Trader Joe's 2005 Vintage Ale
Trader Joe's Brewing Company

Trader Joe's 2005 Vintage AleTrader Joe's 2005 Vintage Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 9.04%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
37
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 20, 2013
Added:
Dec 11, 2005
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AaronHomoya:
Photo of AaronHomoya
Reviewed by AaronHomoya from Indiana

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Trader Joe's corked belgian ale.

Very dark, almost black colored ale with decent head, especially for the strength of the beer. Aroma is sweet and raisin-like. The taste is rather sweet for me, very much of dark fruits and almost a wheat-like flavor component. Mouthfeel is nice, with a dry finish. Overall, pretty good with some complex flavors but rather sweet and not exceptional.
Aug 11, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by BKotch from Texas

Dec 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by popery from California

Feb 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by drewone from California

Oct 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by beerpadawan from California

Aug 27, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: The pour is a dark mahogany color with some amber notes to it and a big tan head.

S: There is an intensely vinous character to the nose. It's almost like taking a sniff of a big red wine. Lots of red grapes and other dark fruit, particularly berries. There's also booze, chocolate, and a bit of green apple.

T: A big chocolate and red wine flavor to this beer. A moderate licorice note comes through, as do the big dark fruit flavors. There's the same hint of green apple and even a bit of a woody character. A moderate oxidation as well as some toffee.

M:The body is medium to full and the carbonation is medium.

D: This was a pretty good beer, even at five years old. It was almost like drinking a big red wine, but very nice, especially considering some of the other vintages.
Dec 19, 2010
Photo of SolsticeDreamer
Reviewed by SolsticeDreamer from California

3.18/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I've been holding on this bottle along with the others to do a vertical tasting. The best before date on the bottle was labeled 10-13-08, I'm a year and some change past the best before date: keep that in mind. The vertical tasting of mine started with 05 through 09.

The 750ml bottle was cellar in a cave for the duration of the aging, up till the finally weeks of its life. The corked was pull, a nice pop and after the smoked cleared the bottle was poured into two Duvel glasses.

Appearance: The thought of this brew being trapped under this cork for over four years with out a breath, is nothing compared to the contrast of black on white. An almost pitch black body that light dares not pass through and in fact hasn't ever in it's life, topped with a fluffy bubbly white head; but then the moment is gone. The reality is the body is a dark amber mahogany that only reveals itself towards the shallow ends, by then the head has been long gone leaving only traces of where it touched the glass the last sip.

Smell: Aroma is quite gone with it's age. Memories of the dried fruits and malty goodness are only hinted at. I stirred the glass and held it close to my nose, closing my eyes to find a dried out malt aroma with a bit of chocolate hiding. The yeast has long ago quit overpowering the aroma with it's spiciness but only tickles the aroma at this point.

Taste: The bottle was chill down and left in room temperature prior to opening. After pouring as time goes by and the body warms, and reveals an ocean of flavors hidden. Dark rum flavors hinted with what would seem to be dried fruits that leave a port like finish that dries into nothing... I remember a spicier finish but that seem to of disappeared long ago along with the yeast characters that only left a tart kiss goodbye.

Mouthfeel: After 4 years some of the carbonation must of leaked out, a hint of oxidation slips in to reveal the true age of this brew. The lively nature of the yeast that once give this a carbonation bite and settled down to allow for a pleasurable event. All the while one forgets the nature of this brew at 9% ABV, the event goes on and the glasses get emptied...

Drinkability: Given the nature of the brew, having to have had aged it and drank it over the course of years to find the right spot of time to behold it's beauty peak... At $4.99 for a 750ml and an amazing eventing with friends, it's worth saving and try the experience.

Finally I will say the best before dates are perfect peak of time. I overshot the aging but had it the year prior where it was about perfect. TJ 06 at this point is perfect and very similar to the 05 to compare of what this was at it's peak.
Feb 04, 2010
Photo of bennetj17
Reviewed by bennetj17 from Arizona

3.86/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Finally got around to trying this thing after 2+ years. Dark brown color with a thick off white head. Good retention. Sweet and spicy aroma with coriander dominating.

The malt flavor is lightly toasty and chocolatey with a moderate dryness. There is some spiciness but its not overpowering like in the 2006 version. Perhaps its more subdued with the age? The overall flavor is good but it lacks enough depth to be great. The alcohol is not too noticible. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with strong carbonation throughout.

Not bad, the TJ's vintage ale doesn't disappoint, and for a Unibroue beer priced 4.99 a 750ml it's worth it.
Jan 11, 2008
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2005 Vintage (Sampled 1 Year Old)

Presentation: 750ml tall straight sided brown glass bottle with a fluted neck. Sealed with a thumbed cork and a silver colored cage and steel cap that has the year 2005 in blue text on it. Main bottle is classic Unibroue, metallic silver printing has the beer as ‘Trader Joe’s 2005 Vintage ale’, with some suitable hoppy emblems. Smaller text at the base of the bottle continues, ‘Dark Ale on lees, 9% Alc./Vol.’ The reverse of the bottle goes on at great length about this brew. It is clearly stated that this is a dark Belgium beer that is exclusively brewed for Trader Joe’s by Unibroue an that this 2005 offering is the inaugural Vintage Ale. Screen printed as Best Before 10-13-08 with an inkjet neck code of ‘K24050730Q’.

