O’Hanlon’s Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

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

Serve in Snifter

Vintage 2007. What a delicious aroma, portwine, hint of vanilla, caramel, sweet. Taste is likewise, like a good portwine. Some alcohol there as well, but not disturbing. Aftertaste is a little bitter. I can only say that I love this! Really great barley wine. How come this beer is retired!?

Rating #681, flaske fra Toft Vin

Jeg havde glædet mig til at sætte smagsløgene på overarbejde med denne øl (årgang 2008), og det viste sig at være med rette. Det er en uklar gulbrun øl, ude af stand til at forme skum, men til gengæld naturlig og ufiltreret hvilket kommer til udtryk ved gærrester i glasset. Duften er dejlig og kompleks med hyldebær, gær, solbær, abrikos, hvidpeber, honning, citrus og lidt alkohol. Smagen er ligeledes vidunderlig og kompleks med ferskner, abrikos, solbær, jordbær, anis, honning og kun lidt og meget velbalanceret alkohol fulgt af en mild bitterhed. Virkelig god! Den er tyk, cremet og blød i munden. En virkelig god smagsoplevelse.

Bottle. Extremely good aroma of flowers, different dark berries and maybe slightly, honey. Beautiful dark brown-red and grumsy colour but with no real head. Taste is great, though: Moves from the mentioned sweetness into futher spices, but without confucing too many at the same time. The balance between the sweetness and the alcoholpercentage at 11,7% is, after my opinion, perfect. - So would the overall beer be with a persistent small head and a quite thicker substance.

Bottle. Pours in a dark almost black colour with no head. Aromas are very complex, with malts, slight alcohol notes and some coffee and chocolate. The Taste is absolutely amazing. The complexity and alcohol levels combine and makes perfect balance. Coffee, Licorice and dark sugars. All in all an incredible experience.

Dark ruby brown, murky beer. No head. The aroma is very intense and complex. Port wine -like ripe fruits, dates raisins, winegums some oaky sherry notes and a touch of alcohol. The flavor stars berryish turning into intense maltiness and sweet fruitiness. Some darker malt notes in the finish, even a hint of licorice. Sweet caramel and toffy notes. Thick and syrupy texture, full bodied. Incredibly complex beer.

Bottled. Vintage 2003 sampled in 2012 side by side with a vintage 1998. A murky brown beer with no head - the 1998 is a clear dark amber. The aroma is sweet with notes of caramel, malt, and alcohol. The flavor is sweet with notes of caramel, wood, nuts, and malt, leading to a dry alcoholic finish. The alcohol burns slightly on the tongue. I like the older version better.

2003 250ml 11.7%abv s/ no o01076 Finally had to try it pours a dark dark brown , no head , almost zero carbonation . nose is sweet sherry / port / demarara / caramel , . taste - so rich - heavy fruit cake/burnt sugar / muscovado then a small hint of - not sure - almost like maple cured bacon going into a more bitter finish . oily texture . Pleasant alcohol warmth .More like a fine old vintage port wine - very distinctive flavour , some will hate it . Gonna try the ’86 next

Bottle @ home, 2007 edition, No. Q 46192. Hazy ruby red color, small off-white head. Smell sweetness, fruits, alcohol. Taste ripe fruits, sweet, some alcohol though not dominantly, some wood. Pretty nice combination actually. Soft carbonation, medium to full body.