Thomas Hardy's Ale (2003-2008) - O'Hanlon's Brewing Co. Ltd.

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2008 vintage, consumed January '13.

Poured a deep and/or hazy, dark maroon-brown color; a few stray bubbles on top, but otherwise no notable head, lacing, or carbonation. Sweet aroma, caramel, fruit cake, notes of brandy-like booze. More of the same in the taste, bready, caramel malts, candied fruit, a little bit of soy sauce, boozy and fairly dry, almost like a maple syrup beer, yet all in good balance. Slick, medium body, still a bit hot after 4-5 years, but enjoyable overall. Glad I got to sample this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 23:04:45 | More by Rifugium

Greywulfken

New York

4.56/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: center-pour into a stout flute, just a slim lid of pale foam over a deep amber beer with specks of sediment in suspension - some points were for the packaging, which cannot be overlooked: gold foil, a hanging medallion, simple but regal label...

S: maybe some dark hard fruit, peat and smoke, floral accents

T: a fine ale, brandy, banana, spice and pepper, bitter hops somehow keep it from being too sweet

M: relatively full in body, but maintains a dangerous drinkability - on tap in a pub, this could be dangerous - no sign of the high abv, very smooth and mellow

O: this is what an aged old ale should taste like - seriouss, semi-dry, semi-sweet, lots of flavors popping up, very elegant

2008 bottling, so I had the added benefit of buying a pre-aged bottle - can't beat that, eh?

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 01:53:35 | More by Greywulfken

NorCalYeti

California

4.16/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2004 vintage, bottle #82808

taste- maple syrup, caramel, cinnamon stick, brininess, applewood smokiness, madeira flavors in the finish

color- oily deep copper color with a ruby center and golden ring around the edges

clarity- pours clear with medium darkness

smell- apple, caramel, leather, barnyard

body- syrupy, most of the weight is in the center of the palate, short, restrained finish

appearance- oily-looking...no carbonation after the initial pour that yielded a white foamy ring

overall impression- really glad to see this beer is very drinkable after this many years. i've had older vintages that aren't as enjoyable but still good for what they are. i'm liking this amount of age. i have more in the cellar for further experimentation...yay for me

notes and comments- a hint of carbonation when first opened, flavors and body remind me of a barleywine, beer stayed together with a faint trace of sediment suspended in the glass...otherwise a thin paste on the bottom of the bottle. alcohol is still present and very well masked

beer spy- bottle barn several years ago, santa rosa ca, 2004, 8.5oz (25cl)

glassware: tulip

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:08:52 | More by NorCalYeti

Jayman931

Mississippi

4.56/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2008 8.5oz 11.7% served in a snifter.

Dark amber colour and a light head that lingers a bit....will reoccur with a swirl.

Smell is great....heavy caramel malts with a hint of grain....great!

Super well balanced...great make feel. When it warms a bit out has a warm after taste...but served slightly cold...marvelous.

Great beer....cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 05:58:54 | More by Jayman931

wesbray

Alberta (Canada)

4.89/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Seems like a great beer for my first BA review.

2008 vintage, bottle #T47891.
A - Dark, burgundy, caramel brown with minimal head that leaves a light ring of lacing.
S - Surprised by sweet caramel, lots of alcohol. Dark sugary fruit.
T - Unbelievable. Immediately you are hit with the very sweet (but importantly, not too sweet) caramel flavours. The aftertaste is dark fruit and brown sugar with the alcohol and caramel still lingering.
M - Zero carbonation (possibly because of its age) gives it a silky smooth and thin mouthfeel.

Overall - smooth and complex, no wonder this ale is the stuff of legend. I was unfortunate enough to never try the Eldridge Pope version, but this is fantastic. If only they still made it.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 05:21:07 | More by wesbray

DRyan

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 Vintage, Bottle # T02116
Poured into a Ranger Creek Tulip

A: Dark mahogany brown with a very slight white/light tan head that dissipates very quickly but leaves decent lacing
S: Toffee, vanilla, brown sugar, malt. A very enticing, almost beguiling aroma.
T: Much sweeter than expected but not in a bad way; very toffee-forward with a big hit of sugar, this initial taste gives way to a pronounced bitterness topped with an alcohol cap. It’s very barleywine/old ale in its flavor profile, but more so than any other barleywine/old ale I’ve ever sipped.
M: It’s thick without being thick, it’s velvety but unlike any stout. It’s really hard to nail down how it feels, other than saying that it is amazing.
D: Definitely one to be savored and not chugged. This flavor is so complex that it is hard to really understand what is going on in each sip, it builds upon itself until there is a huge plethora of different things going on. I completely understand now why this beer has the reputation it has, and wish that I had more than one other bottle to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 03:18:09 | More by DRyan

MadScientist

New York

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bottle of 2004 No. P 26954

A: Moderate aromas of madeira and toffee with a rich dark dried fruit. Prominent alcohol. There is a light soy sauce, umami sharpness. No hops

T: It tastes like a madeira with rich dried dark fruit like prunes and raisins. There is a moderate malt sweetness with moderately-light hops giving a balance that is moderately sweet. The finish is sweet with a fruit and cocoa aftertaste.

M: An almost oily, medium-full bodied beer with very light carbonation.

O: A somewhat sweet fruit beer aged beer that is better approached as a medeira or sherry than a beer else most beer drinkers might be disappointed but not this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:16:28 | More by MadScientist

Odysseyalien

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 variant. Found this at Cable Beverage in Bardonia, New York. No head materialized when poured. Lacing is quite thin -- amongst the thinnest I've ever seen in a barleywine or any beer really. The smell is pleasant -- raisin like. The taste was surprising -- it's called an "old ale" but is very much a barleywine though the definition of both often blurs. This is a classic example. The taste is sweet -- grapes, dried fruit -- slightly heavier but otherwise very similar to the J. W. Lee's Harvest Ale and Calvados.

Bottom Line. I will get back to Cable Beverage this weekend and buy up more of this as they have quite a few of these in stock. Don't tell anybody as it's apparently a well kept secret. For me, this is a dream come true. I also have a bottle from 2005. Will need to stock up on this -- age a few but really, for my barleywine tastes, this is top of the line. Gotta get more. Indeed, this is proof of God's love for humankind.

UPDATE WITH 2005 Variant - 12/9/2012: I couldn't resist opening this one from 2005. No head formed when poured; more like a few "suds". Slight lacing in the glass. Sweet on the front with a slightly bitter finish. Yeah...a few hops survived but remember...this is an ENGLISH barleywine.

Taste is still raisins, "dried fruit", concord grapes. Maybe a little metallic but not annoyingly so. Feels thin in the mouth -- not syrupy -- as sweet as it is, you might imagine it being so.

Still an overall 4.5. One of my top two or three English barleywines. Wish I had several cases of this in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 22:41:07 | More by Odysseyalien

gtermi

Texas

4.29/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

40th Anniversary 2008 Bottle

A: This beer pours a nice dark reddish brown body with a thin white head that quickly fades to nothing.

S: There is a nice caramel smell, some brown sugar, sweet malt, a faint amount of alcohol and a slight wine smell.

T: Wow there is a lot of flavor to this beer. At first there is a nice fruity flavor, that quickly turns into a strong caramel. The beer lingers for a long time and the beer starts to develop a sort of wine flavor.

M: The beer goes down with ease, The body is pretty thin and there is a tiny bit of crispness on the back of the throat.

O: Damn this is a fantastic beer. The flavors are so intense and the mouthfeel is fascinating. I wish I could get this beer again. Thanks Davey101 for hooking me up!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 04:00:31 | More by gtermi

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

2.78/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Here we have one of the quintessential beers meant for aging; and what a decorative bottle, too. Nothing classier than popping this open and pouring it into a snifter – cheers.

Four year-old bottle, going on five (2008 vintage, No. T17583).

A: Dark reddish-brown in color, with fine sediment and haze; a rich-looking ale if I’ve ever seen one. Sandy tan head, fizzing quickly and effortlessly away to leave only a ring of beige around the glass’s outer circle. The lacing sticks around in long strands for a short time before lowering back into the body.