Appearance: Muted slick exit from the Cork, the gun-smoke seems to rise but then is sucked down and vacuumed back deep into the tall bottle neck before it raise its eyebrows above the mouth of bottle rim. Dark body with an ebonyous black veil that hides a clear mahogany body. Tanned head quickly scarpers and hides, leaving nothing but the thinnest of thin rings that cling hard against the meniscus edge. Lazy conditioning is partially fine but short lasting. The looks have dropped a whole point in one year. [4.5 to 3.5]

Nose: Still punts a decent nasal front. The alcohol seems to break through the clouded dark fruits a bit more than it did when fresh. Has a dry feel, malts with some dark chocolate in the backdrop. Lightly spiced the yeast enters late. For all its up and downs, it settles out a straight 3.5, just as it did a year ago. [3.5 to 3.5]

Taste: The high fizzing tanned Cola head soon plies down and settles to reveal a blackened pond that may well distort time and matter. The entrance picks up and punches heavy on the spiced malts. Middle is heavily accentuated with a Port tangent and dark Rum hyperbole, which is much higher in strength than it was a yea ago. The finish is shorter than I remember, faded as my memory may be. The lingering death has anise and spicy yeast but it is fading a tad. Still cuts it though [4.0 to 4.0]

Mouthfeel: Whereas the appearance has dipped, the Mouthfeel certainly seems to have picked up a click or two in the last 12 months. The conditioning is feisty and lively but the nature of the carbonation is spiky and a still uncomfortable. The body exudes a presence that never reveals its 9% ABV but it always seems adequately supported and bolstered by it. A year in the wilderness has pushed this one up a half point [3.5 to 4.0]

Drinkability: Imminently quaffable, a slight heart burn tingle from the yeast bothers but it is not a hug distraction. Goes South all too easily considering the strength, it pulls in the same score it did a year ago. [4.0 to 4.0]

Overall: I enjoyed this Trader Joe’s brew the first time I tried it, in fact I figured it was one of their better moves, using a respected brewer such as Unibroue to put together a dark high ABV brew. And at the selling price it is extremely hard to fault this beer. A year later I think exactly the same. The Appearance has suffered, but a team effort between the Mouthfeel and Drinkability has pulled this one through the one year barrier, but I am not sure it could handle two years without some serious detriment. The Mouthfeel has certainly smoothed out a tad, and its damned good stuff given the economic $4.99 price tag - but it is no more complex than it was when I first tried, this is the only disappointing aspect, age is not pushing the boundaries it should be within this brew. Still good a year later, but I wouldn’t age this one much longer.
Dec 28, 2006
Photo of watermelonman
Reviewed by watermelonman from California

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This poured to a very dark brown with an explosive head that shrank but lasted well. It's leaving a moderate amount of lace.

The smell is good, with a bit of dark fruit on top of sweet malts. The taste starts somewhat plain but then turns to a light combination of dark malts and fruits. A touch of alcohol finishes it off. The mouthfeel is very carbonated and a bit lighter than expected. It's very drinkable for the alcohol content.
Aug 26, 2006
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Dark brown body. Light brown head. Head is thick and everlasting. Great lace as well.

Aroma: Raisin, plum, cherry, must, dark malts, Belgian yeast.

Flavor: Chocolate covered cherries, raisin, cookie dough, a little rum.

Mouthfeel: Prickly, highly carbonated mouthfeel. Not gaseous though. Light body.

Drinkability: Flavorful and easy drinking. No sign of the 9% a/v. Just a nicely put together Belgian style brew.

Thanks Darren.
Jul 23, 2006
Photo of Boilermaker88
Reviewed by Boilermaker88 from California

3.91/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased this 750ml bottle last fall and promptly forgot about it until last night. Caged and corked bottle bore a best before date of 10.13.08 so it was okay to sit for a bit.
Poured into a goblet, this BSDA (brewed for TJ's by Unibroue) had a inpenetrable dark brown color, a large dose of finely spun carbonation and a thick creamy tan head that leaves sheets of lace in its wake.
The smell, full of yeasty bready malt, evoked a recollection of pumpernickel bread. Caramel and the sweet aromas of dark fruits sit firmly over a more subtle peppery spice note.
The taste was quite sweet and full of caramel-dipped fruits initially. Malty, had a nearly dark wheat bread flavor. Rather zippy peppery taste rode the crest of a wave of alcohol through the finish. Feel was medium-bodied and lushly creamy on the tongue.
Overall, a pretty tasty beer. Smooth, silky feel just makes it slide right down. TJ's definitely upgraded in their choice of contract brewers. Worth giving a try, especially at the bargain price of $4.99.
May 11, 2006
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Picked up a 750ml bottle in mid-December for $4.99. Best enjoyed by 10-13-08.

