Thomas Hardy's Ale (2025)
(Batch of Thomas Hardy's Ale (2024 - ))
Interbrau in Villafranca Padovana (PD), Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹
Brewed at/by: Hepworth & CoBarley Wine - Barley Regular
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Score
7.92
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Amber coloured Barley Wine laden with bronze glints.
On the nose, straight away the bouquet has impact, intensity and complexity with notes of both candied and alcohol-soaked fruit, dried figs, fresh tobacco and chocolate, while a caramel sensation is perceived but remains in the background.
In the mouth, the initial sensation is of incredible density and softness, a silky warmth accompanying memories of bitter orange marmalade, dried fruit and chestnut honey. The finale provides a refreshing, slightly sharp hint that adds harmony and balance.
It can also be stored in the wine cellar to taste its evolution over time.
On the nose, straight away the bouquet has impact, intensity and complexity with notes of both candied and alcohol-soaked fruit, dried figs, fresh tobacco and chocolate, while a caramel sensation is perceived but remains in the background.
In the mouth, the initial sensation is of incredible density and softness, a silky warmth accompanying memories of bitter orange marmalade, dried fruit and chestnut honey. The finale provides a refreshing, slightly sharp hint that adds harmony and balance.
It can also be stored in the wine cellar to taste its evolution over time.
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9.1/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 9.5
Texture 9
Overall 9
Bottle no #00916. Nose is sherry, hint of blasamic which quickly fades, stewed fruit, raisins, spice, fruit cake. Taste is honey, spice, hint of summer fruits, caramel, leading to stewed fruits, pear drops, almond, faintest hint of marzipan, more caramel, hint of dough in the finish, touch of fudge and then a slight balsamic / sherry note in the finish which stops it being cloying.
This is even better than I remember the 2024 edition. Genuinely brilliant beer, best I've had in a very long time. Subtle well balanced, bursting with complex flavours. Exceptional.
This is even better than I remember the 2024 edition. Genuinely brilliant beer, best I've had in a very long time. Subtle well balanced, bursting with complex flavours. Exceptional.
Tried
on 13 Dec 2025
at 21:47
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours a bright ruby with a sizable (but transient) off-white head. The aroma has a complex mix of honey, treacle, chocolate and alcoholic strength. In the mouth it is sweet and cloying with a boozy feel. Overall flavour is a cross between balsamic cough mixture and red wine with tannins from the latter dominating eventually. Plenty of ginger, spice, cherries and figs as well. Finish is decidedly boozy and slightly dry. This is awesome ! But you still get the feeling it’s a bit “green” and will mature over time.
Tried
from Cask
at
Hops
on 05 Dec 2025
at 14:34