Fuller's Vintage Ale 2000

Bottle Conditioned.

85,000 bottles of Vintage Ale were produced with an organic theme, using Champion Optic Malt and Organic Target Hops. A fresh hop aroma with notes of honey and toffee, leads to a slightly sweeter taste and burnt, bitter aftertaste.

313 reviews

Chiswick, England

Community reviews

3.7 550 ml bottle. Bottle #70091. (Fuller’s) London, the UK. The Grand Vintage Tasting. A dark amber colour with a small frothy tan head. A musty wine cellar aroma with sweet dark fruits and some toffee sweetness in the aroma. The flavour is dark fruits, sugary sweetness, mild hoppy notes (not that fresh any more), mild bitterness and dry maltiness. Quite nice. Quite a lot different beer than the 1999 vintage.

3.8 Bottle. Moderate malt aromas of roasted, caramel and nutty, moderate cooked orange for the hops, light dough for the yeast, with dried cherry, date and toffee. Head is average size, fizzy, off-white with slippery, bubbly lacing and is almost fully diminishing. Color is hazy reddish brown. Flavor starts moderately to heavily sweet and moderately acidic, then finishes moderately sweet, acidic and bitter. Palate is medium to full, syrupy with a lively to fizzy carbonation and a lightly alcoholic finish. A potent and deep English Strong Ale.

3.3 Flaske nr. 54347. Spandert av og delt med Rune etter arbeidsøkt i WCveien 13 Mar 13. BBdato 2004 - men bar ikke preg av forfall. Snarere tvert imot. Rødbrun. Litt uklar. Høyt luftig skum. Markert aroma av tre & sevje. Smaken det samme med innslag av mandler. Svakt søtlig fruktig ettersmak. Lett-drikkelig.

3.4 Vertical in 2014 with 2013, 2009, 2005 and 2000 Vintage compared. APPEARANCE: large stable off white head. clear darker blond beer. NOSE: somewhat oxidated, sweet. TASTE: sweet, oxidated, alcohol.

4.0 11/I/14 - 1Pt. 2.6Fl. Oz. bottle @ JorisPPattyn’s place - part of a vertical: 2013, 2009, 2005, 2000 (2014-39) Thanks to PriorL and Mathieu87 for sharing the bottle! Clear dark copper red beer, aery irregular beige head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: orange peel, honey, oxidized but not dusty or stale. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: bit sugary, honey, sweet, caramel, soft bitterness. Aftetaste: oxidized, marzipan, bit sugary, soft hoppiness, caramel, orange peel, little bitter. Good stuff.

3.8 Part of a vertical comparison, many thanks to M & L V.!. Huge, creamy, pinkish rusty head over copper-brown beer. oxydation, walnut, portwine, madeira, Christmas cake. Sweet with full madeirisation, sweet and (wal)nutty. Very slick, but unavoidable thinner MF than younger version, age-thinning. Vanilla, sweet bread, leaving a sweet lingering aftertaste.

4.1 Bottled, 500ml, no. 28,655 from Sainsbury’s in Banbury. Reddish copper with white head. Full, fruity beer, there is a sweetish toffee background then a mixture of dried fruity notes to the fore, prunes, sultana’s in addition a hazelnut note lingers on the palate. Late bitterness with roasty malts showing through. Luscious.

4.5 Fullers vintage is always a treat. Something I will always pick up if I see it The Derricks

2.1 A - Slightly burnt copper 1 finger head S - brown sugar and burlap sack T - starts sweet with some burnt oak. finish is insanely old wet cigar ash. really a painful finish. slight cardboard / oxidation M - Heavy body, light carbonation O - Probably much better fresh but not for someone who doesn’t smoke

3.5 22 oz bottle at the Adam Jackson beer BBQ. Garnet color with still some carbonation. Nose is lots of dark fruit, digs, dates raisins. Tobacco notes. Ash. Flavor is musty, dank malty old hops. Old caramel, hops after it sat in the basement for a length of time. For the age still really drinkable. Typical old English Ale.

