OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

2008 vintage, tasted so early to compare with later on. Pours a deep red with a thin lingering beige head. Aroma is enormous right out of the bottle. Dark fruit, brown sugar, alcohol in the nose. The body is syrupy thick and smooth as can be. Sugary sweet flavor, but also a little hoppy bitterness. Raisins, and pleanty of zip from the alcohol. A very keen malt backbone. The most prominent feature of the flavor at this point is its power; it is really strong. I can’t wait to taste this in a few years, or even later than that, but I guess I will have to. Very good even at this point. 2005 vintage. Pours a dark, unclear brownish with a little light coming through. Nose is more muted, with heavy dark fruit and port coming through. Some sour notes, but not in a spoiled kind of way. Flavor is totally transformed from the fresh 2008. Chocolate, figs, and a darker malt backbone than before, The alcohol has dropped into the background, but is still quite warm going down. Thick, creamy palate, perfectly smooth with mild carbonation. Very interesting beer, unlike anything I have ever had, but it still has a lot of transforming to do. This time around, A-8, A-4, F-9, P-5, O-18: 4.4.

Bouteille brune de 250ml, 11,7% alv./vol., numéro de série : 28490, édition 2008 pour le 40 anniversaire. Achetée à la LCBO (Rideau/King Edwards). Nez complexe. Je remarque entre autre des raisins, des figues, du beurre de caramel, et des esters d’alcool. Très agréable. Le liquide est de couleur émeraude lorsqu’on verse la bière dans le verre puis après quelques minutes devient caramel foncé. Une mince couche de mousse s’estompe rapidement. En bouche, on remarque principalement le caramel brulé et l’alcool qui domine et réchauffe bien. C’est vineux. Le corps est moyen, il y a peu d’effervescence. La finale est très amère. Une bière idéale pour siroter lentement en fin de soirée. Un pur délice !

0.25L bottle, 2006 edition, poured into a riedel sommeliers vintage port glass. hazy brown orangey colour, with no head and just a slight touch of carbonation. First out of the bottle, aroma of honey drops, than amontilado sherry and dried fruits and some whiffs of coffe and smoke. Flavours of dried fruits, nuts and hints of spices , light pleasant sweetness and just a touch of alcohol. long sour oxidated raisin and prune aftertaste, creamy velvety texture. Already extremely complex, but should benefit from a long cellaring, (which is exactly what i intend to do to a few more bottles) which should make it even more complex. Wanted to write a long thesis to describe what a wonderfull desert drink this is, but than i decided to limit myself to two words: wonderfull and amazing.

Bouteille # T 28319 du 40e anniversaire en 2008. Acheté à la LCBO sur king-edward et dégusté dans un verre de Duvel à 13 degré celcius. Bière de 250 ml avec 11.7% d’alcool par volume. De couleur brun ambré trouble avec reflet rougeâtre et orangé avec très peu de mousse mais qui par contre adhère bien au verre. Un niveau olfactif complexe dû à une bière évolutive. Des effluves de raisin sec, de prunes, de miel, de madère, de mélasse, de confiture de mûres avec une faible odeur de soya. Une légère amertume, un goût de sucre brun, de prune, d’alcool, de caramel et de toast brûlé. Longue finale, très agréable.

Nomatter how hard i try this beer just doesn’t do it for me! I get all the flavours, sherry, port, dark fruits etc but i just don’t like it i’m afraid....

Enjoyed a couple of bottles with donfardz64. Vintage 2004, #6282. First whiff (which you get as soon as you release the cap) is of an amazing sweetness containing brown sugar, golden syrup and honey. A Complex nose follows the sweetness, with plum, black cherry, strong raisin, clove and biscuity malt. Even some apple notes. Very reminiscent of a port or even an ice wine. Hints of oak and bourbon with an earthy background. On to the flavours... Begins bitter/sour on the tongue. Soon reveals itself as very viscous and sugary, like toffee. Mouthfuls of raisins, overripe strawberries, plum, toffee and a dominating brown sugar. There is a tangy sourness in the background, with more mild flavours such as banana and milk chocolate. The spiciness of this ale is complex - There is clove, pepper, cinnamon and sort of an aniseed-like numbness left on the tongue. The alcohol is only just present, and it is very friendly. It compliments the flavours and spices beautifully. The last flavours become more earthy, although the brown sugar, toffee and raisin are there to the end. Yeast is present, but has mellowed a lot compared to a 2005 and especially a 2006. A chocolately, malty finish with hints of oak and coffee. A great experience!

2007 bottle. Burgundy/dark brown with zero head. Aroma is medicinal, port, rich dried fruits, sweet caramel, alcohol. Tastes almost like a fine sweet sherry with oak, dried fig and peppery notes and a surprisingly dry, bitter finish to balance the sweetness. The palate is wonderfully rich and full. Great as this was, it doesn’t match the bottle of Eldridge Pope I had back in the 80’s.

Bottle 2004 vintage. Pours dark brown with no carbonation. Tons of aroma. Figs, raisins, caramel sweetness. Flavor is similar to port: cherry, raisins, sugar. Some alcoholic bite at the back. Very syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor lingers for some time.