Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition Craft Beer 50 cl 8,5%

Somewhere in Chiswick, a stone's throw from the Thames, this beer was bottled in 2009 and told to keep until 2012. It didn't listen. Seventeen years on it still sits in its claret box, numbered and patient, and has had all the time in the world to turn into something quite different from the beer that left the brewery.

Expert description of Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Limited Edition Strong Ale Beer

Vintage Ale is the yearly collector's release from Fullers' Griffin Brewery in London. A new one has appeared every year since 1997, and the recipe changes each time. The idea is simple: the brewer picks the year's best malt and hops, uses the same house yeast as always and then lets the bottle do the rest. 2009 is the 13th edition, built on Kent grown Goldings hops and Tipple malted barley from East Anglia. The signature on the back label belongs to John Keeling, who was running the brewing side at the time.

It's bottle conditioned, so there's live yeast in the bottle, and that is exactly why it lasts. Fullers said as much on the label: they had to print a best before date, but like a fine wine or whisky the beer would get better with age. Expect a natural sediment at the bottom, which is part of the deal.

Only 160,000 bottles of the 2009 vintage were made, each with its own number and its own box. Fullers calls it a Strong Ale, and stylistically it sits close to an English Barley Wine, all malt, dark sugar and dried fruit. The hops were front and centre when it was young. These days they've stepped back and let something softer and deeper take over.

Tasting notes

Aroma

Muscovado sugar and caramel with an almost brandied edge. Behind it, butterscotch, rum soaked raisins and a little orange peel, the fingerprint Fullers' yeast always leaves behind.

Palate

Full and creamy. Butter and rum, blackcurrant and vanilla layered over caramel and raisin. The sweetness is rounded, and the alcohol warms more than it bites.

Finish

Long and soft with caramel and dried fruit. After all these years the hop bitterness has all but faded, leaving a gentle vinous warmth.

Specifications

Name: Fullers 2009 Vintage Ale Limited Edition
Brewery: Fullers
Country/Region: England, Chiswick in London
Beer style: Strong Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Size: 50 CL
Hops: Goldings from Kent
Malt: Tipple malted barley from East Anglia
Fermentation: Top fermented and bottle conditioned
Ingredients: Malted barley, hops, yeast and water
Allergens: Malted barley, contains gluten
Shelf life: Made for cellaring and keeps developing for many years beyond the printed date
Best before: End of 2012
EAN no.: 5011885010577
Serving suggestion: At cellar temperature around 12 degrees in a wide tulip or snifter glass. Stand the bottle upright for a day beforehand and pour slowly so the sediment stays in the bottle

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Vinous

Did you know?

The courtyard of the Griffin Brewery is home to the oldest wisteria in Britain. It was planted in 1816, the same year the Chiswick brewery traces its history back to.

See our full range of Fullers

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Fullers Vintage Ale 2009 Beer

Can you still drink Fullers Vintage Ale 2009?

Yes, and plenty of people would say it's only now getting really interesting. It's bottle conditioned with live yeast, which protects it and keeps it evolving. If it's been stored dark, cool and upright, it was built for exactly this kind of wait.

Is Fullers Vintage Ale 2009 worth the money?

If you're after an experience rather than a thirst quencher, yes. It's a numbered vintage from one of London's best known breweries, and there are fewer bottles left every year. What you get is 17 years of slow development that no fresh beer can copy.

What does a 17 year old beer taste like?

Softer and more dessert like than it was in its youth. The hops have faded into the background, making room for caramel, raisins, butter and dark sugar. Think sherry and rum truffles rather than fresh ale.

Why does the bottle say best before 2012?

Because the brewery was legally required to print a date. Fullers states on the label itself that the beer will improve with age, much like a good wine. The date is about regulations, not about when the beer goes off.

How should I store it if I want to keep it longer?

Upright, in the dark and at a steady cellar temperature. Lying down, the cap can rust and give a metallic taint. Keep it in its box, which also keeps the light out.

What temperature and glass work best?

Around 12 degrees in a wide glass that narrows slightly at the top. A snifter or a good whisky glass gathers the aromas nicely. Let it warm up a little in the glass and it opens up.

What food goes with Fullers Vintage Ale 2009?

Something rich with depth. Mature cheddar, blue cheese or a classic Christmas cake can stand up to its sweetness and body. It's also perfectly happy on its own at the end of a meal.

Is Fullers Vintage Ale 2009 a good gift?

It's practically made for it. Every bottle has its own number and comes in a gift box, and the vintage makes it a natural pick for a wedding, an anniversary or anything else that happened in 2009. Just remember the recipient needs to be over 18.

Why do Fullers compare their beer to whisky?

Because, like whisky, it changes over time and rewards patience. The difference is that the beer matures in the bottle, whereas whisky only develops in the cask. If you're into the English tradition, take a look at our English whisky too.

Who are Fullers?

One of London's oldest breweries, based at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick on the Thames. The company was founded in 1845 and is also behind London Pride and ESB. Since 2019 the brewery has been owned by Japan's Asahi.