OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

World class beer for sure. Very rich and luxuriant. reminds me of a very fine sherry. slight head, no lace. Color is lovely copper. Long lastng heavenly finish. molasses, dark ripe fruit, chewy. succulent. a bitchin brew. Had this one at the Bodega downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin.

2006 Vintage Bottle rated June 2007. Hazy brown body with a fast fading head. Oddly fruity aroma - like tangy plums - with a touch of alcohol. Odd flavour as well, tangy malt and an odd melange of fruitiness. Fairly sweet. Average palate. Fairly disappointing to be quite honest. Perhaps some age will improve it?

250ml bottle dated 2003, serial No.# 11474 Poured a dark murkey brown into the glass...no cap or lacing, virtually no carbonation...this is one butt-ugly ale. Aromas of over ripe prunes, rasins, figs....some sweet earthy mustiness...fusil alcohol presense detected as a "licorice"-like aroma. Rich in ripe fruit tastes, molasses, smoke , some nuts, sweet burnt treacle....big bulky mouth feel...finishes wet with a salty licorice taste. Definately richly complex and full of great ingredients and a labor intensive process and oak aging.... but it just doesn’t come together as an enjoyable ale for me...It has all the makings of a great vinous barley wine...like a rich spiced port until the finish where that salty-licorice fusil taste trashes out everything...a good attempt but just not my cup of tea...I don’t like these big boozy ales which can’t contain their alcohol tastes....where the alcohol creates that licorice-salty decernment in the finish. I have another bottle I may open in 4 or 5 years but not really looking forward to it

Bottle. Sniffer. Headless pour of a gorgeous mahogany brown ale. Aroma is a little restrained, but very sweet and raisiny. The flavor is a very well balanced toasted malt with vanilla, raisin, plum, cherry flavors that warm in the mouth before a dry and slightly hoppy bitter finish ends. Mouthfeel is thick, but just shy of syrupy. Very good.

2005 bottle No. P 04743. Wow this was a great experience. I cannot believe I have never had this one before. Aroma was totally mindboggling and unexpected. A whole bunch of dark frutis, rich maltiness, caramel, brown sugar, and maybe even a like smokiness. Flavor was insanely smooth for being so strong. Complex and the alcohol was actually masked pretty well for only being 2 years old. This was really sweet and should be enjoyed over the period of a couple hours. I wish i could have spent more time on this one.

bottle-2005 No. P 19948 edition. absolutely no head into cloudy reddish-black body. huge aromas of dark fruit (particularly figs and berries), strong molasses, light spicyness, and cough syrup are all present. flavor is overwhelmingly sweet with moderate bitterness. alcohol is very present-warm. almost flat carbonation. sticky mouthfeel. long finish duration.

2003 bottle. Pours a dark smooth brown colour with reddish tones and minimal head which diminishes quickly. Very smoky aroma with rich mollasses, brown sugar, and some blackcurrant and syrupy fruit smells. Taste is an immensly warm port with rich ruby fruits and sweet caramel maltspaired with rum based rasins and sweet peppery hops. Definetley one for sipping slowly as it is not for the faint hearted.

Bu au Post-Mondial 07. Ambrée brumeuse, petit collet. Arome de malte fromagé fruité, un peu de caramel. Goût de malte caramelisé très fortifier, un peu fruité. Ça fini bien le Post-Mondial!