Beer poured a deep dark brown with a nice tan head leaving a good lacing behind in my Duvel glass. Nose is malty and nothing much else. Taste is of dark fruits, malts; finishing with an almost wine like. Mouthfeel has a champagne smooth silkiness to it but not to the same degree that other Unibroue beers have. Perhaps this is a younger brew. Drinkability is pretty good but this packs a wallop at 9.0 abv. I may have to pickup another bottle and let it age!
Apr 15, 2006
Photo of ReDave
Reviewed by ReDave from California

3.03/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Interesting [what I would call fancy Belgian cork] bottle. Very Dark color, almost no light visible through the glass. Dark tan head that I had to be careful not to foam over. In that note, it seems somewhat over carbonated. Has an almost home-brew like flavor to it. Very malty, low hops. Rather rich, probably could have used some more time in the cellar.
Apr 10, 2006
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.94/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
03/14/06- Purchased at Trader Joe's in San Mateo, CA.

Presentation- 750ml bottle, caged and corked. 2005 version. Poured into my Don De Dieu tulip.

Appearance- Dark caramel brown colored pour. Maybe approaching grape juice color. Full one inch head, but quickly disappears leaving not even a rim after a few minutes. Lacing almost absent.

Smell- Caramel malt scent hidden under dark fruits. Plums and raisins mostly. Light alocohol scent with maybe a touch of chocolate.

Taste- A roasted malt underbelly. Infused with dates, prunes, raisins, plums and corriander. Unibroue for sure.

Mouthfeel- A bit drying at times. Medium carbonation level.

Drinkability- Kinda like Terrible. Nice beer once again by Unibroue. Best Trader Joe beer I've had.
Mar 15, 2006
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

3.86/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a black colored ale with a thick brown head. Looks a lot like a stout in the glass, I can't pass light through it.

Smell has an acid edge to it. Somewhat sweet and fruity in the glass. Light spicy scent with some cherry and mint to the scent.

Taste is mildly sweet and spicy with a taste coriander, black pepper and faint chocolate to it. Faint apple and cherry flavors but this tastes much like a Duvel. Not a top representative of the style but certainly worth the price for weekend relaxation.


Mouthfeel is good.

Easy to drink as Unibroue always is. A tasty drink and a easy to drink Belgian style ale.
Mar 12, 2006
Photo of edchicma
Reviewed by edchicma from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
What a surprise for a "store brand" It pours a pillowy head, almost black in appearance with great lacing. Smell is a very nice blend of malt and hops. Taste is an initial malt blast that became dry at mid-palate with a tartness...some "brandy" undertones. Mouthfell is dry, very nice. Drinkability is very good for the high abv.
Mar 03, 2006
Photo of misterscooter
Reviewed by misterscooter from California

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A large, dark, 750mL cork popping bottle. Feel free to age it, based on what the bottle says. If I could trust myself to keep it stored in a cool enough place for a while, I might try to keep one until I get closer to the 2008 expiration date.

The appearance is dark with a thick, tan head that disappears quickly.

The smell came in waves with a mix of mandarin orange, milk chocolate, creamsicle, anise and sarsaparilla.

The taste is definitely a sarsaparilla and vanilla base with a hoppy balance. Not too malty. Well done but it didn't blow me away.

With the alcohol content, this is a true winter warmer. Thick, warming, substantial. Not a bad entry from one of my favorite stores. The brewer ain't too shabby, either.
Feb 18, 2006
Photo of granger10
Reviewed by granger10 from Wisconsin

3.81/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The cork makes a loud pop off the bottle and lots of smoke is relased. Pours a dark plum color with a large foamy tan head. The head reduces to a skim layer with moderate lacing. This is a nice and lively brew.

Aroma is yeasty, definitely showing that Unibroue yeast profile. There's some figs and plums as well and a soda like smell which is a bit weird. As its warming I'm getting roasted notes on top.

This is a dark fruit beer reminiscent of Trois Pistoles. The fruits are dominant and plums seem to rule the show, but there's also a good amount of peppery spices right at the start. The roasted flavors are good and full and really come on in the middle. Some hay and bitter chocolates come and go. A cola like texture towards the finish. Ends with a strong spice flavor in the mouth and a bit of alcohol flavors.

Very effervescent and well carbonated and that's how I like my Belgians. Full of flavors yet the cola like texture hurts the mouthfeel from being anything above good.

This was a nice sipper but quite drinkable in its own right. I am on the final glass and have had no problem drinking it. The maltiness and roasty flavors work well to balance themselves out while maintaining interest to my palate. The spices do add up over time though and the abv does get noticeable.

At $4.99/750 ml bottle, this may be the best deal I have seen in quite some time. I wish there were a Trader Joe's by me, if there's one by you, get this.
Jan 30, 2006
Trader Joe's 2005 Vintage Ale from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 37 ratings