Has aged pretty well.

Hur gammal ska en Thomas Hardy vara för att bli optimal? Efter att ha provat en 08’, 05’, 94’, 89’ och en 79’ tillsammans kan jag konstatera att redan 05’ utvecklats väldigt mycket jämfört med 08’-an som var spritig och tunnare i smaken. 94’-an hade tappat något in styrka och fått en mer vinös ton. Intryck som förstärkes av 89-an. Den var platt och sur. Men 79-an var fantastisk, rundare och komplexare än 05-an men inte så långt därifrån. Svårt att dra generella slutsatser. Några kan ha lagrats fel. Glappet mellan 05’ och 94’ var i största laget. Men detta är det ultimata dessertölet. Efter några år i källaren står det sig perfekt till en stark ost eller mörk choklad. Söt, javisst men med smaker och styrka som matchar det.

2004 and 2006 bottles shared at Dallas and Bonnie’s
Appearance: Clear copper with a big beige head and good lacing
Aroma: Sweet caramel and brown sugar
Taste: Sweet caramel, vanilla and brown sugar
Great, glad I finally got a chance to try these The 2004 was much smoother and mellow compared to the 2006.

Malt choklade lakrids vinøs portvin mørkbrun uklar ingen skum Sød meget bitter lidt Flad cremet 12/6-11 f25cl fra 2006 @ home

0.25l bottle @ Henrik, Bergen. 2006 model, bottle #14081. Pours a thick and murky brown body with absofruitly no head what so ever. Beautiful sweet aroma with cognac, light woody and vinous notes and something that I can only describe as deep chocolate and some sour grassy hints hidden back in the aroma. Really full-bodied and has a extreme trick and rich texture. Near no-carbonation. Really intensely warming this! Slightly woody, deep port, strong dark caramel, rum-marinated raisins and a nice both sweet and bitter finish. Leaving a lingering alcoholic aftertaste. Rich, complex and really tasty, just the way I like it. Two thumbs up for this oldschool barlywine!

Bottle nr 19361, vintage 2006. It pours a clear, copper body and a minimal off-white head. Clubgonzo mentioned that the aroma reminded him of a mix between an eisbock and an American style barley wine. I certainly see what he means. There’s dried fruits. sugary rum-like notes, some caramel, alcohol, and a touch of some fresh fruits in the far back of the aroma. It’s full-bodied and warming to a degree seldom reached. The carbonation level is low and pleasant. Lots of flavors, complex and tasteful. Booze-soaked raisins, alcohol, some caramel, sweetness, a bitterness touch, port wine and a touch of oxidation in the flavor, all going on for a really long time. Shit, this is lovely. A damn pity it’s gone. Rating: 8-4-9-5-17-4.3. 110301

Bottle, 25cl, #07685, vintage 2004. 11.7% ABV. It pours a clear, dark copper colored body, looking really nice even though there’s no head. Caramel, alcohol and beef stock in the rather vinous aroma. The flavor is sweet and sugary, with some caramel, leather and alcohol. Full-bodied and warming, rather sweet on the palate. Lasting finish. Overall, nice, but too much on the sweet side even for my likings. Rating: 7-4-6-4-13-3.4.

Bottle, 25cl, #45471, vintage 2005. 11.7% ABV. A flat, almost completely clear, dark copper colored beer with a vinous aroma of alcohol, dried fruits, beef stock and something reminiscent of a fine cognac. Sweet on the palate, but not as sweet as the 2004 vintage, beef stock, dried fruits an alcohol blends in. Full-bodied and warming, with a faint sensation reminding me of carbonation. Hints of bitterness shows up in the finish. A tasteful and pleasant night cap. Rating: 7-4-7-4-14-3.6

Bottle, 25cl, #14814, vintage 2006. 11.7% ABV. An almost clear one, dark golden to amber in color, and with some bubbles looking like a head. Alcohol, beef stock and dried fruits in the aroma. Almost cognac-like in the nose. Alcoholic flavor with dried fruits, a faint sourness and some bitterness. Feels sort of sugary on the palate, full-bodied and warming, with hints of carbonation. A pleasant one. Rating: 7-4-7-4-15-3.7.

Bottle, 25cl, #07196, vintage 2007. 11.7% ABV. A dark golden to amber beer, almost clear, and with some bubbles on top. The aroma has alcohol, dried fruits, hints of dark berries, and something remiscent of apricot jam. Dryish and sourish on the palate, full-bodied and warming, with raisins, leather and dried fruits in the flavor. Well, at least it’s not as sweet as the 2004 vintage, but I think this one’s too dry. Still nice though. Rating: 7-4-7-4-14-3.6.

Bottle, 25cl, #08135, vintage 2008. 11.7% ABV. There’s some bubbles on top of this almost amber colored beer, but not what you can say is a real head. Alcohol, dried fruits and some sweetish notes on the nose. Semi-sweet on the palate, full-bodied, lightly warming and carbonated, and with flavors of raisins, leather and alcohol. Some bitterness chimes in towards the very end. Overall, a nice one, but probably too young. Rating: 7-4-7-4-14-3.6.

All five tasted after a flight of five vintages of the Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy’s Ale. If I was to repeat this, I’d certainly have the freshest ones first. Haven’t revised my previously awarded score for this beer, I still think it’s really lovely, especially when in the mood for such a beer. 120608