OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Exeter, England

Bottle 250ml from Waitrose, Christchurch. Pours a deep rich bronze colour with a neat but small off-white head. The aroma changed as it warmed. It started with a strong smell of strawberrys with champagne, then a cider smell and finally wet newspaper. I am afraid this bottle just did not do it for me. I was surprised at how sweet the ale is and the alcohol is much in evidence and rough on the back of the throat. Okay, perhaps I should have waited another 5 years, but the bottle was just begging to be be opened. Still, I have another bottle and so I will mark it forward for 2013.

My my my, what a brew. I’d picked up two of these, both 2005 vintages, and just couldn’t wait much longer, so I cracked one open last night, slightly chilled. Poured into my snifter a perfect ruby, with a frothy white head that didn’t dissipate until I was about half done. The aromas explode with caramel, molasses, and very rich plums. My taste buds detect more plum and raisin, with some dark berry, heavy malts, a significant hop backbone, and of course a rush of caramel. My only gripe is the sweetness, but this is still relatively young. I’ll try and save my other bottle for another couple of years.

Aroma is rich, strong, malty with smoky and toffee hints and a touch of saltiness. Color is a pretty mahogany brown, semi-transparent, not much head. Flavor has a strong alcohol bite, but once you get past that it is surprisingly sweet, with hints of molasses and also caramel. It is very smooth, but the sharp edge reminds you that it is a high-gravity beer. This is a good dessert beer, and each sip is to savor.

Picked up a bottle of 2005 at my local Bevmo. When I first poured this I noticed how thick it was, and the aroma was sweet with some butterscotch and caramel. Flavor was nice, really sweet and strong, smooth butterscotch finish as well. Not a bad brew at all!

2005 vintage, #14834. This beer exploded with aroma right when I opened the bottle. Lots of caramel, wood and raisin on the nose. Dark brown with a ruby port tint, steady head is maintained with a steady stream of bubbles from the bottom of the glass. Heightened anticipation. Incredibly sweet with a cherry/tawny port layer. Smooth and rounded, tastes like it was aged in old sherry barrels. I keep sipping off teaspoon after teaspoon and licking my lips. My oh my this is a treasure. 2007 bottle tasted 11/09, good, in no hurry to drink others, the aspects are there, but young and without structure.

Enjoyed this 2005 vintage ale right out of the fridge after work, about 10am, poured into a wine glass and consumed. I signed up for ratebeer just to rate this beer. Absolutely amazing palate; I burnt my mouth on some soup the other day, the beer tingled and made the burns throb with pain, thank you alcohol. Then comes the amazing flavor blast of sweet caramel. I believe I tasted a hint of prune, or raisin, I think it tasted more like a prune . Bottle poured in three separate intervals. When the end of the bottle was poured the aroma and flavor were easily doubled. Finished the glass with a plate of pizza rolls and a movie. I have two more bottles in the fridge, hope to drink them soon.

Sampled at Cellar’s Wine & Spirits in St Paul, Minnesota. A 10-oz bottle (Vintage 2005 P20614) and shared by joebrew pours a hazy caramel amber brew with a creamy and fast dissolving off-white head that dissipates clean with a few ring bubbles. Aroma of powdery caramel malt, dark fruits, some raisin and herbal spice. Taste is medium bodied, a slight alcohol bite along with a port character with flavors of raisin, dark fruit and brown sugar. Finish is slick and high alcohol warmth with a caramel and raisin after taste.

Bottle at Bjergtrolden. 2007: Hazy orange without head. Aroma heavy malty. Flavor heavy sweet (fruity, spicy). Lots of alcohol, flat, oily. 2005: Hazy orange without head. Aroma heavy malty (caramel, fruity, spicy). Flavor heavy sweet, but rounded by the 2 years storing. Oily body, flat. Really good.