Fuller's Vintage 2012

Fuller's Vintage Ale 2012
Style: Barley Wine
Alcohol Content: 8.5%
From: Chiswick, London, United Kingdom
Purchased From: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

http://www.fullers.co.uk/

A little while back me and Kev attended the Great British Beer Festival, and some time that afternoon, twitter informed us that Fullers would be tapping their most recent vintage ale. I got all excited as my 3rd was poured and went into raptures as it slipped down a treat- a definite highlight of the day.
Today, as I was browsing in Hampton' Hill's Noble Green Wines, I was elated to spot this on the shelf: Fullers 2012 Vintage Ale. Judging by my previous experience at the festival I put it in my basket immediately! It's been brewed with three of 2012s finest hop varieties: goldings, sovereign and target, which have been combined with yeast and organic barley from Nelson Park Estate in Wiltshire.

And now for a description of a brewery that is very close to my heart; Fullers. Fullers reside in Chiswick, London (a mere fifteen minutes drive from my home) and have been brewing on the site of their Griffin brewery since the sixteenth century. Not only do they brew a fantastic range of beers, they also own 380 pubs with over 168 of these being located within the M25. In fact some of my earliest drinking memories involve drinking a pint of their London Pride in the Red Lion pub in Staines.

The Griffin Brewery now produces a range of 10 core beers which includes their flagship London Pride and their multi award winning ESB. As of 2013, the brewery produces 215,000 barrels of beer per annum and their biggest export market is Sweden (this is very interesting considering the Swedish Market is very heavily regulated).

Colour: Pours a clear deep amber, with low effervescence. The head quickly runs to the side of the glass. The bubbles emanate slowly from the bottom of the glass, and unless you looked for them, you'll think this beer had gone flat.

Aroma: Rum soaked raisins dominate the aroma, with a base of banana and walnut loaf. Smells like a rich fruit cake with a definite sweet edge. You can really get a good sense of the alcohol content from a good whiff too.

Body: Full bodied and clings to the back on the tongue- that low level of carbonation really tickles the mouth pleasantly. Lovely!

Taste: The smells translate in the taste. It's bold and rich, with a stodgy fruitiness, a bit like a dense stollen. Definite banana notes, and rum soaked raisins. The alcoholic content sits well within this beer, with its age coming through in whiskey tones. Notes of caramel and toffee are also present but come through more on the aftertaste: It's lovely and warming- a great one for bonfire night! The more I drink, the more my cockles warm, leaving a slight tingling behind on my lips. I have to admit that it does not live up to the 2014 vintage, but nor does it lag behind either. A solid effort, that is enjoyable in itself, especially on a winter's, blustery, dark nights.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/anchor-brewing-old-foghorn.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sharps-quadrupel.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Sambrook's Brewery No.5 Barleywine

Sambrook's Brewery No.5 Barleywine

Style: Barleywine

Alcohol Content: 8.2%

From: Battersea, London, England

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney Upon Thames

http://www.sambrooksbrewery.co.uk/

It's funny how beer can change people. Whilst some are destroyed by drink, others use it to succeed. Back in 2008, Duncan Sambrook decide to halt his promising career in city accounting and build a brewery. Like many, this stroke of genius came about at the Great British Beer Festival. After scouring the multiple bars, Duncan and his friends realised that other than Fullers, there was no other brewery representing London at the festival (this is potential due to Camra's, cough "higher standards"). Deciding enough was enough, he promptly purchased a five barrel brewing kit and gave it a go. Needless to say this turned out to be a disaster and after many failed experiments he decided to take brewing more seriously by enrolling a course at the University of Sunderland and seeking advice from the head brewer at Ringwood; David Welsh. The results where a 20 barrel plant and the successful launch of their first beer, Wandle. The rest they say is history.    

Colour: Pours a devilishly dark blood red with no head to speak of. To be honest, this beer looked very flat and I began to think the beer was off. Luckily my fears were abated as after closer inspection I could see small champagne style bubbles slowly rising from the depths of the glass. Phew!

Aroma: There is a hell of a lot going on in this beer, it really has a dream of a nose. Heady notes of dried fruits (such as sultanas, raisins and cherries) soaked in a warming, spiced rum rise to greet you on every sip. There is also very faint traces of a metallic, carbon dioxide edge. It reminds me of the coke flavoured panda pops that I used to drink as a child.

Body: As the name suggests this drink feels just like a red wine in the mouth. Then suddenly a depth charge will hit you. Like a U-boat stalking its prey, a strange layer of carbonation will hit you with such intensity, that you will be launched from your seat. The CO2 will help to cleanse your taste buds and playfully caress the back of your throat.

Taste: The taste of this beer is directly linked to the complex aromas. The dried fruit returns only to pleasantly washed away by a hint of sweet plum and thick, sticky molasses. The alcohol provides a warming yet dry finish which will force you to take another sip. Very refined but it also feels a little restrained. I would of preferred something slightly bolder personally. That being said this is a great introduction to the style and it certainly has peaked my interest in the style. If anyone can recommend any other Barley wines please let me know by leaving a comment below.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/paulaner-salvator.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/robinsons-dizzy-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery