Coopers 2012 Vintage Ale

[Weizguy]

I drank a 98 a few months back. Liquid was very dark with large chunks through it. Tasted more like a musty port than a beer.
Drinkable, but I probably wouldn't open it.

Edit- my apologies, after going through my iPhone photos (I tend to take photos of the beers I drink) it was the 99 I drank, not the 98.

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the 98 is different to all the others that came after, but I can't remember what it was. Maybe it wasn't bottle conditioned? Where's Dr Tim when you need him?

Last time I tasted a '98, I thought it was bit past its prime. Same with the '99, as far as I remember.

I read somewhere that the standard coopers range of pale, dark and sparkling has no intention of moving to the smaller bottles, at least.

 

[yum beer]

picked up 2 bottles the other day, they finaaly arrived locally,
cracked one tonight while cooking the barbie, very nice,
I got the impression of a nice malty pommy bitter with a whack of 'c' hop flavour. may be wrong but regardless I enjoyed it,
in fact I may grab another bottle or 2 for longer cellaring.

 

[Logman]

Anyone drinking this that could have a crack at an AG recipe - would like to try and knock some up...

 

[joshuahardie]

Dunno about everyone else but I found the 2012 to be astonishingly bland and underwhelming.

I am still hanging onto the glory that was the 2010 version.

 

[tricache]

Dunno about everyone else but I found the 2012 to be astonishingly bland and underwhelming.

I am still hanging onto the glory that was the 2010 version.

This seems to be a common "problem" with all companies showcase beers and limited releases...maybe they are "dumbing down" for the mass market?

 

[Weizguy]

Dunno about everyone else but I found the 2012 to be astonishingly bland and underwhelming.

I am still hanging onto the glory that was the 2010 version.

Hey Josh,

Maybe it's the logistics chain up to us in the Central Coast/Hunter.

I bought a 2012 Vintage at Dan's after becoming enthused by this thread. Seemed remarkably low-hopped and close to the Celebration ale, which was bought from a local liquor chain in Adamstown and was also disappointingly under-hopped. Not sure why I bought a whole case. Maybe increasingly misplaced respect for Coopers products?

I would really expect a Special beer to enthrall me, not just amuse me, and both these beers were merely amusing.

 

[chrisso81]

The 2010 was great, so I rushed out and grabbed 2 cases of the 2011, it was nowhere near as impressive and after a year cellaring it hasn't gotten much better. I guess I'll sample a 2012 at some stage, but will not be parting with my hard earned for a whole slab. IMO most of the Coopers range seems to have changed to some extent over the years, and not for the better. Tis a shame.

 

[joshuahardie]

I got to try a Fullers Vintage last year. I forget what vintage it was, but that is what the coopers vintage use to taste like.

Now I am just acting like some tosser who goes on about how things were better in my day....

But seriously coopers, dial in some richness.

I also tried a 10 yo coopers vintage, tasted like a cross between a belgian dubbel and a sherry. remarkable experience. I just can't imagine the current vintage would age well. There is just nothng there to start with.

 

[drsmurto]

@Hoppy2B

When you drink the 98 vintage make sure it is at room temperature to fully appreciate it. Too cold and the malt gets lost behind the sherry/port flavours.

Still working my way through 98 and 99, at last count i was down to 3 or 4 bottles of each. The carton of 2000 remains unopened.

Really enjoy having one every now and then to sip on in front of the fire.

 

[jibba02]

From what i have read, beer should be consumed within 12 months of the manufacture date . What makes this beer so great after sitting in the cellar for 6 or so years? I guess the high ABV would help?
A friend of mine posted a picture of a 98 vintage on facebook and said it was the best beer he ever tasted. I have strong doubts.