Trader Joe's Vintage Ale 2007
The 2007 Trader Joes Vintage Ale is a brown Belgian-style ale of great distinction produced by traditional top fermentation methods resulting in a rich and full-bodied flavor. The Champagne like effervescence and smooth mouth feel are the result of a natural secondary fermentation the bottle obtained by the use of a carefully selected yeast culture. This vintage ale is characterised by a deep amber color topped by a rich head of foam. The prominent flavor of premium malts is perfectly balanced by a combination of three European hops and four distinctive spices. True to its Abbey Dubbel style, this years vintage ale offers a highly distinctive flavor enhanced by the fruity and floral notes of the yeast. The result is a complex and warming ale that offers both strength and subtlety. Brewed once a year in limited quantity, please enjoy Trader Joes 2007 Vintage Ale. This will age exceptionally over time, developing more complex flavor as the years go by. Exclusively bottled for Trader Joes. Best Before 10-28-2010.
3.6
188 reviews
Monrovia, United States
Community reviews
A: The pour is a dark caramel color with a short lived off-white head.
S: This one also smells super vinous with lots of sweet, white grapes. There’s quite a bit of booze, too. Lots of cardboard and a high carbonation that sort of stings the nose. Perhaps a touch of herbs.
T: The flavor is reminiscent of a sparkling wine. A sort of buttery chardonnay flavor to go with the cardboard and mild herbal character. A really high carbonation to it that gives it a somewhat acidic feel.
M: The body is medium with a very high level of carbonation.
D: Not quite as good as the 2005, but certainly better than the 2006. Still don’t think I’d really be interested in having this one again.
(750ml bottle thanks to ericandersnavy, side by side with every vintage from 2005-2009, this was #5 in my ratings) clear light brown with lasting tan bubbles. Nose of apple, really odd and that’s all I got. Taste of spicy cinnamon, Belgian yeast, raisin bread, and cream. Great creamy palate and a dry finish.
Bottle drank in August 2010: Poured a dark brown color ale with a medium foamy head with average retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of dry plums and figs with a sweet malt base and the usual rich bready yeast profile from Unibroue. Taste is sweeter then I was expecting with some notes of dry raisins and plums, sweet malt backbone and loads of ester of the yeast. Body was full with good carbonation and light warming notes of alcohol. Good thought not as good as the previous example or maybe the aging has not done any good to this one.
C&C 750 mL bottle courtesy of BelgianBeerGal from a trade LONG ago. Pours a hazy brown color with a large tan head. Decent head retention and lacing. Aroma of bread, spice, dates, citrus, floral notes and brown sugar. The taste is bread, toffee, citrus like fruits, apricots and a spicy finish. Medium bodied. Assertive carbonation. Very much in the Trappist style and pretty nice.
Bottle from Trader Joes in Rochester, bought Winter of 07-08, this bottle is a little more than two years old,
this ale gave a clear ruby-brown pour that can be seen through when held up to a light, made a one to two finger high head of light tan bubbles, there is medium or so effervescence that makes a good size island in the center of the glass, lacing is nice and left a good amount of covering on the sides of the glass,
aromas of toasted malt, chocolate, toasted dark bread, touch of yeast with light cherry and raisin dark fruit, and faint cinnamon with other cookie spice(s),
flavors of dark bread, toasted malt, raisin, plum, dark brown sugar and molasses sweetness with a little brownies, there is a touch of spice to,
the finish has some pepper on the tongue with some of the malt flavor and sweetness trailing after the finish,
mouth feel is nice and creamy,
a very nice Dubbel drink.
Bottled. A hazy amber beer with an off-white head. The aroma has notes of malt and fruit. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, fruit, and alcohol, leading to a dry, fruity and alcoholic finish.
750mL bottle. Poured deeper cola brown with a well-retained beige head.. set up nicely in the glass. The aroma picked up warm plums, dates, and molasses accented by black peppery and banana notes from the yeast and some thin alcohol.. really a lot of plum and some honey on the back.. good stuff. The flavor opened with tart carbonation and plum skins, with molasses and more fruit gliding onto the middle.. black pepper, cloves, and a touch of dusty banana laced throughout from the yeast.. finished warm and spicy, but surprisingly thin. Medium-bodied with more than ample carbonation on the palate.. again, spicy, but it could’ve used more heft.. drinkable and fairly well balanced.
