2.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 10/20
1995 version is suitably barley-wine-like with its raisin-molasses notes, but entirely too weak. I wouldn’t age it-- more mellowness is really not what it needs.
3 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 7/20
I am sure this is one of the finer Barley Wines, but I hated it.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Fine beer. Nose is very vinous, with a good dose of smelly sneakers. Taste is quite different--really sweet, with a heavy caramel flavor and some woody notes. Fortunately that sweetness is adequately offset by a good dose of hops. Too bad it’s so pricey (and how did they come up with an 11.15oz bottle?)
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Tried a bottle of the 1996 version the other night. Simply awesome. Very cloudy red body, no head. Flavors were just awesome. A treat to drink.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
A beautiful beer, strong head with a cloudy reddish body. Strong initial malt, little hopping and incredibly sweet wine-like aftertaste that begins to hurt the palate as the beer warms...tasted like it was aged. This is a complex beer, but towards the end became a bit too strong.
2.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 8/20
This beer just didn’t appeal to me.
3.1 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
4.7 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Wow! Tried a bottle last night from 1989 - I was blown away! By far the best barleywine I’ve ever had.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: FEB 9, 2009 1991 Vintage, aged 18 years
Golden-amber colour. No head. Oxidized malt, light shiitake, hints of herbal hops and cheddar on the aroma...but it makes sense. Rich malty palate, deep fruitiness (plum, pear) and depths of brown sugars. Long finish with pear fruitiness and sticky brown sugar goodness. This vintage, I think, it peaking about now. 4-8-9-5-18 = 4.4
1975 Vintage, aged 18 1/2 years
The oldest beer I’ve ever had. Spicy, brandyish, smokey, chocolatey, alcoholic aroma. Thick body. Smokey, richly fruity, slightly candyish, toffeeis, slightly tart...still rich in the finish, but it’s showing me some things I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing in a Hardy’s before. 8-2-8-4-17 =3.9
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
A must drink for anyone who loves barleywine.
Very smooth, and lasting maltiness.
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