S: Deep, powerful aromas; each whiff conjures one hell of a sensation. The main idea is not a bright sugary-sweetness, but that dark, deep-down richness of brown sugar and caramel cream. It’s savory, with that sweet marshmallow and maple I absolutely adore in an old ale. Complexity comes in the form of plum and raisin, accompanied by notes of solvent, vinous booze. Excellent.

T: Actually, this has a ton of sour character to it; not the dark malts I was expecting. It’s mostly a bitter, strangely hoppy, unsatisfying spiciness, only slightly grounded by some deep caramel. I have a feeling I might have a bad bottle. A little raisin and chocolate comes through, but I can’t stick with it long enough to find anything more – had to drainpour it. Too bad; I mean, my mouth was nearly watering from the nose.

M: Slick, but not very heavy; more carbonation than expected. A little over-attenuated for a beer this big.

O: What happened here? Damn, that’s unfortunate – I was really looking forward to this. I might try another bottle, but not for a while at over 50 cents/ounce.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 21:48:38 | More by BarryMFBurton

Dope

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage, the final year.

A: Pours a murky rusty brown. Good sized fluffy tan head. Fades slowly but only spots of lacing.

S: Strong and rich raisin, fig and dates. Toffee and caramel to back it up. Touch of vanilla. Boozy.

T: Loaded with toffee, caramel and molasses. Hints of dark fruit such as raisins and dates. Spicy alcohol. Brown sugar towards the finish. Ends a bit drying with the tiniest wave of bitterness that desperately tries to balance the sweetness. Lingering toffee in the aftertaste.

M: Heavy but carbonation helps cut it a bit. Not syrupy at least.

O: Very nice and big old ale. Still quite boozy after 4 years, seems this one would have aged with the best of them. 10 years without a sweat I'm guessing. Too bad I don't have any more. Very malty, very fruity, very strong and quite complex - yet drying in the aftertaste. If I find some more I am sitting on it for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 04:21:09 | More by Dope

zeff80

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 bottle consumed on 8/18/12

A - Poured a cloudy burgundy color with a very small, white head. It had light carbonation and left some sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - Smelled candy-like with sweet maltiness. A light floral presence made it very inviting.

T - Sweet maltiness with a touch of roastiness. Lots of toffee flavor with some caramel. Light bitterness with a smooth creamy finish.

M - It was crisp and sharp despite the low carbonation. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is really good. I'm glad I finally bought one and glad I drank it when I did.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 00:20:14 | More by zeff80

wd40

New York

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2006 Vintage No. P23928 - Sampled 2012

Pours a deep reddish brown cup with a little bit of head that subsides after a few minutes to nothing. The aroma is of raisons and warm chocolate. The taste is incredibly smooth despite the high alcohol content. It is a really satisfying beer with a lot of complexity. The mouthfeel is very pleasant. It has a relatively low carbonation, but it lasts and adds a subtle richness to the overall experience. I really enjoyed this beer. A real sipper to be enjoyed slowly over the course of a night.

I hope someone revives this brew and more of these kind of beers can be aged and enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 05:57:25 | More by wd40

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sample: 1 bottle 2004

A: Pours a dark purple-red, decently cloudy, no head, lacing, or internal carbonation to speak of

S: Complex and fragrant nose, dried fruits, honey, cocoa powder and a touch of wine, quite nice

T: Much akin to the nose, true to the style, honey and wine notes dominate with hints of dried figs and chocolate, no alcohol taste whatsoever

M: Incredibly smooth and light in the mouth, as previously mentioned no carbonation, no drying or lingering on the palate, mild dried fruit aftertaste

O: A superb example of the style, smooth and complex, aging has definitely served this bottle well, certainly worth a try

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:51:35 | More by MatthewWilde

davey101

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage, No. 31611. 6.5 oz bottle into a snifter.

A - Dark brown/red body with a one finger off white dense head. Settles down to a thin cap with solid edging. Solid retention with some alcoholic legs.

