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

Formerly brewed at O’Hanlon’s
Style: Barley Wine
Exeter, England

Serve in Snifter

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Pours hazy redbrown with absolutely no head. A thick elixir with no carbonation like a fine cognac. Aroma is fine and complex with hints of sweet dried fruit, bitter orange and butterscotch. Mysterious rich, full flavor of thick syrup, caramel, raisin and dried apricot. What a mouthfeel, thick, oily, smooth, soft and sticky, no carbonation

Bottle from Waitrose in Newcastle. 2008 Vintage: Dark brown with ruby red highlights. Very rich red fruity and caramel flavours with christmas cake notes and a warming marzipan and cherry finish.

Bottle @Patricks. Pours amber with a tiny off-white head. Aroma of malt, caramel, cheese, mint and alcohol. Flavor is sweet and malty with some mint,warming alcohol and caramel. Full body, soft carbonation.

Tänk att några års lagring kan förvandla en redan fantastisk öl till en magisk och magnifik smakupplevelse.

30/06/2011 Birra+ (Vintage 2005). Degustazione da Birra+. Ambrata scura, con riflessi color rame e rubino, schiuma praticamente assente. Aroma intensissimo di malto, dolciastro, frutta matura e uva, con note legnose pungenti e vivissime. In bocca è spigoloso e ruvido, dolciastro, con note legnose, resinose, astringenti, finale bruciato, molto complesso. Corpo pieno, carbonazione soft, praticamente piatta. Barley Wine straordinario, tra i migliori mai assaggiati, invecchiato benissimo.

2007 bottle #56707. Pours a dark amber colour with no head. Aroma of liquorice, alcohol, candy sugar, treacle and raisins. Similar flavours with mild carbonation, light bitterness and well balanced alcohol.

Pour reddish, deep ruby, with no head at all. Lots of stuff in my glass though. Aroma of corn, malts, caramel. Taste is quite sweet, with a weird bitterness to it. Slight watery body, with no carb at all.

25cl bottle courtesy of and shared with gnoff. Bottle # 4548, vintage 2005. Brune foncée voire acajou, léger crémeux disparaissant vite, qcq bulles à la surface. Arôme de malt caramel, toffee et fermenté de fruits noirs, presque une pointe de soja. En bouche, alcool réchauffant, caramel et toffee, malté, alcool bien là, note grillée, fruits noirs collant aux lèvres, confit prune, date, cassis et au fini un léger aspect vin chaud, le tout sur une note soja et vineux, fruits caramélisés.

Dato che dovevo festeggiare al meglio il 6° compleanno della mia figliola, mi sono aperto questa chicca del 2007, che avevo in cantina da circa tre anni. Gran bere, senza se e senza ma...

Pours somewhat clear amber in color with a small tan head. The aroma of light sweet boozy malts smooth in the nose, almost a bit of cognac influenced from the reading. It is the same on flavor, smooth, not too sweet resiny malts really palatable for such a high ABV. The body is not too thick and just the right lighter carbonation.

Shared a 8.5 FL OZ bottle of this w/ friends @ 4 Hands Brewing Co. Poured from the Yellow Labeled bottle w/ a red string around the top of the foiled bottle into a 12oz 4 Hands Snifter Glass. Has 2004 No.P 67048 on the front of the label. Aroma- Tons of booze and alcohol are in the aroma from the start. Dark fruits then pop out strongly. Not a normal old ale aroma but enjoyed since it has been aged. Appearance- Pours no head even with an aggressive pour. Has the darkest/deepest amber color you can find while still having minimal clarity. Leaves no lacing behind. Flavor- Unbelievable! Huge caramel and toffee (almost like cracker jack character) and also a burnt sugar mixture. Honey pops out thén at the finish like never before! Sweet finish and may be one of my top 5 most flavorful beers now! Mouthfeel- Light- Medium Bodied, Light Carbonation, Smoothest/Sweetest Old Ale I’ve ever enjoyed, and tons of burnt sugar, honey left on the tongue. Overall Impression- Hold onto your hat when enjoying this one! Your in for a ride. The sweet qualities that came out throughout the entire drink were outstanding. I’m now wondering if these came out and developed because of the age? I have either an 06 or 07 vintage of this from my cousin and am excited to compare!