Fuller's Vintage Ale

Fuller's Vintage Ale 

Limited Edition 2012

500ml 8,5%

Happy 2014 dear readers...Let's just say that 2013 wasn't exactly my year but that's a story best told somewhere else. The New Years Eve beer I picked is Fuller's Vintage. I got this very nice bottle from the world leading shop when it comes to beer, Maruhn in Darmstadt. I have had this bottle waiting for something special for over half a year and though it should stay drinkable another decade or so, I decided that it is a valid reason to start 2014 with. I'm a fan of Fuller's and their Vintage Ale always is a highlight in my year. The last time I had this gem was in Feltbay my local bar in Ruskeasuo ... Let's see whether the 2012 version of the bottle conditioned beauty is as nice as I remember it.
It comes in a carton package with a little leaflet describing the last years editions of it.
I wonder whether this 8,5% alcohol liquid will make me fall asleep before midnight.. Anyways, the bottle and the package look very nice and add to the whole experience of a great beer tasting.
The glass I chose out of a whim... somehow didn't want to use a big glass for it.

It pours all nicely, alas the head is very disappointing and dissipates rather fast. It has a light red color, almost oink and sorta reminds me of a Belgium pink beer I once had. It's a bit like a reddish Fanta.

It smells very little, though I find very fruity tones. The alcohol can be smelled, which, as you know, is usually a very bad sign for me... but as I have waited for this so long I shall not allow this to diminish my experience. The smell funnily reminds me of 'Pfläumchen' which is a very bad plum alcohol thing from my early alcohol days..... *shudder*

Amazingly the foam is still present with a slight layer. Let's try this baby.
This is a great example of something you treasure and once you open it you lose all your fascination about it. The alcohol is very present in the taste, mixed with dark, bitter fruit aromas. It's rather syrupy with a strong alcoholy aftertaste. Actually the taste reminds me of a wine that went bad.
Maybe that sums up 2013.... great wrapper, rotten inside. Let's hope 2014 will be better.

I hugged thee all my dear readers!

Prost!

DMW

Stefan's Indian Ale

Stefan's Indian Ale
0,75l
7,3%

Ho Ho Ho!

And to start the Christmas season I have another little extra that is not belonging into the Dr. H. Series. It's another of the triplets of the Maisel and friends series, this time it is an IPA. Stefan's Indian Ale.

RateBeer gives it a 74 on Overall and as I do like my IPAs I'm looking forward to try this. With 7,3% this is leaning towards the stronger beers, which is why I decided to wait with testing this till I had some days off. As this is -price wise- on the high end of German Beers, the packaging is nice and hihg valued. A nice bottle, classical label and the attempt to give it a personal touch. As I have no frakking idea what glass to use I went for something simple. The tulip I have brought from the US where I got it in Asheville NC, the beer capital of the US.
It pours nicely, with rather big pored, slightly cream colored foam, which dissipates rather fast.

Instead of the IPA smell I expected, it smells very fruity, with hints of orange and grapefruit. This might be interesting. Gawd this makes my mouth water....  Let's give it a try then..
A very, very decent IPA. Not too bitter, but nicely bitter enough, mainly in the aftertaste. The carbonation could be a bit higher for my taste but that's not bad enough to value it less. The grapefruit tones in the beginning are there and recognizable on the tip of the tongue. The only thing I sorta dislike is the fact that I have a lingering alcohol aftertaste and those of you who follow my ramblings should know that I'm not too happy about actually tasting the alcohol in my beers.

All in all surely the Best IPA there is from a German brewery currently, alas some minus points for the lacking carbonation.. it's great but lacks a certain sting.
 Anyways... Merry Christmas everyone!

Prost!

DMW

Leffe

Leffe Royale
0,75l
7,5%

//
Right....... I KNEW I knew that bottle... it seems I wrote about it on April 2nd this year...
I guess take it as .. does his taste change... I decided to let this entry stay anyways... Just human I am..
//

And another part of the Doc H. series... a classic Belgium Beauty, this Leffe Royale comes in a very classy black bottle with cork and golden tones. Ratebeer has it in the upper middle class of their system.

I didn't plan for this, which is why this article might get a bit shorter... I just had a meh day at work and would love some nightcap... what's better than a 7,5% beauty.

I chose my Corsendonk glass for this though it only holds 0,33l. I brought it with me from Belgium so I guess it's a worthy choice.

As I mentioned, the bottle is black-matte. You can't see through it. Though I like it for advertisement and looks, it's a tad bit sucky as I like to see whether there is yeast on the bottom that I'd like to mix into my hoppish brew.. alas I can't.

Haptic-wise it always is something special to uncork a beer... gives that special champagne feeling.

It pours light and copper-gold ... looks really nice. Just a hue redder than your around the corner waterhole beer.
The foam is pure and white with big bubbles, alas they dissipate rather fast.

The olfactory experience is mediocre... huge yeast tones mixed with slight citrus and berry tones. Alas, the yeast is hovering above all.

It's mildly carbonated -just about right- and nicely sweet... maybe a tad bit too sweet for my taste.. a fate that some stronger beers sadly have. The malty sweetness mainly appears on the back of the palate, while the side of the tongue play with bitter side tones. One can guess slight cinnamon and spice tones.

This is a well made, round craft beer, alas it's missing the special something. I'd have it any day in a bar but it is a generic strong Belgium Blonde. Not bad at all, rather good even... but not special.

Prost!

DMW