S - Huge caramelized dark fruit presence. Figs, raisins, plums, etc. Sweet brown sugar, toffee, and some light savory and spicy notes. Alcoholic twang on the finish.

T - Caramelized dark fruits, brown sugar, and a toffee bite. Not super complex or layered, but super sweet and delicious. Finish is lightly metallic. Large alcohol presence, but incredibly smooth. Mouth feel is slick with low carbonation.

O - 4.5's all across the board. Its just a damn good beer. Really glad I stocked up on a few of these as its really a world class old ale. Someone needs to rebrew this!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 02:27:11 | More by davey101

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.48/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

For purposes of the review, the sampled beer was the 2008 vintage with ABV standing at 11.7%. The beer poured a hazy dark brown color. Thickness was noted during the pour. The nose was a very pleasant sweet malty aroma. As with a well constructed Old Ale, the initial sip revealed a sweet malt and fruity taste. The thickness of the ale allowed it to linger even while it was beginning to warm the throat in the aftertaste. The ale was tangy on the sides of the tongue giving hints of certain citrus fruits. The warming sweet malt notes continue into the aftertaste. There is some serious staying-power in this beer.

I will be aging my other bottles for several years, as the bottle notes it can be aged up to 25 years. I would love for this beautiful Old Ale to come out of retirement in the mean time.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 19:19:54 | More by JohnnyHopps

NODAK

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

What we have here is a 2008 vintage. ABV is 11.7 percent.

Opens up with a very boozy aroma, as if there was bourbon in it. Soon, deep caramel and molasses notes were present...perhaps a little dark fruit as well.

Pours dark brown in my glass...head is surprisingly loose and fizzy for a beer of this style and power. Didn't last too long.

The taste...wow. Bourbon and booze are noticed right away. This may not have been aged in a barrel, but it certainly tastes like it. Rich caramel...sugars...and some raisin as well. The slightest bitterness shows up on the finish but is fleeting, as would be expected. Certainly sticks around after the swallow in a smackingly sweet way.

If you don't mind the bourbon/alcohol flavor, this is quite nice. I enjoyed it quite a bit, shame it is no longer made!

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 02:21:29 | More by NODAK

harrymel

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

ABV reads 11.7%, Vintage 2008, Bottle: 04181

Pours a lovely dark amber with a quilt of light tan foam. Nose is sweet and dominated with a bubble gum quality and some hints of vanilla, praline and marshmallow. Flavor carries a bit more quality with some nice caramelized flavors alongside toast, copper, malt, malt and herbal character. Medium on full bodied with moderate carb and a wet finish. This beer is really nice, but I'd take JW 6/7 days of the week. I've got a '98 in the cellar, it'll be nice to compare.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 16:58:00 | More by harrymel

DCon

Missouri

4.8/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

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!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 19:02:45 | More by DCon

