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OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later) - Barley Wine

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine

Whimple, England

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
8443.92/5.03.91/5.011.7%93.7Snifter
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Commercial Description:
Scarce, subtle and complex, Thomas Hardy’s Ale is the beer enthusiast’s equivalent of rare cognac. Bottle-conditioned to mature in the bottle like fine wine, this old ale/barley wine will improve with age for at least 26 years (and we’re still counting!). Not for the faint of palate, especially when young and brash, maturity brings an elegance of flavors unmatched by any other beer—if you have the patience to cellar it for at least a decade.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 BeerChaser0078 (283), Melbourne, Australia
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/517/20
Nov 7, 2009  
2008 Vintage. Hazy brown pour with almost no head or carbonation. Aroma is strong and complex with notes of toffee, orange, molasses, malt and raisins. Flavour is very similar but has additional notes of brandy, apples, yeast, brown sugar and spice. Full bodied, oily mouthfeel and a medium to long sweet finish with a trace of bitterness. A very nice barley wine, a little bit more carbonation wouldn’t hurt but still a fine ale. Will definitely be getting a couple of bottles to age for a while.


 andersand (271), Malmö, Sweden
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/104/517/20
Nov 6, 2009  
Classic. Nice looking deep reddish brown with a minimal beige head. Aroma is generously malty (after some age) with notes of raisins, caramell, toffe and leather. Flavour is even more generous with additional notes of dried fruits, carmelized sugar and a warming biting finish that never gets too hot.


Custom63 (1), , Sweden
does not count click to see why this rating of OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later) does not count
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/517/20
Nov 5, 2009  
2005 bottle. Nice sweet smell, dark oily character, almost without head. Great taste, very sweet and a lot of caramel and syrup, maybe some port and raisins, strong but well balanced. Doesn’t quite have the long aftertaste like some of the belgium reservas. Still, this is a fine art of work and a great and well tasting beer!


bluebetty (88), Australia
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Oct 31, 2009  
Bottle. 2008 Vintage. Pour is a murkish brown with a slightly reddish tint. No real head to speak of and minimal carbonation. Wow aromas are brilliant with so much going on. I am getting some butter scotch, heaps of stone fruit, malt and a little spice. Also plenty of alcohol. Mouthfeel is quite dense and perhaps slightly oily. Flavours once again plenty of malt, caramel and fruit. Slightly resinous hops on the finish and a whack of alcohol. Man what a great beer even this young. Brilliant.


 jake65 (1657), Williston, North Dakota, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 28, 2009  
2007 Bottle - thanks oteyj. Light mahoghany pour with a thin beige head. Rich aroma of citrus and fruits, perhaps some grape? Sweet candied sugar and more citrus. The taste is so smooth and balanced, nothing jumps out right away. A huge, thick and creamy body. Faded hops, citrus, light florals, and more candied sugar. Just blended so well. Very nice.


 evergreen0199 (259), London, Greater London, England
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Oct 23, 2009  
Bottle 2004 vintage. Hazy deep brown pour with small head. Sweet, dark fruit, boozy aroma. Tastes very sweet, dark fruits, malty, heavy, caramel, banana. A quality port like brew. This bottle seemed incredibly sweet too me.


 dmac (1417), Toms River, New Jersey, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/102/58/103/518/20
Oct 11, 2009  
8.5 oz 2004 bottle P40520. Poured an ugly flat lifeless brown body with basically no head. Aroma was pantastic with lots of malty sweetness, raisin, dates, brown sugar, wood, sweet dough, caramel, toffee, prune and plums. Medium palate and a slight twinge of carbonation which is shocking for a beer that had no head whatsoever. Flavor is sweet with lots of liquid toffee, caramel, grape, dates, brown bread dough, Pilsbury biscut dough, dates and slight plastic notes. This was one solid ber but do I have to wait five years plus every time I want to crack one open???


 jonno (538), Brisbane, Australia
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/58/104/515/20
Oct 9, 2009  
2004 bottle. Big big beer on the nose and in the mouth. Still firery. Poured with no head in a dark ruby red colour. Lots of blackcurrant, fig and port flavours. Alcohol is still quite dominate. Nice sipping, stopping to appreciate the full aroma. A bit harsh, maybe a year or two more would be perfect.



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