OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

2007 vintage, bottle # Q19309. My 750th rating: Tawny brown with no head; rich, heady, aroma, with tropical fruits, honey and vanilla; similar flavours but with a complex nutty, malty base underneath; and warming alcoholic tones; sticky sweet finish, but also with a surprisingly intense bitterness; leaving a pleasant warming feeling.

2006 Vintage
250ml
13.3%
I tried this beer on January 31, 2008 at "Smokeless Joe’s" in Toronto. The bottle was a 2006 vintage, and 13.3% ABV. The beer poured a dark reddish brown with am offwhite bubble head. The aroma was very yeasty, with some malt and candy tones. The mouthfeel was full-bodied, creamy with mild carbonation. The flavour was overpowering from an alcohol perspective with some detectable dark fruity tones and a stomach warming presence. Like the Samichlaus, not a beer I’d try again!

Very sweet, fruity aroma, (with hints of spices?) deep brown color, very little head. Very fruity, complex flavor. Hops struggle through, malts balance everything out. A beer unto itsself. Very good, but I think I like it better in small amounts.

2004 vintage, bottle N° P83459. Finally I could obtain this beer. Appearance: mahogany color. Not head. Aroma: intensive and complex smells, like a fruity perfume with cherry and plums notes. Carmel malts, black sugar, cognac and old-rum aromatic reminiscences. But, mainly, I remember a liquory truffle. Some tones of humid wood. Flavor: marvelous taste, definitively the time created character in this beer. Start with a sweetness from caramel malts, not sickly; and with a nice and assorted avalanche of ripe-fruitiness with tones of plums, cherries and dried-peaches. Continue with noted of roasted-sugar, wood, vanilla, honey, toast and slight tobacco. Liquory with old-rum and cognac reminiscences. Light dry final from the toast and alcoholic degree. Like in the aroma, I remember a liquory truffle. Palate: full body with a nice oily and silky texture. Not carbonated. In short; a marvel, balanced, complex, liquory and fruity beer in both aroma and flavor.

(2006 vintage 250ml bottle) Purchased at Willow Parks in Calgary for the ridiculously cheap $4.95. Pours a brown-red with an almond head. Nose is wonderfully complex overtones of fig with hints of spice, roasted malt, and soya sauce. Flavour is nicely mellow and malty, the alcohol isnt’ too strong and there may be some apple in the finish. Very enjoyable. I’d love to have this at my local bottleshop.

[2006 ed.] Big nose, sweet smell starts sipping out as soon as the bottle is opened. When poured the smell increases in intenseity. Dark reddish in the glass, some off-white head that soon disappears. The beer itself is malty with some acidity. Lot’s a "dark" notes: sweet toffee, dades, japanese soy(?), caramell, licorice and probably lots more. However, something about it puts me off, maybe it’s too intense. Quite fiery and suprisingly carbonated. Very full, a 0.25 l bottle is really for two.

0.25 l bottle, 2006 vintage. Reddish brown color with small head. Thick sweet, malty, fruity, berryish and vinous aroma with notes of apple and ripe banana. Thick malty flavor with toffee and ripe fruits. Bitter, fruity and toffeish finish. Maybe needs more aging.

04 bottle shared by Crosling. Poured a golden-orange color with a slight off-white head that diminishes totally. Aroma of sweet malts and ripe fruit. Sweet caramel malt flavor with great brandy-like undertones of apple, plum, and apricot. Slight alcohol on the finish, but smooth and clean. Very complex and flavorful. Awesome beer. Thanks for cracking one of these for me to try Nick.