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

hreb

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thomas Hardy's Ale 2006 Release, edition P 29490. 8.5 oz bottle, 11.7% ABV. Personally aged 2.5 years in my beer fridge before serving. Ale poured into pint glass. Beer pours very syrupy with a golden brown color and a slight red tinge. Careful not to disturb the significant sediment. No head to speak of (nor lacing). Aroma is of golden syrup and amber raisins.

First sip carries a huge attack of flavor, both rich and astringent. Starts off very sweet with flavors of raisins and figs, then the bitterness of the grains comes through to balance it out. Heady. The carbonation is super-fine, and nearly non-existent. The flavors go on: berries, fruit. Fried chicken (just kidding). It is lip-licking good, though. More caramel, and a final tangy flavor as the beer warms. Did I mention this is heady?

There is just one particular note of hops in this ale. The best way to describe it is that after the initial syrupy sweetness there's a darker, more molasses flavor, which has a hoppy counterpoint. But otherwise the hops in this beer are completely invisible. Yes, this beer really does have that many layers of complexity.

I'm looking forward to the 2008-2009 Brooklyn Monster Ale, which is quite a different beast, honestly. But both beers are amazing. There are some beery flavors which are not found in this one at all. There's no roast, there's no nuts, there's no citrusy hops flavor. Still there's a sense that the wort that went into this was aiming for a very precise flavor profile and executed it magnificently.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 23:51:43 | More by hreb

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

05-19-2013 16:46:50 | More by Photekut

Bill235

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-09-2013 17:29:34 | More by Bill235

smithj4

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-09-2013 03:33:07 | More by smithj4

ScottP

New Hampshire

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

04-07-2013 13:03:39 | More by ScottP

AmitC

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-15-2013 23:23:38 | More by AmitC

Matagal

Brazil

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-12-2013 01:49:53 | More by Matagal

drummermattie02

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.9%

02-25-2013 16:18:46 | More by drummermattie02

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

02-15-2013 14:51:09 | More by ROBSTARR

Boilerfood

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -21.1%

02-10-2013 10:08:28 | More by Boilerfood

ramblinwreck101

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

02-04-2013 17:09:27 | More by ramblinwreck101

elec

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.9%

01-31-2013 03:44:59 | More by elec

DmanGTR

New York

5/5  rDev +21.4%

01-29-2013 18:35:50 | More by DmanGTR

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

will1256

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -9%

01-17-2013 03:52:55 | More by will1256

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

01-16-2013 23:09:46 | More by Budinetz

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

cliff1066

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

12-22-2012 21:43:55 | More by cliff1066

josephwa

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

12-21-2012 19:46:27 | More by josephwa

Rognvaldr

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

12-21-2012 00:59:37 | More by Rognvaldr