Trader Joe's 2010 Vintage Ale
Trader Joe's Brewing Company

Trader Joe's 2010 Vintage AleTrader Joe's 2010 Vintage Ale
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From:
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
9.2%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 13.19%
Reviews:
150
Ratings:
231
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 31, 2020
Added:
Nov 19, 2010
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  75
Contract brewed for Trader Joe's. Often brewed by Unibroue.
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Ratings by Jimmys:
Photo of Jimmys
Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Fresh Review, 2/21/2011

A: deep, roasty dark brown. fluffy soda-like head. looks like a glass of root beer. (3.5)

S: chilling allspice and clove. cinnamon and coffee now that it has heated up. spice masks any complexity i could be getting from the yeast. (2.5)

T: very spicy. sweet chocolate. hop usage must have been on the 'just a touch' side judging by the lack of bitterness. not getting as strong a sense of alcohol as i expected (maybe i didnt need to buy another for the cellar...) for it being such a recent vintage. (2.5)

M: very tangy, light bubbles. pretty fair showing for the style. rich and full bodied. (4)

D: with bel strong darks really being all over the place, this one just isn't my favorite. very curious if the one i have put away develops any significant flavors. (3)

Cellared Bottled, opened/reviewed 6/23/13

A: opaque, dark brown body. super frothy brownish head. big and fluffy. fantastic head retention, thick lacing left behind.

S: smells bone dry. a soft roast mixes with some chocolate. I think there is a little bit of fermentation aroma in the nose. getting a little bit of sweet fruit, pear and fig, but not a ton.

T: similar to the nose, this tastes almost as dry as it smells, at first. a little bit of dry chocolate. a tale-end of unfermentables, some yeast. roasted flavor adds to the dryness. some red grape skins as it warms.

M: a bit effervescent. medium/full body.

D: really aged well. has held up exceptionally as I am not getting any sort of off-flavors. absolutely no heat. all the spicing has dissolved on the flavor and aroma spectrum of things, which is fine with me. for the price, definitely worth getting a few and stashing.
Jun 25, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.63 by bpkrippner from Missouri

Dec 31, 2020
 
Rated: 3.38 by RBorsato from Virginia

Aug 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.35 by kdown from California

May 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Mar 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Wiz99 from Minnesota

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GClarkage from California

Jul 03, 2014
Photo of Bonis
Reviewed by Bonis from Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
So I stumbled upon this beer with a bb date of 9/10/2013 so I figured I better get to it. It has a deep brown color with a touch of red. Lots of fizzy bubbles. This smells a lot like a cola, no joke. Deep notes of sugary prunes and raisins, with hint of vanilla and nutmeg. That signature unibroue yeast aroma is there. The taste mimics the aroma fairly well, but there is a fruit tartness mixed in as well (possibly a sign this has beer has seen better days). I enjoyed this a lot more than I suspected. I've still got a couple 2011s so maybe I'll let one of those go for a few more years and see what happens.
Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by KevMo84 from California

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by leprechaunandfatman from Ohio

Apr 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by jaydoc from Kansas

Jan 28, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by Thesoundandthefury from Washington

Jan 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by cb8282 from Michigan

Jan 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by drbenderdo from Michigan

Jan 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by aaroncom2005 from California

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by phishfoolme from Massachusetts

Dec 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Oct 20, 2013
Trader Joe's 2010 Vintage Ale from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 231 ratings