OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

bottle from Knightly in Orlando - did not get year of vintage - sweet carmel, fruity, sherry like - delicious

2003 Bottle #01051. Poured a deep amber red body with a nice thin head. Aroma is of dried fruit and a brandy like scent. Flavor is sweet with dried fruit, currants, plums and a very noticable alcohol taste, as this was very young yet. Very calming beer, this one exceeded my expectations. Can’t wait to try some of the ones I’ve been cellaring.

Bottled vintage 2006, #28954
Dark nutty brown, ruby color, no head. Cookies, barley and rye bread in the nose. Bready, portwineous, hints of rye and licorice. Some hops, dark fruits, wood and alcohol in the aftertaste. Bitterish and salty. Nice dessert beer, but not so complex as expected, propably needs a couple of years in the cellar.

I’m clearly not entirely enthused with thomas hardy. well that came out wrong. the author is great and the quote on the bottle is amusing. the barley wine, however, tastes like a weird mixture of red wine and port. its unique and very nice on the palate. it lacks in flavor though.

2006, #28474. Dark red colored, no head. Strong aroma with plums, raisins, vineous chocolate, obvious alcohol and dominating sweetness. Near full bodied, soft palate. Flavor has even warmer alcohol with plums, oak, caramel, aftertaste turns out to mildly drying with nice lasting alcohol and wooden tones. Excellent brew.

2005: bottle #:38327. A delightful beer drinking experience. Yes, it has a strong yeasty smell, and some oxidation, and very little head. All signs that they need a better way to seal the bottle for multiyear storage. But, it was great, great to relax and enjoy a sweet harmonious mellow aged hops beer. i find myself smelling it over and over again. A slight alcohol nose, barely present when drinking it. I feel like I’m sitting in a seventeenth century tavern discussing jousting or something.

2007 rating on a 2006 bottle (fresh) Malty aroma, little head, had worked myself up to thinking this would be the ultimate beer! Wasnt too wrong though, what a taste! Well worth the five euros! Fruity burst on the palate, worth the money, will buy many more! RERATE 2009, with a 2006 bottle that GregClow gifted to me. Appearance: Deep rusty, cloudy brown with a small but consistent white head. Aroma: Beautiful raisin, hop, whiskey, cream, spice and incense, delicious. Flavour: Bitter copper, caramel, raisins and dark fruit, an incredible burnt peat flavour coming through with malt, burnt sugar, vanilla and alcohol. The lingering finish has whiskey and raisins, such a complex and ever changing brew. Original rating 3.4, rating on same bottle but 3 years later 4.

2006 (a bit early but sue me.) Reminds me a little of soya and the oxidated, vinous aspects of good sherry, then the scotch-like malts emerge with toffee. Creamy rich texture, it is actually thick and almost still like a dessert wine, with layers of exotic dried fruit. Also some nuances of tobacco and cognac, very expressive and demanding - an acquired taste. An ’exciting’ beer that requires a calm approach I figure.