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.
5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 20/20
what can I say! This beer is sooooo beyond beautiful that you just have to try it if you can find a bottle!!! It’s not being made anymore. I never knew a barleywine style ale could taste this great
5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 20/20
I have to give this one a perfect rating, what a beautiful beer. Only gets better with age. I’ve had the ’96 & ’97 and can attest to it getting better with age. Truly a beer for barleywine lovers, I’ve had several and this, by far is the best!
4.8 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Defines the English barleywine. Sophisticated and elegant. Smooth and creamy and rich. The flavors are in perfect harmony. A world-classic.
5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 20/20
This beer is heaven!
1.5 AROMA 2/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 3/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 5/20
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
1999
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: OCT 12, 2009 1999 vintage, 1 year old. Dark brown, almost no foam, fruity wine nose, short head quickly disappearing, strong malt sweetness, long bitterness. 1998 vintage3.5 1997 vintage3.0 1996 vintage2.8 1995 vintage2.5<P> 1994 vintagesampled in january 2007 pours a dark unappetizing brown cloudy colour with absolutely no foam; aroma of cocoa and plums, vinous and Portwine-like; almost no carbonation, solid malt body, oily, syrupy palate, some sweetness before a late and robust bitterness; long fruity and malty finish with notes of chocolate and warming alcohol 2/8/6/3/14 sampled in december 2002. Brown colour, absolutely no foam, aroma of port-wine and unfermented malt, strange, vegetables. The aromas just do not fit together. Very sweet, oily with a long, very bitter and alcohol finish. I thought it was supposed to improve while aging ?!? (4/3/6/3/7) 1993 vintage3.3 1991 vintage
sampled 10/2006, 15 years old, courtesy of Laurent Mousson - hazy brown colour and absolutely no foam; very complex nose of cocoa, herbs, menthol and biscuits; very thick and sticky, some sweetness with a powerful bitterness; strong alcohol kick in the finish along with more cocoa notes and a never ending bitterness - deeply impressive ! (9/4/8/4/17)
1989 vintage
courtesy of Laurent Mousson - nut and caramel, mint, fiarly madereized and full-bodied, solidly bitter, long malty finish
1987 vintage
courtesy of Laurent Mousson - aroma of bretts and cork, acidic and sticky, some meat, almost no carbonation; fruity malty finish with lingering acidic notes - a beautiful beer
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