3.8 500 ml bottle sampled January 2012. A light malty aroma with oxidation. Flavor is sweet, smooth malt, caramel, fruit, slightly spicy, bullion and some bitterness. The malt flavor is the key here. Fine body and pleasant aftertaste. Not really complex but very balanced and super smooth. Deals fine with 10 years storage.

3.4 500ml still bottle conditioned despite best before end of 2003. Bottle no. 54347 bought at Fullers Brewery Shop and shared with Finn back home. Decent off-white head covering a cloudy, dark apricot coloured body. Aroma of dried fruits and caramel added by a cellar-like vintage touch. Rather comprehensive taste of raisin, figs and herbal hops joined by leather and biscuits. Dry, very dry, bittersweet ending. Well bodied. A truly grown-up brew. Tasty (Tromsø, 13.03.2013).

3.7 Etwas oxidierter Antrunk, wenig herb, breite Malzigkeit. Geringe passende Süße, hellmalzig würzig, süffig. 10/11/12/12/12/12

4.0 18.6 oz bottle No. 62853 49° in English Pint-Pours a clear amberish brown with a big loose off white head. Aroma of sweetness, honey, hops, and malt. Taste of malt, sweetness, toffee, caramel, honey, and hops. This medium bodied brew has held up exceptionally well. It is well balanced and quite tasty. Nice brew.

3.2 Bottle at Papsø’s - Thanks. Clear amber/reddish/brown - white head. Sweetness, nutty, berries, light oxidation, herbal, raisins, light burned and roasted malts, walnuts, caramel, oakey.... Tjaaa.

3.8 50cl bottle courtesy of Belgbeergeek @ Belgian RB Gathering of Ultimate Evil. Bottle# 70745. Cuivrée, trouble, col beige fin. Arôme présente cet unique bouquet de bière ayant déjà qcq années. Rien de mauvais mais ajoute à l’expérience, note malt caramel, qcq fruits noirs et un profile houblonné ayant depuis longtemps quitté les lieux. Palais est agréablement bien malté, caramel/toffee restant encore assez doux, ici aussi je note une dominance fruité noire, alternant entre raisin et prune, pêche, qcq épices et ce profile de levure pour une bière qui arrive doucement à sa limite d’age.

4.4 Bedankt Belgbeergeek. 50 cl. fles gedeeld met Belgbeergeek & Sebletitje @ Belgian Ratebeer Winter Gathering of Ultimate Evil. Fles nr. #70745 van 8500 flessen. 12 jaar oud, ik ben benieuwd, is het nog altijd goed zoals een bier zoals dit eigenlijk echt wel zou moeten zijn of is het echt al compleet uit elkaar gevallen. De leeftijd is zichtbaar wat het uiterlijk betreft, donker, redelijk hard wazig vos rood, amber, kraag is vooral wat verspreide, bubbels. Geur verraad ook onmiddellijk de leeftijd, beetje waterig, muffig, geoxideerd, stoffig, vintage,… maar geur en uiterlijk zijn uiteindelijk nooit echt van belang bij vintage bieren. Wat wel telt is de smaak en die is zowel duidelijk vintage als uitstekend, rozijnen, toffee, karamel, zoete vintage, toffee noten, bruine suiker, karamel mout, bio kruiden, honing, beschuit, cake toetsen, wat fruit en oxidatie. Uiteraard, wat platter, lichtjes uitgedund maar echt niet veel … uitstekend.

3.5 Bottle at Papsø. Clear orange-red coloured with a small off-white head. Sweet and fruity aroma of caramel and dried fruits. Sweet and fruity flavour of caramel and dried fruits with notes of oak. Sweet finish.

3.7 #0117 sampled 2012-11-13 clear brown, small white head. slightly dusty aroma, like oxidized hops.flavor is roasted stiuff, dried fruits, faint hoppy notes. very very nice flavor for the age.

