For some time now I’ve been cellaring beers.  Since I don’t have an actual cellar, I’ve been keeping some beers in a fridge at cellar temps.  Some beers were meant for aging, others…not so much.  Since beer is an organic product (as is wine) it changes with time, unlike Rum and other distilled spirits.  I’m finally getting to the point that I’m able to starting trying beers that I’ve aged, which led to this review of Fuller’s Vintage Ale (it’s now five years-old).  As a cautionary tale, let me say that the beer can be very different from year to year, so it is hard to measure one year against another…but I’m doing it anyway. 

Upon pouring this beer there was some head deterioration, which basically means it didn’t hold too much of a head.  That’s okay with me.  The color of the beer was a reddish-copper, it’s resemblance being like whisky.  Of course, the color would not be different from a Vintage Ale from this year.

When I smelled the beer it was much less hoppy than a new one might be.  I also found it to be notably sweeter in approach.  What I think occurred it that the hops mellowed after time (normal for an aged beer) and took on a new form of being floral.  The way that the changed hops came through was a very apple ciderish and citrus aroma.  Honey was also present in both aroma and taste.  The grains and malt came through much more than a new bottle did.  There were slight winish notes to this 8.5% beer.  Even some caramel, toffee, and maple were sneaking through on the nose.  I found the beer to be very perfumey.

Once I tasted the beer, I knew that the apple cider smells were right.  Cider and apple juice came through heavily on the beer.  Imagine if Sky or another vodka company took their citrus vodka and added a lot of apple flavors on top of that.  That’s what this beer reminded me of (more subtle, of course).  Once again, the hops were very subdued after 5 years.  There were notes of caramel and maple that came through, but apple vodka alcohol qualities were deep.  In its finish, the beer was very dry and grainy.  I enjoyed this bottle very much and am glad that I’m aging more bottles of beer.  Maybe ”cellaring” a bottle or two could be in your future?