Thomas Hardy's Ale (1968-1999)
(has 14 batches)
Eldridge Pope in Dorchester, Dorset, England 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.73
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Creamy butterscotch notes flood the taste buds, laced with subtle complex fruit...and a subtle suggestion of vintage port. Elegant and seamless, this beer was a waltz on the palate.
In ’The Trumpet Major’ Hardy wrote of Dorchester strong beer "It was of the most beautiful colour that the eye of an artist in beer could desire; full in body, yet brisk as a volcano; piquant, yet without a twang; luminous as an autumn sunset;..."
In ’The Trumpet Major’ Hardy wrote of Dorchester strong beer "It was of the most beautiful colour that the eye of an artist in beer could desire; full in body, yet brisk as a volcano; piquant, yet without a twang; luminous as an autumn sunset;..."
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7.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
Sampled the 1986 vintage (year I was born, Woohoo!) thanks the the generous fellas at Hopcat! Poured a clear amber with almost no head to speak of. Aroma was quite sweet with caramel sticking out the most, there was some underlying sweet grains as well as a bit of alcohol. Flavor was sweet and not cloying at all with a bit of alcohol in the finish. It was also very smooth.
Tried
on 26 Jul 2010
at 14:51
8.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 10
1979 Bottle. Wow. Pours a cloudy amber-brown, murky. No head. Loads of honey and caramel in the aroma. Flavor is very sweet and rounded, with more honey, toffee, and brown sugar. Lots of super-ripe dark fruits: Raisins, dates, figs. Body is medium to full, syrupy, with almost no carbonation and some warmth. A pretty good beer that has stood up well over time.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jun 2010
at 13:14
8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Opened to celebrate my 4700th Rating. 1994 Vintage. Pours unclear amber with a small bubbly off white head. Delicious complex and vinous nose. Waauw - close to a tenner. Dark fruit, prune, vague oxidation, caramel. Flavor has some cellar notes and a vaguely tart fruity vintage note. Low carbonation. Oily and full bodied. Just over the top I think. But pretty dammn exciting. This 1979 from Mr. Orla's sunny terrace smells of dark dried fruit and soy. Overripe banana. Port. Good nose. Peated smoke, dark dried fruit. I let the rating stand. 1968. First year. Tons of dark fruit, caramel and wood. 51 years old. Better than 79. Deep. Sipper. Vinous. Re-Rating @ Ma Che Siete, Rome, 2010. 1982: The year I was born. A lot different than the 94 I had a few weeks earlier. Phat caramel, toffee, dark fruit, port and only vaguely oxidized. This one was amazing. From 3,7 - 4,0
Tried
on 30 May 2010
at 05:02
8.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
1994 bottle shared by Dedollewaitor. Hazy brown with a tiny off-white head. An ever-so-slightly dusty aroma of deep rich malt, raisins and other dried fruit, with a lovely vineous alcohol. Rich malt and fruit flavour with a tart edge. Slightly toasted malt finish. It’s oxidized and not in top condition, but a pretty special experience nevertheless.9-3-8-3-15
1982 vintage at RBESG, thanks to Manuele at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa. Very complex vinous aroma, dried fruits, malt and toffee. Dry, fruity and slightly tart flavour. Dried apricot and plums, a hint of leather, and toffee in the finish. Extremely complex and simply impressive that it has aged so well.
1982 vintage at RBESG, thanks to Manuele at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa. Very complex vinous aroma, dried fruits, malt and toffee. Dry, fruity and slightly tart flavour. Dried apricot and plums, a hint of leather, and toffee in the finish. Extremely complex and simply impressive that it has aged so well.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 May 2010
at 13:21
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 10
25cl bottle at Kulminator with Mes the Friday before LCRBM5. Lot 26070 Aroma of vinegar and swimming pool foot pool and brett yeast. Odd. Some of the original vinous notes. A beast in the mouth. Certainly a full on body sensory experience, hence the 20 score for overall. You forget everything else as you drink it. Not sure what ABV is now, but it’s huge. Take you over completely. Some sourness, some huge strong mlats still there. Finish is quite similar to later vintages with lovely sweet malt flavours of brandy, sweet dates. Aroma settles down a little. Drinks headily. Still has good carbonation. Would I drink it again? No. Would I recommend it? Hell, yeah.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Oct 2009
at 15:32
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
[9/5/09] Bottle sample at Kulminator in Antwerp after LCRBM. 1982 bottle. Deep red-brown color. Aroma of malt, smoke, caramel, figs, plums and some raisins. Very sweet malty flavor with oak, berries, sugar, caramel, chocolate, dark fruits hints and light sourness. Full-bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Sep 2009
at 11:14
8.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
1994 bottle at the Relentless Thirst Gathering in Richmond, VA, 8.29.09. Pours a clear viscous looking copper color. No head. Aroma is toffee, caramel, prune, raisin, chocolate. Taste is toffee, caramel, nougat, raisin, chocolate and sherry. Flavors and aroma are very intense and complex. Very nice experience.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Aug 2009
at 11:13
8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
1999 bottle similar in looks to the upper picture. Bottle thanks to sloth! Pours with a hazed amber with a fading frothy white head. Amazing room filling aroma. Extremely complex with currants, sherry, cotton candy, raisins, toffee and light oxidation. Taste is berry, oxidation, sherry, caramel, brandy, toffee. Very mellow with wine like qualities and a bit of strawberry. Creamy mouthfeel and light bubbles. Warming. Very good!
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 Jul 2009
at 10:29
8.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
1982 bottle from Kulminator in Antwerpen - At 27 years, this brew is easily the oldest I’ve had. It pours dark amber with a thin head from a hard pour. It smells of rich caramel malt and dark fruit. The flavor is a wonderful blend of sweet malt and assorted fruits including the rich port tones. This full bodied brew is so smooth and tasty. It definitely ages for the better and remarkably does so over decades. What a fantastic beer!
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 May 2009
at 23:53
7.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Kulminator: 25 cL bottle, 1982 vintage, #28547. Pours hazy dark brown with with a fully gone head. Aroma is distinct wineous and fruity. Mild acidic too. Acidic and and wineous fruity flavoured. Smoothly going into a lovely fruity flavour into the finish. Very surprised by this.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Oct 2008
at 03:38