Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardys Ale (all vintages to 1999)

Formerly brewed at Eldridge Pope
Style: Barley Wine
Dorchester,, England

Serve in Snifter

Bottle, from 1993 170ml, has held up really well, no signs of oxidation, pours a nice reddish with no head, aroma of a sweet barely wine and a really nice smooth finish and a is really well aged

20/11 0.33 l bottle courtesy of Marko via fiulijn, great thanks! It poured copper body with smaller head. Quite sweet aroma, caramel, oak, lots of orange. Exceptionally rounded flavor with little bit of everything - fruitiness, bitterness, bread, caramel, dried fruity etc. Not too heavy on palate, yet full, with longer finish that reflects only the best from flavor. Also not too cloying as it might be expected. A very pleasant and surely a valuable experience!

Thanks to Kramer for sharing this one with us. Bottle is from 1992. A - Pours caramel orange with a thin film of white head leaving little to no lace down the glass. It appears to be mostly dead at this point. S - Smells of rum raisin ice cream, brown sugar, toffee, caramel, dark fruits, and some port wine. Some oxidation and some light soy sauce creeps in as it warms up. Absolutely intoxicating stuff. T - Flavors are very similar to the nose. Starts off with a quick brown sugar rush quickly giving way to a mix of toffee, caramel, dark fruits, and some port wine. Some mild oxidation and booze creeps in as it warms to room temperature. M - Medium-Heavy body and flavor with moderately low carbonation. Full, slightly syrupy feel that clings to the pallet long after consumption. O - I will never turn one of these down but they can be a chore to drink sometimes. The rich flavors are great but I can see why some people might not like this one. Still one of my favorites none the less.

First tried this legend of an ale in the Bon Accord, Glasgow way back in December 1985. Bottle only (had two but cannot remember the batch numbers!) Fantastic dark russet colour with tawny edges and a thin buff white foam head which slowly dispappeared. Strong vinous aroma of creamy sherry and oak wood. Thin resiny mouthfeel and good lacing. Complex malts gives a strong maltloaf base laced with syrupy dates, raisins and sultanas with soft caramel notes coming through. There is a vague suggestion of hops in the aftertaste but this soon fades fast as malt returns with a booming vengence. The finish is robust with alcoholic sherry vapours to the fore, vanilla oak, molasses, vanilla fudge and sweet clemantines. A crackling barley wine and highly recommended.

1975. This beer is my elder by a decade. Very fruity nose, with some malt, but mostly figs, cherries and dates, like a port. Cloudy amber brown. Tastes faint chocolate and caramel, with big malty fruits. Very rich and full bodied. Amazing beer, like nothing I’ve ever had.

Pour out of 1999 bottle is dark brownish red with thin tan head. Aroma brings huge notes of dark fruits, lemon, wine and grape, some chocolatey port notes. Taste is nice white grape, hints of honey, dark fruit, touch of oak, and some deep caramel notes. Really nice and layered brew.

Bottle of the 1998. Deep aged looking, flat brown colour with no head. Characteristics of alcoholic, vanilla, raisins, fruit cake, very long finish. A unique beer, really very tasty and complex, not sure I’d want it every day though.

Bottled 330ml. -Courtesy of Marko, shared with him & heavy (thanks!) Vintage 1999. Red/amber coloured, no head at all, strong dried fruits in the nose with touch of wax. Sweet malty, dried fruits and alcohol with notes of caramel. Surprisingly not so sweet finish. Very nice indeed.