10th anniversary for Fuller's Vintage Ale

November 30, 2007: It's that time of year again when the Fuller's Vintage Ale hits the shelves and this year it's a rather special 10th anniversary brew.

Fuller’s produces only a limited number of bottles each year, making Vintage Ale a much sought-after beer. At 8.5% ABV and bottle-conditioned, the flavours will continue to develop in the bottle over time.

The 11th version of the ale, using the year’s finest ingredients, is perfect for sharing in front of a roaring fire, while ignoring the cold outside.

Fuller’s head brewer, John Keeling, said: “Vintage Ale is one of the most exciting beers to brew because the ingredients change every time.

“Each year, we combine the best examples of malt and hops with Fuller’s unique yeast to produce a beer that is famous the world over.

“It has an aroma which incorporates spicy hop notes with rich fruit character and leads on to a very full malty, fruity, sweet palate. There is a surprisingly clean finish coupled with a matching bitterness, which makes it a great accompaniment to strong cheeses or a rich fruitcake.”

John Roberts, managing director of The Fuller’s Beer Company, said: “The 2007 Vintage Ale is a fabulous blend of Fuggles, Target and Super Styrian hops with Maris Otter malted barley.

“Each bottle is one of only 150,000 produced so should be treated accordingly. As it is bottle-conditioned, it needs to be poured carefully, which all adds to the experience of drinking this truly beautiful ale.

“Also, its strong flavours make it the perfect accompaniment to rich foods, such as game pie or mature cheeses. And I can personally recommend it as a fantastic partner for Christmas pudding.

“It’s also interesting to lay down a few bottles each year and then compare the difference between different vintages, in the same way you might do with a fine Claret.”

l Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2007 is available exclusively in selected Waitrose and Sainsbury’s stores, priced at around £3.29 per 500ml bottle. This and previous year’s Vintage Ales are also readily available at the Griffin Brewery Shop — call 020 8996 2085 for details.

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