O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale (2003 - 2008)

O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale (2003 - 2008)

Scarce, subtle and complex, Thomas Hardy’s Ale is the beer enthusiast’s equivalent of rare cognac. Bottle-conditioned to mature in the bottle like fine wine, this old ale/barley wine will improve with age for at least 26 years (and we’re still counting!). Not for the faint of palate, especially when young and brash, maturity brings an elegance of flavors unmatched by any other beer—if you have the patience to cellar it for at least a decade.
4
1223 reviews
Newton St Cyres, England

Community reviews

4.1 Creamy pour, nice aroma, still held up well. Not overly boozy. Still carbonated.
3.8 0,25 litre Bottle at home, shared with Bergstaden. Thx. Cloudy brown with little head. Malts, hops, raisins,
4.1 Bottle 2007.no.03587. Dark amber color With small creamy off-white mostly diminishing head. Malty aroma. Sweet spicy flavor. Creamy palate.
4.1 250ml bottle served in Italian chalice glass. Bottle numbered 05914 - Vintage 2008. Pours a slightly cloudy amber to brown color forming a tiny beige head that forms only very few spotty lacings in the glass. Nose is sweet and woody. Strong notes of caramel, licorice and oak. Hints of rotten fruits. Bit booze end. Sweet upfront taste. String notes of caramel, licorice, wheat and oak. Good and persistent grassy hops bitterness. Good bittersweet balanced. Creamy full body. Very low carbonation. Smooth. Caramel, oak and whiskey in the aftertaste. Good drinkability. Not my style but this one is a masterpiece.
4.1 2005 vintage, so sweet and intense, dates, figs, caramel, molasses, deep reddish with a thin ocher head, full body, quite oily, again many sirupy dark fruits, a good sweetness and warmth in the final...sooo good.
4.0 250ml bottle. 2007 Vintage. Pours a clear garnet colour with ZERO head, and what appears to be no carbonation. On the nose lots of dried fruit, raisin, dates, burnt sugar, light notes port wine with caramel, a tiny bit of marzipan, and overall, a smell that REALLY reminds me of the corn syrup wax ended "rocket" suckers that I used to buy as a kid. (It's VERY similar.) Taste wise, raisin, prune, sponge toffee, a faint underlying plum taste, still some very apparent alcohol, and a tiny hit of dark rye bread that opens up into bigger flavours with some spice, and heavier malt notes with toffee, and treacle in the light metallic finish. It's like a strange hybrid of barley wine and Portuguese Moscatel. Tasty.
2.8 Aug 2018 - Very well presented 250ml bottle at home in Richmond as 'Thomas Hardy's Ale', 11.7%, 2008 vintage (40 year special ed) brewed at O'Hanlon's. Bottle #T15896. Dark brown, murky, lightly sparkling with a foamy light brown head. Aroma is crazy. Intense aged chestnut honey, raisin and prunes, fig jam and manuka honey. Rich honey. Body is smooth with soft carbonation, oily. Taste is, again, very honey sweet, jammy, intense sweetness prevails over any oxidation that might be there. Just like drinking runny chestnut honey. Not that enjoyable an experience really - the sweetness is very wearing. I would have enjoyed 50ml but a bottle wasn't possible. (6-3-5-4-10=2.8)
3.7 From notes. Enjoyed at the 5th Annual Barleywine Tasting at Travis and Nicole’s house on February 03. 3x 250 mL bottles that were poured into a decanter and artfully decanted by Steebo. 2008 vintage. The pour on this is a darker ruby brown with a thin ring of white head and no lace as it falls down. The aroma is full of caramel and a sweet malt. There is a bit of a darker fruit cake thing happening, but I definitely don’t mind. The malts and a little bit of booze come in next and the finish is a little dry. The flavor is much of the same. The caramel and sweet scorched malts carry it through heavily. There is a nice dark fruitiness about the back end and a light and growing alcohol as it warms. The mouth feel is a little lighter bodied and softly carbonated with a lingering sweet caramel with a kiss of oxidation on the back end. This one is pretty damn solid for being 10 years old! 7 4 7 4 15
4.4 Malgrat la oxidació evident, continua sent una cervesa espectacular amb un pas de boca increïble. Gran quantitat d'aromes i sabors a caramels torrats, prunes, panses i fruita seca.
3.5 Bottle @ Home vintage 2006 (14594) pours clear brown without any head... The aroma is plums, alcohol, Dark fruits.... flavor is plums, raisins and alcohol... a bit over date imo.
4.1 Verticale di bottiglie 2006, 2007 e 2008 @ IBF Pub Edition, Milano 2017 courtesy of Ottavonano Pub. Thomas Hardy 2006 (A. 8, A. 5, T. 8, P. 5, O. 4.1). Il gusto al naso va su alcolico, marsala, zuccherino, polvere di cacao e cherry. L'intensità olfattiva è molto elevata e la continuità olfattiva è considerevole. Il liquido è di consistenza limpida. Il colore è ramato, un ambrato carico tendente rossiccio. Il corpo è ricco e strutturato pesante. L'amaro è contenuto. L'intensità gustativa è elevata. La costanza gustativa è buona. Il gusto è piacevole. Le sensazioni boccali finali sono luppolate. Il finale è complesso. L'aroma in bocca riporta sentori di caramello, luppolo, resina, alcol presente non invadente, vaniglia, vino Porto, legno, vino rosso, frutta passita, cuoio, tabacco bagnato, marmellata di arancia amara, miele di castagno e pepe. Plus variazione Thomas Hardy 2007 (A. 8, A. 5, T. 8, P. 4, O. 4.2). Il corpo è più che consistente. Il gusto è piacevolissimo. L'aroma in bocca riporta sentori di vino Porto, caramello, albicocca, tabacco fresco e gorgonzola! Plus variazione Thomas Hardy 2008 (A. 8, A. 5, T. 8, P. 4, O. 4.0). Il gusto al naso del 2008 è meglio e più piacevole del 2007 e si indirizza sul fruttato, sullo speziato e sull'alcolico. L'intensità olfattiva è molto elevata e ricca. La continuità olfattiva è considerevole e pregevole. Il cappello di schiuma presenta qualche bollicina. Il colore è ambrato rossiccio carico tendente marrone. Il corpo è consistente e robusto. L'intensità gustativa è molto elevata. La costanza gustativa è lunga. Il gusto è godereccio. Il retrogusto è intenso. Sul palato arrivano impressioni di caramello, liquirizia, frutta secca, luppolo, resina, abete rosso, torbato, tannico, vaniglia, vino Porto, vino rosso, cherry, frutta passita, albicocca, arancia amara e miele di castagno.
3.8 Bottle samples at a tasting at the Dancing Camel. 2006 Vintage, thanks Vova. Dark brown. Oxidized and vineous aroma, PX sherry. Sweet, deep taste. Some wood, velvety vanilla, cake. Full body,, flat, a little oily, a little woodsy. (8/3/8/4/16=3.9) 2007 Vintage, thanks Stas. Clear-to-hazy brown, no head. Slightly more alcoholic, nutty and vanilla notes in the nose. Alcoholic, oxidized, sweet prune-caramel notes. Full body, no carbonation, long, English cake finish. (8/3/8/4/15=3.8) 2005 Vintage, thanks David. Clear brown. Some gherkin, vinegar and some wood in the nose, sweet, sherry, caramel, candy and brown sugar in the mouth, followed by chocolate. Full body, sweet and deep finish, grade B maple syrup notes. (8/4/7/4/15=3.8)
3.8 Bottle care of Tom Cadden from his private collection. Serial Number is I 41860 and dated 2006. Cloudy is hazy murky dark chestnut brown, absolutely no head. Nose is orange peel, Marmite yeast extract, oxidisation, little basement, marmalade, caramel, earthy, minerals. slight worn leather bag. Taste is Grand Marnier, oxidisation, prune, raisin, fig, earthy, Marmite yeast extract, sweet, sticky, orange peel, slight bitterness.
4.4 250ml bottle or 2004 Release pours a brown color without any head. Mild maltiness. Tones of treacle like sugars. Smooth.
3.6 Bottle. Vintage 2008. Pours an amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty caramel and dark fruit aroma. Fruity malty caramel and dark fruit flavor. Has a fruity malty caramel and dark fruit finish.
4.0 250 ml bottle, 2007 vintage no. 58946, from a trade with zvsn, many thanks! Dark brown body, with a tiny, beige head. Very smooth, complex aroma of toffee, nuts, dried fruits, cocoa, some honey, some molasses. Tastes similar, with some more chocolate and some alcohol. Medium, creamy, velvety mouthfeel, with almost no carbonation. Finishes smooth, medium sweet, subtle roasty, a bit warm, a bit wooden, with cocoa, creamy chocolate, some fruits. Tasty. Very smooth throughout, especially the nose is very lovely and complex. The sweetness is just well dosed, the only little flaw for me is some alcohol in the taste. Overall a lovely, classic example of a Barley Wine, I wouldn’t guess this a 10 year old beer at all, if I didn’t know it. Ar/Ap/T/P/Ov: 8/4/7/4/17
4.1 0,25l bottle at home shared by Saeglopur, big thanks for this one. Vintage 2007. dark brown color, small tan head. smells of ripe fruits, nutty, light liqueurish, some marzipan, very light oxidation, some coconut. very nice smell. full body, no carbonation, slick mouthfeel. tastes of molasses, ripe fruits, bit peppery, earthy, sherry, light sweetness, coconut, dried fruits. finishes light to medium sweet with notes of molasses, sherry and some coconut. loved the taste, very good to drink, very smooth. a bit heavy but not too much. good at higher cellar temperature. (also not too warm)
4.5 Bottle at Akkurat, vintage 2005. Deep mahogany color, no head. Aromas of syrup, raisins, dried figs, cognac, prunes, cacao and spices. Sweet taste of cacao, prunes, raisins, dark syrup, vinous flavors, cognac, sherry, dried figs, candy sugar and caramel. Purely amazing.
