OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

2006 bottle. Courtesy redlight. Pours a caramel brown with no head and very little carbonation. Smells of typical Hardy’s molasses and caramel. Tastes much of the same, but is more crisp than their older vintages, which was expected. Still got that creamy caramel and a sweet fruitiness. Raisin flavors seem to give it that character. No matter what vintage, I always seem to enjoy this beer.

Bottle 250 ml ( 2006 ) No P34533 13.3%
Stoic copper hazy ale with just smallest ring on top. Very little to no carbonation noted.
Very rich potent aroma. Sweet caramel , brown malts . Sugar dipped plums ,raisin , toffee , ripe berry. Smooth warm alcohol well blended in this wealth of fragrance.8-
Full, immensely potent yet so smooth and clean. This ale is only 2006 I wonder how much smoother will get in years to go. Slightly tart front, rich ripe fall fruits followed. Finish cared of warming gentle giant (alcohol). Flavour is even cleaner than superb it self aroma. One of best, cleanest sipper ales around to try.

2005 Vintage P52311(Int’l Beer shop Leederville) Dark murky colour and absent carbonation were a bit discouraging, but thick syrypy barleywine notes quite delightful. Don’t think I woudl bother refrigerating thisone next time.

2007 Bottle. I am surprised by this, I figured I wouldn’t even rate this bottle as it would be too young, but the flavors were amazing. Sure it is very hot, but wow. Pours murky brown with a thin light brown head. Aromas of dark fruits, lots of sugar, vinegar and booze. Taste is more of the same, but not near as harsh as I would’ve thought, lots of fruit and honey in the taste. Heavy beer, this is a good sipping beer. I’ll save the other 3 and maybe have one each year.

One of, if not the, the best beer(s) I’ve ever had. Aroma of honey, subtle fruits, red berries and even toffee. Dark wine/cognac colour with a head that comes out on the glass when tilted. The tastes are plenty and include at least pineapple, honey, ginger and licurice. The palate is thick like honey, warm and smooth. Fantastic stuff, unfortunately it costs $20e/litre.. otherwise I would drink one every week.

2005 Vintage, bottle P28836, enjoyed in May 2007. Pour is a medium brown with reddish hues; pale tan head. Rich malty aroma with forest notes of hazelnut and fig. Huge booming English barleywine with an intense sweetness that blossoms in the middle of the taste, but fades to a more balanced aftertaste. Maple, caramel, and vanilla flavors emerge as it breathes. Well disguised alcohol. The sweetness is the only component which seems a little out of balance, but for me the sweetness is part of what I love about barleywines. Great beer. It will be interesting to see how this one ages.

This is my third Thomas Hardy 2004 and they have all been slightly different. They have ranged from 03501 to this 11090. Maroon hue with yellowish tan rapidly diminishing head, virtually no lacing, smells like plums and port wine, sweet is a theme through this barley wine, sweet and syrupy, hints of vanilla and caramel, a light bitter acidic finish. Very good, very similar to a port or dessert wine. One of the best Barley Wines I have had up to this point as a beer connoisseur.

2005 bottle. Tasted a bit young. Sweet and syrupy, but at the same time very enjoyable. I could pass on desert for drinking one of these. Lots of things to like about drinking this.