Fuller’s is blending modern hop varieties from the old world and the new world with the launch of its Vintage Ale 2026.

The beer is described as a sweet, moderately bitter ale with an ABV of 8.4%.

It has been brewed using UK grown hop, Jester, which gives citrus and stone fruit notes, and from the US, Dolcita, which delivers peach, berry and orange flavours.

According to the brewery this, combined with a malt bill that has extra dark crystal for raisin and fruitcake notes and Caragold for caramel sweetness, all complements the zesty flavours from the Fuller’s yeast to give a classic Vintage Ale.

Guy Stewart, brewing manager at Asahi UK, said: “For the past six years of Vintage Ales, we have primarily looked at English hops or those in UK breeding programmes. However, this year we were struck by Dolcita, a new hop from the US, with its promise of peach, caramel and orange notes.

“We paired it with Jester, an English hop and the sister of Olicana, which was used in the 2021 Vintage – to really bring out stone fruit and citrus notes in the finished beer.

“We think this has worked extremely well. Vintage Ale 2026 has a lovely stone fruit aroma with a hint of vanilla citrus. This aroma complements the raisin, fruitcake and burnt sugar notes coming from the malt bill to give a classic Vintage Ale experience.”