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Trader Joe's 2008 Vintage Ale
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
- From:
- Trader Joe's Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 8.63%
- Reviews:
- 100
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 07, 2018
- Added:
- Nov 30, 2008
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Ruger_44-Redhawk from Idaho
3.76/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Interesting beer. Opened an aged 2008 on 10/6/18. The best before date says open before September 2011. After ten years it's not bad. Still has a champagne like fizz when pouring. Appearance has a dark brown Belgian brown ale look. Smell is of Belgian ale. Taste of fizzy light Belgian candied sugar and vanilla. Definitely a beer style I haven't tried before. I prefer Belgian styles and Quadruples but this one is unique and still tastes good ten years later.
Oct 07, 2018Reviewed by mountdew1 from New Hampshire
3.88/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a chalice. Nice medium brown with a hint of red. Head was thin, maybe 1 finger at best, and left small lacings on the top. Aroma was a roasted malt up front, then switching to a fruity sweet, maybe like plum. Small hint of seasonal spices, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. Taste was mellow up front, shifting to a sweet fruit, then a hint of tangy bitter, before becoming sweet again to finish it up. Range of flavor was complex, however individual portions were more subtle and nuanced. Coated ok, seemed a bit over carbonated on the tongue. Overall definitely seemed to age well, didn't have any fresh to compare it to. ABV definitely seemed to pick up a bit while aging however.
Nov 27, 2012Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Review from 7/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a deep red amber. Moderate off white head fades to thin film with light lacing. Nice Belgian aroma. Mild malt with dark fruits, sharp carbonation up front. Fades to lighter fruit and malt, spices and finishes a bit abruptly with a bit of hop bitterness and an interesting lingering caramel aftertaste. Tastes nice. I regret that I did not record my original comments on this when fresh, although I remember being pleasantly pleased (and bought two cases!). Like other Trader Joe's Vintage beers, time has treated this well. Mellow and tasty.
Aug 02, 2012Reviewed by Rukasu from District of Columbia
4.3/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The New Year tradition continues...
Though not stored in the most optimal setting, the 2008 Vintage Ale is very good some three years on.
Head is thick and cream colored, which reduces to a thin white layer just on the surface.
Color is a deep brown, dark tan. Not as red as other years.
Aroma is fantastic! Very fruity and jammy. Strong hint of apricot and pineapple. Very similar to Muscat or possibly a Vioginer wine.
Taste is equally fruity, with hints of coriander and a 9% warming alcohol that could only go up a couple %'s over the long storage.
Mouthfeel is light with a bit of tartness, though overall flavor is surprisingly fleeting. Slightly bitter finish, but ultimately the flavor is gone in your mouth within a few seconds.
Jan 02, 2012Though not stored in the most optimal setting, the 2008 Vintage Ale is very good some three years on.
Head is thick and cream colored, which reduces to a thin white layer just on the surface.
Color is a deep brown, dark tan. Not as red as other years.
Aroma is fantastic! Very fruity and jammy. Strong hint of apricot and pineapple. Very similar to Muscat or possibly a Vioginer wine.
Taste is equally fruity, with hints of coriander and a 9% warming alcohol that could only go up a couple %'s over the long storage.
Mouthfeel is light with a bit of tartness, though overall flavor is surprisingly fleeting. Slightly bitter finish, but ultimately the flavor is gone in your mouth within a few seconds.
Reviewed by accordselux from Minnesota
3.35/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured a dark brown that looked red through the light. Head was white and fluffy.
Smelled strongly of the Unibroue house yeast. Tart fruit and flowery smells.
Taste is fairly similar. A bit of spiciness, banana, and fruity esters dominant.
Great carbonation and good mouthfeel.
A basic dubbel; not very exciting. I actually do not prefer the overpowering Unibroue house flavor.
Dec 30, 2011Smelled strongly of the Unibroue house yeast. Tart fruit and flowery smells.
Taste is fairly similar. A bit of spiciness, banana, and fruity esters dominant.
Great carbonation and good mouthfeel.
A basic dubbel; not very exciting. I actually do not prefer the overpowering Unibroue house flavor.
Trader Joe's 2008 Vintage Ale from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
117 ratings
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