Trader Joe' Vintage Ale

Tried it and loved it!!

 

Yup with Unibroue doing the brewing the beer comes out quite good

 

I buy a case a year, which costs me a total of $60 + tax. It is a great deal, and a pleasure to drink.

 

Too bad the great state of Pa doesn't allow TJ's to sell beer or wine. Alternate best bomber value....anything Lagunitas(Hop Stoopid,cappuccino stout) for $5.99 or $6.99 depending where you shop.

 

Trader Joes Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. Comes in six-packs for $5.99 here.

And, if you're really on a budget but want a decent tasting beer, I still think Simpler Times Pilsner is pretty good (the lager is a tad too sweet); you really can't beat $3.49 for a six-pack of those.

 

I give TJ's Vintage Ale a big thumbs up. Most of their beer is a pretty good value.

 

Yo!...

 

Well, if no one else chimes in I'll be the voice of dissent. I've tried it a couple of years in a row (2012-13) and it didn't do anything for me. Thin mouthfeel, fizzy, weak in taste. I can buy real Unibroue for $11-12 a four pack and have my choice of their different styles, and so have always been confused at what a great value this (contracted specifically to sell for cheap) beer is supposed to be.

 

The Mission Anniversary beer (don't think it's made any more though) was awesome. $3 or $4 for a bomber of blended beers from Firestone Walker is more than ok in my book.

 

The Stockyard Oatmeal Stout is fantastic. Black Toad or whatever it's called is pretty good too. I haven't gotten around to trying any of the Joseph's Brau stuff other than the hefeweizen (which as decent, but nothing special), but I intend on making a mixed-sixer of all of it sometime just to give it all a fair shot.

 

Don't EVER buy Boatswain. Tastes like Steele Reserve with old hops.

 

Oh God, thanks for the warning

 

Trader Joe's Vintage Ale usually has a price drop from when it first comes out... nonetheless, I think the Lagunitas Bombers are a better value... less ounces, but about the same price for fantastic beer (obviously, different style)

 

The brewers behind Trader Joe beers, per French Oak's website...

Here's the copy and paste of it all...

Gordon Biersch (San Francisco, CA) makes:

Joesphs Brau Label

Dunkelweizen
Hopfest German Style Pilsner
Oktoberfest
Summer Brew
Winterfest

Trader Joe’s Label

Bavarian Style Hefewietzen
Bohemian Lager
Hofbrau Bock
Vienna Style Lager
Winterfest Dark Doublebock Lager

Trader José Label

Premium Lager
Light Lager
Dark Lager

Goose Island (Chicago, IL) makes:

Black Toad Dark Ale
Stockyard Oatmeal Stout

Firestone-Walker (Paso Robles, CA) makes:

Mission St. Pale Ale
Mission St. IPA
Mission St. Hefeweizen
Mission St. Brown Ale
Mission St. Blonde Ale
Fat Weasel Ale
Jumping Cow Amber Ale
Frugal Joe’s Ordinary Beer
Gila Monster Amber Lager

Minhas Craft Brewery (Monroe, WI) makes:

Simpler Times Lager
Simpler Times Pilsner
Red Oval

Shipyard Brewing Company (Portland, ME) makes:

Kennebunkport Apricot Wheat
Kennebunkport Blueberry Wheat
Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale

Unibroue (Chambly, QC) makes:

Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale

 

This is a little out-of-date as Golden Road is now contracting IPA, PA and Blonde for TJ's in 4-pack 16 oz cans. Firestone Walker is out of (or getting out of) the contract business. I have not heard officially if anyone was going to take over the Mission St. brand.


As for the Unibroue beers, the Trader Joe's Providential Golden Ale is excellent as well.

 

Yeah FW stopped making the house beers for Yard House almost a year ago. Uinta brews them now.

 

I am not a fan. I had the '13 vintage that I cellared for a year. Way too heavy and lousy flavor.

 

Good updates - thanks, guys!

 

Also, Goose Island hasn't brewed for TJ's in years - the Stockyard Oatmeal Stout and Black Toad Dark Ale are also being done by Gordon-Biersch,. Alnd those TJ brands brewed by GB say "San Jose" as the brewery location on the labels, not "San Francisco" as listed.

And the Trader Jose-branded beers are brewed in Mexico apparently by Cerveceria Mexicana located in Tecate, Mexico. (Some sources confuse that brewery in Tecate, with Heineken-owned Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma aka "FEMSA" which also has a brewery there, and brews the Tecate brand.)