. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky.
The harsh bitterness does not ruin this beer, this is still a good enjoyable beer. I will happily be finished the bottle tonight. I think some time in the cellar with help mellow out the taste.
1 comment:
that stuff is good. it tastes a lot like chimay, which is a belgian trappist ale.
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