Should Fullers Vintage Ale be regarded as a different beer each year?

Discussion in 'British Isles' started by CwrwAmByth, Jan 3, 2013.

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  1. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/71/19426

    "And though it's released each year as a separate vintage, BA has been informed that the recipe is only slightly tweaked from year to year, while the ABV remains at 8.5%."

    2012: Goldings, Sovereign, and Target hops. "Unique yeast" and organic barley from James Fuller's estate. (125,000 bottles)

    2011: Goldings, Sovereign, and First Gold hops. "Unique yeast", Warminster maltings, and organic barley from James Fuller's estate. (150,000 bottles)

    2009: Goldings hops, Tipple malted barley, "unique yeast". (160,000 bottles)

    2005: Fuggles hops, floor malted Optic malt, "unique yeast". (95,000 bottles)

    The differing ingredients to me suggest it should be different beers to be reviewed individually, because surely Goldings hops would create a different flavour that would age differently to that which Fuggles creates, and the same goes for the different malts. As for the abv I don't really think that matters, as the change of ingredients are what separates it from Golden Pride I think. Maybe I'm wrong though.

    Your opinions? (feel free to fill in the years I don't have a bottle of!)
     
  2. FUNKPhD

    FUNKPhD Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2010 Texas

    There's plenty of beers on here that should have different review pages for different vintages. The Abyss is an obvious choice. Having different pages for beers like this would also help people looking to get older vintages know how they're holding up.
     
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  3. reprob8

    reprob8 Initiate (0) May 22, 2008 England

    A few quotes from the Fuller's produced Vintage Ale Tasting notes;
    1. First brewed in 1997 it is based on our Golden Pride. Each year only the best of that years malt and hops are used.
    2. In some of the later years of this brand's development, the raw materials were themed to further add to it's unique qualities.
    3. Golden Pride was traditionally available as a mini pin for a limited period over Christmas. However it was felt that the appeal of this beer could be widened with the introduction of a bottle conditioned version.
    4. This limited edition brand is brewed traditionally at Fuller's as part of the party-gyle system.​
    I know it doesn't answer your question but essentially it is the same beer each year with a subtle difference which is not usually noticeable until it has aged for a few years, I recommend at least five years but three will suffice.
    If you get the opportunity to conduct a vertical tasting do, you wont regret it.
     
  4. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Thanks for that. It's a shame the Fullers website doesn't look like it gets updated regularly.
     
  5. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Yep, 5 years has been my golden number as well.
     
  6. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Damn, 2 years late for the 2005 and 2 years early for the 2009. Dern it.
     
  7. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (1,998) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah Society

    The recipe is different each year. But then again, do you think that the recipe they used to brew London Pride yesterday is exactly the same as the one they used 10 years ago? Or even two years ago?

    Though having said that, the technical specifications of the beer have varied quite a bit from year to year. 8.38% to 9.08% ABV, 1082.5 to 1087.68 OG.
     
  8. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (1,998) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I was lucky enough to be at the 1997 - 2010 vertical tasting held at the brewery. All the vintages were different and all pretty good, if in different ways.
     
  9. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    I'd say that was a different case because London Pride is a beer people aren't going to be wanting to get hold of different vintages for.
     
  10. Ruds

    Ruds Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 England

    I think it should be added separately as it is a collectable vintage, labelled and bottled as such to different recipes and production quantities.

    Why not try adding them all separately - I'm sure the admins won't be US biased and let the UK have it's one true regular and differing Vintage ale :grinning:
     
  11. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (1,998) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I agree. It's packaged differently - with the year - too.
     
  12. reprob8

    reprob8 Initiate (0) May 22, 2008 England

    I've managed two verticals, the first when John did a tutored tasting at GBBF in 2005 and one in 2009 that I hosted for BSF staff at GBBF (just missing 1998!). Last year a did a 12 day countdown to Christmas 2011 - 2000.
     
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  13. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Where do you get older ones from? or did you just save them up?

    I'm worryingly tempted by a £25 1998 bottle on ebay (+£10 p+p though)
     
  14. Ruds

    Ruds Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 England

    Don't be, not at those prices

    Older ones can be hit and miss

    I've had 4 or 5 99's this year - one excellent, one decent, 2 average and one was bad

    I've got a few 99's left still I'll sort you one out next time we meet if you want?
     
  15. reprob8

    reprob8 Initiate (0) May 22, 2008 England

    I've been cellaring beer for over 20 years
     
  16. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Thanks, that would be great!
     
  17. shyhenry

    shyhenry Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2010 Minnesota

    1998's probably the hardest vintage to find. If you actually want to build a vertical, you'll never find a '98 for cheaper than that.

    I got to try the '98 a few months back. It tasted knackered, unfortunately.
     
  18. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Yeah the risk is probably the main thing holding me back apart from the cost.

    I got 9 bottles of Tiny Rebel, Buxton, Hardknott and Brains Craft for under £25 today, and I didn't have to pay a tenner for delivery either.

    Probably wouldn't advisable to do a vertical anyway, as I don't know anybody here who likes beer really, so I'd be unable to appreciate any of it before 2000 :stuck_out_tongue:
     
  19. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    I had a 1998 a year or two after it was released (still have the notes) and it was magical. Can't imagine many Vintages being any better after 10 years. Even by 5 they've peaked IMHO.

    As for the thread's question, absolutely without hesitation. RB lists each vintage individually and their database is without equal. Get with it BA.
     
  20. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,301) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Same with wine. I recall Robert Parker saying that a lot of the wines he's "treated" to in the US had faded.The owners thought that wine improves with age , which is true up to a point, but eventually deterioration sets in.Mind you, I've had some memorable 1961s!
     
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