Trader Joe's Vintage Ale

I know this is a very old thread, but I don't know if this comment will sit here unseen or whether everyone above might get a notification. Anyway, I still have bottles dating back to 2006, with only two years missing. There were a few years where I bought 3 or 4 bottles and held on to a few, and I've done a few vertical tastings. I'd love to find the two missing bottles - 2009 and 2010 - and do a 10 or 11 year tasting, but I suspect they're no where to be found.

 

I think I drank my last 2010 last year

 

A lot of people stockpile them, probably not too difficult to trade for.

 

Opened 2015, 2010 and 2005 tonight. 2005 was very much past it's prime. Big yogurt nose, little tart. 2010 was still good but more in the "interesting" than exciting range.

 

I tried an aged 2012 about six months ago and it was undrinkable. Tasted like runoff from an iron forge. But sounds like this is contrary to most other people's experiences so perhaps it was an off bottle etc.
I have several more I wasn't tempted to drink but didn't have the heart to toss away unopened so now I'm encouraged to see how they are...

 

I have a friend who opened an '08 not long ago and said it was gloriously good.

 

Ah, now there's hope! I think I will go ahead and do an 8-year vertical tasting on the 1st of the year. We'll see what happens!