3.5 Bottle, 50 cl, no 01778. Clear orange amber with an ok off white head. Deep toffeeish nose, lots of caramel. Taste is just like honey, long and lingering, some spice. Burned malt. Full bodies, a winter warmer.

4.2 Bottle at home (from the brewery shop July ’12) - 23/09/12. No. 54386. Slightly obscured reddish amber with a thin off-white head that thins to the edges, forms a pond, but then retains fairly well. Rich dark fruits dominate the nose, prunes, cherries, slightly earthy and musty and some nuttiness - but it’s a few years old so I can get this! Taste absolutely top notch. Sweet malts, caramel, dark fruits, prunes, dates, figs, dark sugars, a little biscuit and bread to balance. Perfect on the palate - smooth, minimal soft carbonation, spot on ! Another great vintage from Fullers, still highly drinkable, although the nose has started to wain. Big relief that this one was in fine fettle after a recent ’99 had ’gone’ although no signs of damp on the label as was the case with that one.

3.6 Bottle, 55cl. Bottle # 04479. It pours a clear, copper colored body under a half finger thick beige head leaving lacings. Caramel and some oxidation in the aroma, with hints of camphor. A pleasant dried fruit scent as well. There’s a pleasant bitterness to deal with the mostly malty flavor. Beef stock, caramel, some oxidation and dried fruits, and a little alcohol hint. Full-bodied, pleasantly carbonated and with a mostly bitter finish. Less complex than the 1999 bottle, but certainly nice anyway. 120106

3.5 Bottle. Deep golden colour with an off-white head. aroma is alcohol, caramel, malt. Flavour is sugar, yeast, oxidation, caramel, hop, alcohol. Nice beer.

4.2 Bottle at RK2. Dark brown with good head. Aroma of plums and raisins. Flavour is alcohol, toffee, dark fruits - complex. Very good.

4.0 Bottle at RK2. Amber with white head. Tremendous malty sweet flavour. Almost no bitterness on the finish. Really well balanced. Me rikey.

4.3 From bottle. Murky brown with off white head. Big boozy aroma, fruity plumb and cherry, caramel, toffee. Similar tastes, some definite oxidation, still nice dark fruit flavors, caramel and toffee. Impressive, even at this age.

3.6 Bottle 1pt.2.6fl.oz. [ Bottle #51660 ]. [ Courtesy of Nightfall ]. Clear medium amber colour with a large, frothy, good lacing, mostly to fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, oxidide, caramel, damp stain - fusty, light raisin - plum, light cardboard. Flavour is moderate to heavy sweet and light to moderate bitter with a long duration, raisin - plum, light oxidide. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft, finish feel is light alcoholic. [20120211]

3.0 Bottle at Chriso’s Fullers-Gales Tasting (thanks to Chris). It pours clear deep amber, with a thick beige head. The nose is initially of sweet caramel, toffee, spice, pepper and gingerbread, but the longer I smell the more mould and damp old wood there is. The taste is sweet caramel, golden-syrup, wood, leather, melon, pear, cardboard and mouldy mustiness, with a dry, alcoholic finish. Full body and moderate carbonation. I think everyone was in agreement at the tasting - this is way past its prime.

3.0 Bottle care of Chris O. Tawny brown. Smell is strong alcoholic, marmalade, but with a bit of damp mustiness. Like damp smelly clothes, and there’s something minerally too. Taste is marmalade, treacle, and a bit of mustiness. It’s very sweet and a bit cloying and with the ageing there’s no trace of hops or bitterness. For me this is not really ageing that well. It’s past it’s best.

3.5 Bottle 550ml #04479 @ home [Courtesy of yngwie] Pours cloudy deep amber/brown with a off-white head. Aroma has notes of malt, caramel, alcohol and dried fruits. Taste is medium to heavy sweet and light bitter. Body is full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft..