Coopers Brewery has released its 2009 Extra Strong Vintage Ale. And for the first time, the beer will be available in special 12 bottle packs as well as the traditional 24 bottle slab.
The 2009 Vintage Ale is the ninth in the series of Vintage Ales.
According to Coopers Managing Director and Chief Brewer, Dr Tim Cooper, it pays special attention to the use of hops for bittering and aroma.
“This year we have used four different cultivars of hops, one more than last year, to achieve a fullflavoured, aromatic beer which builds on the success of the 2008 Vintage Ale,” Cooper says. “The beer can certainly be enjoyed now, but if carefully cellared, it will develop sweet caramel and toffee characters which will increase with age.”
Dr Cooper says that the 2009 Vintage Ale used the German bittering hops Magnum and Perle and the English aromatic hops Fuggles and Styrian Golding, as well as the best Australian malted barley and crystal malt to produce a distinct beer that would drink well immediately, but would develop further with careful cellaring.
The alcohol content has been retained at 7.5% alcohol by volume, making it the strongest beer brewed by Coopers and one of the stronger beers produced around the world.
Coopers Marketing Director and Chairman, Mr Glenn Cooper, says he expects strong early demand for this year’s Vintage Ale.
“We have released it slightly earlier than normal so that people looking for a hearty winter beer can enjoy the new Vintage Ale with a meal or by itself as a winter warmer,” he says.
“This year we will be releasing the 2009 Vintage Ale in special 12 packs, as well as the traditional 24 bottle slab, following the installation of a new packaging machine at the brewery.
“We expect the new packaging will broaden the appeal of this unique product.”
Mr Cooper says that as in previous years, there had been only a limited production run with stocks allocated to retailers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Strong demand had also been received from New Zealand and the US. “We have been told that there is an increasing number of people collecting the Vintage Ale and enjoying vertical tasting nights to see how the product changes over the years,” he says.
“I’m also aware of a number of hotels that have been arranging vertical tasting nights with both quality wines and Vintage Ale so that people can see how top quality wines and these unique ales age.”
Dr Tim Cooper says the 2009 Vintage Ale would be a good match with spicy meat and poultry dishes, or complement after dinner sweet desserts.
He says that if stored correctly, Vintage Ale would continue to develop over a number of years, providing patient drinkers with a unique beer.
“In recent weeks, we re-tasted some of our earliest Vintage Ales and have been surprised at how well they have lasted and how they have developed,” he says.
“They are still very drinkable, although they taste completely different to when they were first made, with the bitterness generally replaced with caramel and toffee notes.”
Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale was first released in 1998, with further vintages in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The price for the 2009 Vintage Ale is about $75 per carton, or about $20 per six pack of 375 ml bottles.
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