Thomas Hardy's Ale (2003 - 2008)
(has 6 batches)

Bottle. 2005. Red mahogany color with little head. Lots of fruit and caramel in its aroma. Quite bitter with very full mouthfeel - brandy and sherry flavours (and feel). Ends quite sweet and a very long aftertast.

Wow is this good. The beer is brown and had much more carbonation than I expected, with a thick white head. Aroma is loaded with fruit, some fresh and some fermenting, sweet malt, and some alcohol. Flavor is similar. There is a very light alcohol burn that works well here, because it is under the strong flavors of sweet malt, more fruit, wood, and maple syrup. Thick and heavy body.

Bottle 8,5 fl. oz. bought at Utobeer, London. Vintage 2005 - Serial no. 52177. Deep red brown coloured. Hazy. A small white head - almost disappearing. Rich sweet aroma of malt and fruits. It fills your mouth like syrup. A rich and complex taste of sweet fruit. Becomes more wine-alike leaving you with a sweet bitter aftertaste - and a warm cheek. A perfect way to celebrate my rating no. 400.

250ml bottle, 2005 vintage (batch P52176) from Utobeer. Bottle conditioned. Deep ruby coloured. Brilliant clarity (Yeah, I did avoid agitating the sediments that stayed at the bottom). Missing head. Rich sweet, winelike aroma. Vinous taste (portwine) with notes of dried fruit and yeast. Warm alcohol finish. Full bodied (16.09.2006).

Cask handpull at The Rake, Borough. Very limited edition cask version. This was the real reason I came, to have a cask barley wine. I have never seen or heard about this being available before. Only served in 1/3 or 1/2 pints for the obvious reasons. This is a rich red chestnut beer with no head. Raisin aroma. Sweet. Choc malts. Bit of whisky. Thick, syrupy texture. Choc malts last til the finish, with a bit of alcohol heat. Bit of a tang/spice edge. Almost like a sweet sherry. Toffee too. Some raspberry/dark cherry fruit flavours. Sticky toffee/choc. A most remarkable beer and a real shock to the system. It took me the best part of 45 minutes to drink a half. Bottle P47064 2005 Folkestone Wetherspoon. Thin dark beige head over russet coloured beer. sherry like aroma. Amazing in mouth. Lots of raisin, bit sickly. Needs time to develop. Syrupy malt, but the fruit is gorgeous, succulent raisin/sultana. The alcoholic effect is quite wonderful. 4/5 Bought for £2.99, not sure where. 2004 vintage bottle number 48134 Interesting to see how this has aged. 14 year old beer. This is a pretty exciting moment for me. Opens with no sound at all. No hint of carbonation. Pours with no head. Wow that's pretty amazing. The flavour is full of all things good. This will be a re-rate. Where do I start? Walnuts, toffee, raisins, dry wood, oloroso sherry, malty, sweet, dry. Lots of toffee. Sweet. I mean it's just lovely. No real sign of age no oxidisation. Aroma of woody oloroso sherry, nutty. But the flavour is so much better. I loved it. The raisin, oloroso, toffee finish just lasts and lasts. Beautiful. Loved it. 4.6

Medium, tan head of large bubbles over hazy dark red body. Deep, sweet aroma of red wine, yeast, and bread with notes of alcohol and paint. Deep, extremely sweet alcohol fruity, melony taste. Intense, reminiscent of mulled red wine. Bitter, sweet aftertaste. Notes of apples. A glorious beer. (2005 bottle, drank January 2006. Have tried 7- and 13-year old bottles before, which were among my best tasting experiences ever.)