merc7186

New York

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

~~~400th Review~~~

2006 vintage, edition 8353

I had this beer served at cellar temperature, from a 8.5 oz bottle, into a Duchesse De Bourgogne chalice.

A: Dark Brown Hue, Passes Little Light, Brownish White Head, Minimal Lacing

S: Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Bread, Plums, Mild Black Licorice, Mild Bourbon

T: Dark Fruit (plums and cherries), Vanilla, Bread, Mild Bourbon, Mild Boozy

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Sweet, Dry, Mildly Boozy

Overall, its been a long time since Ive had a 2006 and it is as good as ever. Thankfully, it was not my last one...if you ever have a chanceto pick up some Thomas Hardys, buy it and bury it.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 00:50:40 | More by merc7186

Doppelbockulus

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2004 Vintage bottle no. 39691

Pours a murky brown with a copper tinge.

The smell is typical of the high alcohol legends of the cellar, like Samichlaus or J.W. Lees Harvest. Heavy malt notes, dark fruits like plums and figs, light bandy character, and raw bread dough.

Taste is better than the particular bottle from 1991 that I had. Much more fruit and sweetness as well as a bit more alcohol presence. I taste Riesens, you know the chocolate covered raisins. I also get some faint syrupy coffee and figs. The finish drys and reveals more alcohol.

The feeling is very tender. Just a whisper of a tingle exists. This beer almost massages the mouth as it travels from the front to back, very smooth and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:12:04 | More by Doppelbockulus

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

2007 vintage, No. P07635, 11.7% ABV. 8.5oz bottle poured into a Tulip glass.

Appearance: No head at all. Deep brown with some hints of orange when held up to the light.

Smell: Sweet, boozy, buttery toffee, maybe just some hints of solvent in there. Definite soy sauce smell as it warms up.

Taste: Rich buttery toffee, definite licorice taste, mild medicinal bitter flavor at the end.

Mouthfeel: I think this is completely flat, or if there is any carbonation in there, it's very well hidden. Mouthfeel otherwise is a bit syrupy and thick with a bit of alcohol burn.

Overall / Drinkability: Hmmm....the cap when cracked open let off no hiss, so I wonder if this went flat awhile ago. Maybe past it's prime and the lack of carbonation made it hard to finish this to the point that I think I only finished half of it and then I let it go. Maybe long ago this beer was "the" old ale, but now 4.5 to 5 years later, this particular bottle did not hold up well. Oh well, worth a try I suppose. Not every beer can age well.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 23:51:28 | More by damndirtyape

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thomas Hardy's Ale (2008 vintage)
O'Hanlon's Brewing Co. Ltd.

Pours a light reddish amber, off white head that quickly leaves. Mostly clear brew. Aromas of toffee, ripe fruits, brown sugar, sherry, raisin, wood, shoe leather, and bourbon. Very barleywinesque. In the taste, more syrupy malt sweetness, port flavors, a big helping of alcohol, and much of the same flavors mentioned in the aroma. Toffee, buttered biscuit, cherry, charred wood, bourbon and subtle notes of dusty cocoa. Almost like a spirit, this is a strong beer worthy of the cellar time. As the beer breathes, the flavors become more present and pleasing, alcohol drops off a bit. Mouthfeel is full bodied and chewy, still decent moderate to low carbonation. Overall, this is a historic big beer, and definitely worth buying. Perhaps this brand will be revived in 2019 to celebrate 50 years of Thomas Hardy's Ale. We can only hope.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 19:39:35 | More by Stinkypuss

movingtrain

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This bottle's vintage is 2007. No. 07151. I have another from 2005 in the cellar. The bottle mentions that this beer has been known to keep "for at least 25 years." Let's see where the beer is after five.

Pours reddish-brown in color with absolutely no head. That is not to say the beer lacks apparent carbonation, but when poured the the only thing resembling foam here was a slight, brief fizzle.

In the nose are notes of tart cherries, raisins, candied plum, cinnamon, charred wood, and some slight citrus and apple. There is also something that resembles the smell of old-fashioned hard candy. There are also port wine notes, sweet, rich, and complex.

The flavor is sweet, like a malted dessert. Up front are rich, warm notes of caramelized sugars, candied plums, raisins, cotton candy, powdered sugar, and orange peel. Behind some of the sweeter notes sits a bit of bitterness, reminiscent of sharp citrus, warm cherries, and red grapes.

This beer drinks like a glass of port...it is very, very warming, on the sweeter side, and quite delicious. There isn't much carbonation in the mouthfeel at all, but that doesn't seem to detract from what the original intention of this beer seems to have been. It's too bad this beer couldn't have stayed in production, and I'm glad I was able to save a few bottles.

Overall, this is a slow-sipper--dense, rich, and full of unique, complex flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 21:40:04 | More by movingtrain

jsanford

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

04 Vintage.

Pours a clear, dark mahogany with no head. This looks like it's gonna be rich. Insane aromas of fig, brown sugar, raisins, caramel, and Port wine. Just a touch of oxidation that perfectly enhances the base beer. Taste is very similar to the nose, rich flavors of figgy pudding, raisins, brown sugar, cherries, and toffee. Delicious. Mouthfeel is sticky-sweet, with a medium-full body and very low carbonation. Overall a real treat, and a beer that has kick-started my new-found love for quality Old Ales and Barleywines!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 17:07:50 | More by jsanford