750mL Bottle -- Pours dark brown with a thin off-white head. Aromas of milk chocolate, honey, caramel, plum, and figs. Sweet with little lasting bitterness.
Bottle - Shared by a friend along with the 2008 and 2009. Pours deep brown with very little head. Smell is brown sugar, booze, chocolate, cherrries, dark fruit. Decadent and complex nose. Taste is sweet, bready malt, light spice and coffee, and a nice, boozy aftertaste. It’s a little watery and thin, but the spice has mellowed nicely and integrated in with the larger, richer tastes. I liked this the best out of the 2008 and 2009.
Bottle: Deep dark caramel, very brown, somewhat muddy. Large frothy light beige head, spotty lacing. Looks like your typical Unibroue. House yeast, light spices, prickly malts on the nose. Not as
descript as many others, which is what I expected. Essentially a toned down version of one of their darker offerings. Slight alcohol presense, a little musty. On the tongue it is certainly malty, a little mealy, very
pale dark pitted fruit, mainly like a whole wheat breadiness with very light spices. Characteristic house yeast, which if you drink Unibroue you know what I am talking about. For a 9% beer I am amazed its not more flavorful.
Does seem toned down, but also packs a wallop. Not up to par with Maudite or Trois Pistoles, but decent enough. Body and mouthfeel are moderate, very bubbley and spritzy. *burp* Fairly clean finish, yeasty,
with minor notes of figs and dates. Still amazed this is a 9% beer for being less flavorful. I would figure watered down, but this one sure does make your head spin on an empty stomach!
12.16.09 750 ml. bottle. Pours dark amber with tan head. Aroma of spice, bread, dark fruits, pepper. Taste yeasty bread, pepper, spice, caramel, burnt toast. Getting better with age.
750mL bottle from oldstylecubfan poured into a tulip.
Pours dark chestnut brown in the glass that has lots of orange when held up to light. The head is a creamy beige two-finger cap that recedes to a big collar and a swirl along the top.
The aroma is sweet with candi sugar taking a lead role with some compliments from dark fruits, especially raisins. There is also a sweet yeast aroma with a light spiciness capping off the aroma.
The taste is sweet but doesn’t have quite the same overpowering candi sugar and yeast presence as the aroma. They’re certainly there but the spices and dark malts seem to be more prevalent. The finish is where the spices really come out.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sugary sweet but with more than enough carbonation to keep it from becoming cloying. Between the spices and carbonation, it’s very lively on the palate.
A very good Belgian dubbel that balances the sweetness and spiciness very well and remains very drinkable. It’s not a great beer, but the Trader Joes vintages are clearly one of the best value Belgian-style beers for the money.
750 ml corked and caged bottle, best before 10/28/2010. Served in a goblet, the beer pours a murky brownish/copper color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is good, lacing is OK. It smells like raisins, molasses, brown sugar, caramel, raspberries and a bit of spice. The taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like dark fruit, caramel, brown sugar and some peppery spice and also an herbal flavor. Taste isn’t as sweet compared to the aroma. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it’s a bit creamy and it’s well carbonated. Drinkability is decent, would be better if the carbonation was a bit lower. Overall I think it’s a decent brew, I liked it.
Bottle. Very dark brown with amber highlights and a thick golden brown head. Sugary molasses and bubblegum aroma. Sweet palate, burnt sugar, brown bread, raisins, bubblegum, finish is slightly herbal/minty. Warming alcohol in the finish is unobtrusive. Not bad, but I recall liking the 2006 better. I look forward to trying the 2008 in my fridge!
750ml corked and caged bottle. Pours a cloudy dark chocolate brown with a 2 finger creamy tan head that leaves decent lacing. The nose is molasses, dark fruit, caramel and brown sugar. The taste is dark fruit, caramel malt, spicy yeast and rock candy. Medium, semi-creamy mouthfeel. Typical Unibroue – decent, no flaws, yet on the boring side.
12/18/2008: Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale 2007... Appearance: Deep amber color, transparent; foamy beige head. Aroma: Sweet and yeasty, hints of bubblegum and fruity caramel. Flavor: Strong (more like "assertive"), but not "in your face"; fruity and balanced, subtle spice, fruity yeastiness; alcohol is warming but not noticeable in the flavor. Palate: Mediumb-bodied, smooth; good mouthfeel. Overall: Good, but nohting unique; pairs very well the the homemade date pudding that I am eating!