4.2 2006 vintage. Backlog, ocena przepisana z untappd, w ramach uzupełniania profilu na ratebeer. Intensywny aromat wanilii i mlecznych karmelków. Mało ciała, pełno wanilii i cukrowej przypalanki, sporo przynoszącego skojarzenia z bourbonem alkoholu. Znakomite.
4.2 Nice brew. There was a hint of oak simmering on the pallate. Nice lingering difference about 5 seconds after swallow, the oak is more prevelant. Initially, the sensation is nutty esters but reveals as woody variety. Normal ale notes, except for the deeper rice aged qualities of a Belgian malty concoction.
3.9 2007 bottle @Curing Lillquist’s man-flu. Nearly clear dark amber, tiny offwhite head. Malty aroma, boozy with dried fruit and caramel. Sweet malty, bitter alcoholic flavour, mildly oxidized. Caramel and sweet dried fruit, figs mostly.
3.7 Bottle. Pours slughtly hazy dark ruby with very small white head. Clear aroma of malt and wine yeast, with notes of fruit and touches of hops. Sweetish flavour of malt and fruit, with notes of wine yeast. Dusty touches. Bitterish and dusty aftertaste with notes of malt. Very nice.
3.9 2007 bottle. Pours a clear reddish brown colour with no head. None. The aroma is great, with lots of malty, bready notes along with a fruity raisin and fino sherry notes. The taste has big caramel and something along the lines of drying oak. Raisin notes again with something a little more spicy, maybe rye.. the carbonation is flat. Mouthfeel is light to medium and slightly oily. A little tingle would have suited the beer well. Held up well none the less - especially the nose was great.
3.9 Bottle from FatPhil (2006 vintage). Light brown color, minimal head. Bittersweet taste with nuts, raisins, resin, wood, sherry, a bit of smoke and malts. Bittersweet finish with nuts, raisins, wood, sherry, a bit of vanilla, chocolate and a bit of smoke. Excellent barley wine.
2.5 8.5 oz. 2007 bottle. Amber body. No head. Smells oxidized. Cardboard. Sherry. A little fruity. Smells sweet and caramelly. Tastes sweet. Caramel malt. Heavily oxidized. Cardboard. Bitter. Just a bit of acidity. Medium body. No carbonation. Yikes, this is rough.
3.9 It pours deep reddish bronze with a small tan head. The aroma has dough, brown sugar, molasses, caramel, toffee, dates, alcohol and a good deal of oxidation. It has a full slick body with not much carbonation, but it is 8 years old and all. The taste has the aroma with lots of dates, figs, more alcohol and some woodiness. Pretty tasty.
4.2 Bottle no 07408. 2007 vintage. Pours dark brown. Aroma of dried fruits. Taste of dried fruits, liquorice and brown sugar. Smooth.
4.0 250ml bottle, 2008 vintage @ Alex’s. Pours dark brown with hints of red colour. Nose is molasses. Taste is moderately sweet, molasses, tobacco, oxidized alcohol. Thank you Alex for sharing this.
4.0 Tasting at Alex’s. 250ml bottle. Vintage 2008. Aroma is fruity, some sweet grapes, chocolate amd nuts notes. Taste is sweet, dark fruits (plums), some nuts, chocolate, bready and slight booziness with some flower notes.
3.8 (2007 - degustação às cegas em pouca quantidade) Coloração vinho de média turbidez, sem formação de espuma, já esperado pelos seus 9 anos ... Malte começa forte e da lugar ao dulçor intenso, vinho velho, amadeirado, vinho do porto. Longa persistência, maior sensação do amadeirado com o tempo de copo. Um ótimo exemplo do estilo. (2007 garrafa inteira). Repeat das últimas notas en relação ao visual, chega a decepcionar mas era o esperado. Talvez pelo volume maior liberou mais uva passas, menos impressão de madeira velha, álcool bem presente. Paladar de dulçor intenso, lúpulo dá um leve tom de amargor. Corpo médio as vezes licoroso, carbonatação negativa. Final de looooonga persistência tendendo ao vinho do porto, amadeirado, um pouco de água misturada com álcool, muita complexidade. Tenho a impressão que 2 ou 3 anos atrás seria ideal.