Before I start the review proper, I would also like to note that this is an ale-maker with conviction.  While many breweries in Australia were going the route of the lager craze, Cooper’s kept making their Ales.  Kudos for that.  Here is a review of their Vintage Ale.

Body-wise, the beer was a copper-bronze color with a small but nicely retaining head.  It was not overly active in the glass, but it looked great.

On the nose, I noted a slight hay aroma along with hops and a malty sweetness.  It also had some qualities that were somewhat winish.  Additionally, the 7.5% ABV bled through to the nose of the beer. 

The slight winish quality came through on the palate along with the sweet malts and big hop bitterness.  There certainly was an alcohol warmth and dryness in the beer and some apparent fruitiness.  Cooper’s claims that this beer becomes more interesting after up to 18 months or so of aging, and I wish that I would have waited for that.  They also compare this beer to a fine wine.  I think that their pronouncement lacked substantiation in their beer. 

Overall, the beer was slightly above average and not quite as prestigious as Cooper’s would have you believe.  Don’t get me wrong, it kills beers like Foster’s; in my opinion, Fuller’s Vintage Ale is far better.  I’ve had and enjoyed numerous other beers that they’ve made, but this one was not one of my favorites.

Don’t tie me kangaroo down, sport, because I don’t think I’ll be drinking another one.

Mike’s Rating:

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Compared to Other Vintage Ales I've had ★★★☆☆ 

Seriously, though, one Helles of a beer.  In this case, Helles means blond or blonder than their dark version of the beer.  Both are 14%, which was once the strongest beer in the world.  This beer hails from Austria and is a little harder to find than its counterpart (but not too hard). 

Upon the pour, the beer was very golden in color with little head retention.  Being somewhat barley winish in approach, this is not suprising. 

Having said the above, the beer was very winish in aroma with a very fresh and malty smell.  There were also apples and pears in the aroma…and, of course, alcohol.  Even though this section is short, there was a lot going on in this beer.

Now for the tasting.  There was very long and alcohol-driven taste to this beer.  It was extremely malty ande grainy.  Dry wine and hard alcohol (tequila pepper) were among the most notable features to the beer.  There was a thickness to the beer that is rarely rivaled. 

I found this beer to be a very pleasant drinking experience.  Let me warn you: you have to be in the mood because this beer is not for everybody.