1 pt. 9.4 fl. oz. corked and caged bottle (9% alc./vol.; Best Before: 10-28-2010) from Tmoney99. Thanks Tom! Rating #157 for this beer.
Dark brownish copper color with a big fluffy beige head. The foam dies out quickly leaving no lacing. Aroma is very gingery with additional accents of chocolate mousse, raspberry, brown sugar, bubblegum, and dried dark fruit. Very complex and intriguing aroma but overall it’s just too sweet smelling. Flavor is less sweet but it’s also less complex. Dark crusty bread, light spices, leather, pepper. Dry, astringent finish with some alcohol warmth. Body is too thin and carbonation is much too high and it’s coarse to boot. Lacks the expected Belgian fullness and refinement. Not bad for the very cheap price tag.
Not bad. reasonably priced compared to other unibroue beers. worth a try.
Deep copper/amber in colour with a thin but lingering off-white head, good lacing. The aroma is yeasty, lots of candy sweetness, dark fruits with some light alcohol. The flavour is sweet at first, yeasty, malty, very fruity with some noticeable alcohol. Sweet mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes with a lingering sweetness, warm.
A step back from the 2006, seems to be lacking some oomph. Lackluster Unibroue.
750ml bottle obtained in a trade with rustychiles, thanks Rusty.
Opened on July 24, 2008.
Vintage 2007.
In the 750 mL corked bottle from a TJ’s in Seattle. I’m pretty glad that I aged this for about a year from the date that I purchased it. I think it is at its optimum right now. Pours a dark slightly cloudy brown with a large dense tan head that actually grew in size in the goblet after about 5 minutes. The aroma at first seemed a bit oaked to me, then it blasted my senses with profuse raisins. The flavor is a crazy grape candy sweetness, but not at all unattractive. This palate is so smooth that I nearly gulped down the glass without a sense of what I was doing. To beat it all, I think I bought this on sale for $3.99. Woefully under-appreciated on this site at 3.5.
Amber brown color with a good sized beige head. Aroma is sweet with raisins and spiced pear. Taste is of raisins, sugar and malt.
Smell is raisans, caramel, molasses, toffee, spices, dark fruit, and some malts. Look is clearish brown color with a beige colored head. The taste is sweet, sugary, fruit, very sweet.
bottle, thanks to bu11zeye, medium brown with some transparency, slight head, has a fruity nose with caramel and fruit flavors , nice finish
(750ml bottle) Pours a cloudy mahogany body with a medium beige head. Aroma of raisins, prunes, dates, caramel, and yeast. Flavor of raisins, chocolate, candi sugar, toasted grain, and pepper with a carbonated mouthfeel.
bottle thanks to bu11zeye. deep brown pour with a thin beige head on top. nose of dark fruits and yeast. very fruity flavor but quite nice on the palate with a slight tartness in the finish.
750ml. aged 1 year. pours a hazy reddish brown with fizzy white head. aroma of dark fruits, figs and grapes mostly, some very slight aged port wine notes coming through very nicely as well. flavors of grape, mild spicy notes resembling coriander and clove. again this series a bit too fizzy, thin, and boozy to be something special. however, 1-3 years seems to help gain some malt complexity and shows less alcohol.
Sampled another vintage. This was last January or so. Very nice and consistent with expectations from prior years. Nice and frothy and of top quality. Pours bubbly and smooth.
Bottled. Amber ccoloured. Unclear. Light brown small head. Sweetness, spice, fruits, berries and some citrus is notable in aroma and flavour. Quite smooth but also a bit bland. Medium bodied. Spicy and dry end.
750 ml bottle. Dark pour with lots of sweet malty aromas. Flavors were more sweet dark fruits with hints of dust and spice. Pretty good stuff.
Bottle 75 cl. Courtesy of FlacoAlto. Pourss a hazy amber golden with tiny impurities and an off-white head. Spicy, gingery nose. Quite full-bodied, a little low in carbonation with sweetish overripe fruit and a spicy edge. Rather alcoholic finish. 291208