Vintage Ale
Fuller's
- From:
- Fuller's
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Old Ale
Ranked #13 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,700 - Avg:
- 4.19 | pDev: 10.74%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 722
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 07, 2026
- Added:
- Feb 20, 2002
- Wants:
- 138
- Gots:
- 323
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
First released in 1997, Fuller's Vintage Ale is an exceptional beer, only available from Fuller's as a limited release of individually packaged and numbered bottles and will improve for many years to come, like a fine wine or whisky. It can be enjoyed immediately, or Fuller's recommends laying the beer down to enjoy when it peaks in 3 to 4 years and consume at cellar temperature. When the time comes, expect a deep amber pour with notes of sherry and Cognac on the nose, and rich, complex flavours that hint at toasted grains and sweet cherry Bakewell Tart.
2024 - Crystal extra dark malt. Pilot and CF299 hops.
1998 - Champion Alexis malt and Champion Northdown hops.
2001 - Maris Otter barley malt.
2002 - Golden Promise malt and Goldings hops.
2005 - Fuggles hops.
2006 - Fuggles and Super Styrian hops.
2008 - Maris Otter barley malt and Northdown and Challenger hops.
2011 - Goldings, Organic First Gold and Sovereign hops
2012 - Goldings, Sovereign and Target
2013 - Pearl Malt.
2014 - Goldings, Liberty and Cascade hops.
2015 - Maris Otter barley malt and Target, Northdown, Challenger and Goldings hops.
2016 - Nelson Sauvin alongside classic British hops.
2017 - Denali, Laureate, Target and Goldings hops.
2018 - Maris Otter Barley and Crystal Malt. Ernest and Olicana hops along with a classic combination of Target, Goldings, Challenger and Northdown variety.
2019 - Pale ale, New Zealand Gladfield Crystal, Chocolate malt and Target, Goldings, Northdown, Challenger and Wai.iti hops.
2020 - Double Roasted Crystal malt and Jester and Godiva hops.
2021 - Pale, Caragold and Roasted Crystal malts with Target, Endeavour, Olicana and CF 182 hops.
2022 - Pale ale, Carigold and Double Roasted Crystal malts. Target, Bramling Cross and Emperor hops.
2023 - DRC® (Double Roasted Crystal malt) with Opus, Archer, and CF185 hops
2024 - Crystal extra dark malt. Pilot and CF299 hops.
1998 - Champion Alexis malt and Champion Northdown hops.
2001 - Maris Otter barley malt.
2002 - Golden Promise malt and Goldings hops.
2005 - Fuggles hops.
2006 - Fuggles and Super Styrian hops.
2008 - Maris Otter barley malt and Northdown and Challenger hops.
2011 - Goldings, Organic First Gold and Sovereign hops
2012 - Goldings, Sovereign and Target
2013 - Pearl Malt.
2014 - Goldings, Liberty and Cascade hops.
2015 - Maris Otter barley malt and Target, Northdown, Challenger and Goldings hops.
2016 - Nelson Sauvin alongside classic British hops.
2017 - Denali, Laureate, Target and Goldings hops.
2018 - Maris Otter Barley and Crystal Malt. Ernest and Olicana hops along with a classic combination of Target, Goldings, Challenger and Northdown variety.
2019 - Pale ale, New Zealand Gladfield Crystal, Chocolate malt and Target, Goldings, Northdown, Challenger and Wai.iti hops.
2020 - Double Roasted Crystal malt and Jester and Godiva hops.
2021 - Pale, Caragold and Roasted Crystal malts with Target, Endeavour, Olicana and CF 182 hops.
2022 - Pale ale, Carigold and Double Roasted Crystal malts. Target, Bramling Cross and Emperor hops.
2023 - DRC® (Double Roasted Crystal malt) with Opus, Archer, and CF185 hops
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by FadetoBock:
Rated by FadetoBock from Canada (AB)
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jul 17, 2022
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jul 17, 2022
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)
4.4/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Fresh 2025 vintage 8.4% ABV 31 IBU - interesting I have several older vintages but have never tried fresh….weird. 500 ml bottle in box with cost ~$10 CDN.
Pours a clear garnet amber colour with a small tawny coloured off white head.
Dark fruit, cherry, plum, some apple on the nose - caramel, toffee with some bready notes, a bit of a spicy hop note.
Sweet dark fruits, plum, raisins on the palate with brown sugar, toffee, some soft citrus character, a bit of fruitcake and a slightly verdant hop bitterness at the finish.
Bright medium full mouthfeel with a hint of the warming 8.4% ABV - fairly brisk carbonation with a rich creamy end.
Initially thought was ok, but quickly went to quite good and onto exceptional.
Dec 06, 2025Pours a clear garnet amber colour with a small tawny coloured off white head.
Dark fruit, cherry, plum, some apple on the nose - caramel, toffee with some bready notes, a bit of a spicy hop note.
Sweet dark fruits, plum, raisins on the palate with brown sugar, toffee, some soft citrus character, a bit of fruitcake and a slightly verdant hop bitterness at the finish.
Bright medium full mouthfeel with a hint of the warming 8.4% ABV - fairly brisk carbonation with a rich creamy end.
Initially thought was ok, but quickly went to quite good and onto exceptional.
Rated by beerrat from Virginia
4.49/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.49/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2018 bottle
Sep 02, 2024
Rated by 2beerdogs from California
4.09/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2005 Bottle
Notes from 12/2011
Feb 01, 2024Notes from 12/2011
Rated by Humanusfermentum from Virginia
3.91/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
{2018 Vintage Ale}
Aug 21, 2023
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan
5/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Review 3000!
Enjoyed at the end of 2022
Bottle no. 143884
Pours a wonderful caramel-burgundy with a thick layer of cocoa colored foam on top. The aroma is fantastic, with layers of stone fruit, plummy jammy raisin with hints of dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco on the end. The sip follows, creamy, with a lingering finish. Subtly sweet, with an effervescence that keeps it lively. A delightful sipper. Utterly fantastic.
Dec 30, 2022Enjoyed at the end of 2022
Bottle no. 143884
Pours a wonderful caramel-burgundy with a thick layer of cocoa colored foam on top. The aroma is fantastic, with layers of stone fruit, plummy jammy raisin with hints of dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco on the end. The sip follows, creamy, with a lingering finish. Subtly sweet, with an effervescence that keeps it lively. A delightful sipper. Utterly fantastic.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.66/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.66/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Had 2010 bottle that has been cellared 12 years. At last I finally got to try this one, only took coming to London itself! Pours dark brown and murky with a short lived tan cap. Nose has a sherry note to it, the wife say cognac, either way this sweeter booziness is met with caramel, oxidized apricot, date, barley, and leather. Taste adds a bevy of dark fruit, golden raisin and a kiss of fresh cut hay on the end with the old yeast. So luxuriously smooth, sneaky light, quenching, and dry with a whisper of resin. This one is special for its style. Paired wonderfully with a pub sunday roast
Sep 16, 2022
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2019 vint, bottle 06240.
Poured at fridge temp into a snifter.
There’s a casual head that lasts only a little while. Color is dark amber.
Smell is sweet malt, stone fruit, light caramel.
Taste is cherry-ish, sweet toffee. Hops are evident, but balance well within the overall profile. No real bitterness to be found.
Feel is light carbonation, smooth.
Overall, despite being bottle conditioned, I can’t imagine that anything else would develop by cellaring this beauty any longer. It’s packaging, presentation, look, feel and taste are spot-on right now.
Aug 12, 2022Poured at fridge temp into a snifter.
There’s a casual head that lasts only a little while. Color is dark amber.
Smell is sweet malt, stone fruit, light caramel.
Taste is cherry-ish, sweet toffee. Hops are evident, but balance well within the overall profile. No real bitterness to be found.
Feel is light carbonation, smooth.
Overall, despite being bottle conditioned, I can’t imagine that anything else would develop by cellaring this beauty any longer. It’s packaging, presentation, look, feel and taste are spot-on right now.
Rated by robotic_being from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2016 Vintage drank in 2022. Amazingly rich flavor and solid carbonation. Complex and delicious!
Jul 27, 2022
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!