First rating2005 bottle 04482. Tried on May 28, 2006250 ml bottle, 11.7% ABV.Fairly normal CO2 level. When poured it builds a big beige head.Clear mid brown to red brown color.Almost a bit like wine in the scent, a touch of Belgian ale in the scent as well, but not much. Alcohol to some extent, also dried fruit and some burnt character.The head falls back into a finger thick creamy foam.Extremely thick body, it fills the entire mouth and leaves a lean oily feeling in the aftertaste.Very sweet taste like of syrup, not much bitterness, also some raissin flavor.When the beer reach room temperature and goes a bit flat towards the end of the glass the beer has so much taste that my eyes almost gets filled with tears. 9/4/9/5/18=4.5 Rerate 2004 number 00380, from bottle. Almost no CO2 left, but amazing and fantastic flavours. Nice dark color to it.Ar: 8 Ap: 4 Fl: 9 Pa: 4 Ov: 16 = 4.1Rerate 2003 bottle Tried at Bishops Arms, Västra Hamngatan, Gothenburg on August 25, 2006.Clear light brown color, no head. Very sweet scent of raissin. Extreme sweet taste of raissin and a bit alcohol. Very smooth mouth feel.Ar 8, Ap 3, Fl 8, Pa 4, Ov 12 = 3.5 RerateOn May 26, 2007 I compared vintage 2005 to vintage 2006, both from 250 ml bottles and marked 11.7% ABV. Vintage 2005, bottle no 0457. Clear red color, small tan head. Sweet, raisin and alcohol mixed with fudge scent. Some chocolate and grains as well. Taste is sweet and grains mixed with sirup. Also raisins and alcohol, withs ome spices like clove. A touch of smoke as well. Harsh bitterness. Smooth mouthfeel, huge sediment.8-9/3-4/6-7/4/16-17=3.7-4.1 Vintage 2006, bottle no 12215. Shady brown color, small white to tan head. Alcohol, sweet scent with some grains. Taste is sweet and alcohol. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bitterness.5-6/3/5-6/4/12=2.7-2.9 Rerate On May 10, 2008. Sampled vintage 2005, against 2006, against 2 different 2007 bottled stored in different temperatures.Edition 2005, black cap. Bottle no 04552.Clear cranberry red color, white head. Turns light particle with sediment added. Raisins, prunes, roasted, chocolate, malty scent, really nice! Raisin, sweet, sugary, malty, chocolate taste. Warming alcohol. Smooth round mouthfeel, medium bitterness. It’s like a very nice dessert.9/4/8/5/18=4.4Edition 2006, golden cap with text. Bottle no 11781.A bit shady copper reddish color, white head. Goes murky dark brown with sediment. Malty, sticky, alcohol, grainy scent. Big smooth, sweet and phenolic taste. Round, raisin, malty with a quite warming alcohol sensation. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bitterness.7/3/7/4/14 Edition 2007, blue cap. Bottle no 41979. Stored last 6 months in room temp.Murky shady orange color, cream colored head. A bit more grey and dark compared to the one stored in a fridge. Cellar, heavy, alcohol, roasted, acidic scent. Round, roasted, bitter, malty taste. Warming alcohol, dry finish. Smooth mouthfeel, medium long bitterness.8/3/8/4/16=3.9 Edition 2007, blue cap. Bottle no 41984. Stored last 6 months in a fridge.Same as above except for added notes. Alcohol, sweet, acidic, malty, lactic, raisin scent. Alcohol, malty, spicy, wood, raisin, licorice, coffee taste. Warming alcohol, dry papery aftertaste. Smooth a bit sprtizy mouthfeel, somewhat hard and edgy bitterness.8/3/7/3/14=3.5 Rerate On May 5, 2009 I tried vintage 2005 against vintage 2008. Both in 250 ml bottle, both marked at 11.7% ABV. 2005 vintage, no 04563.Black cap, has a medal on the bottle.Clear reddish brown color, smallish tan head. Chocolate, roasted, sweet, raisin, vinous, lactic, alcohol scent. Sweet, raisin, madeira, malty taste. Raisin aftertaste, sweet and tasty. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bitterness.9/4/8/5/18=4.4 Vintage 2008, bottle no 35247.BB 31/12/1016. Black cap, no medal on the bottle.Hazy reddish copper color, very small tan head. Alcohol, malty, milky, sweet, spicy scent; also solvents and some citrus. Very salty, wooden, alcohol, licorice taste. Smooth mouthfeel, a bit acidic and mouth puckering. Medium bitterness.7/3/4/4/12=3.0 RerateOn June 1, 2010, I sampled vintage 2005 against 2007 against a 2008 that had been stored in room temperature a while. All were from 250 ml bottles marked 11.7% ABV. Vintage 2005, bottle no 04561.Black cap, medal on bottle.Clear dark red color, smallish tan head. Sweet, sugary, plums, raisins, alcohol, vinous, some solvents and a bit of resin scent. Full, sweet, bitter, sirup like, raisin taste. Roasted, burnt pop-corn aftertaste. Warming alcohol. Full, smooth, thick mouthfeel. Low bitterness, or rather masked by the very high sweetness.8/4/8/5/17=4.2 Vintage 2007, bottle no 41986.Thanks to Micke (non ratebeer)!Hazy light brown color, medium sized cream colored head. Sweet, smooth, fresh scent. Some alcohol and solvents. Somewhat harsh, bitter, a bit sweet taste. Alcohol and solvents aftertaste, then turns sweet and spicy. Some warming alcohol. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bitterness.7/4/7/4/14=3.5 Vintage 2008, bottle no 35071.Black cap, no medal. Bottle thanks to deft!A bit shady, brownish color with hints of red, lighter color thatn the 2005 vintage. Ratehr small tan head. Bitter, solvents, alcohol scent, some dried fruits. Alcohol, solvents, bitter taste. Some sweetness, a bit sugary. Also a bit of salty licorice. Light burnt aftertaste. wArmin alcohol. Smooth mouthfeel. Medium bitterness. After bitterness more dry and pronounced.7/3/6/4/13=3.3 Rerate On May 28, 2011 I sampled vintage 2005 against vintage 2008, both in 250 ml bottles marked 11.7% ABV. Vintage 2005, bottle no 04569.Clear dark brown color with red streaks, small tan head. Milky, acidic, smooth, alcohol, vinous, grainy, raisin scent. Smooth, salty, soy sauce, raisins, alcohol, some ash taste. Oily, raisin, salty aftertaste. Full, smooth, velvet mouthfeel. Warmin alcohol. Medium bitterness.8/4/9/5/18=4.4 Vintage 2008, bottle no 33859.Thanks to Micke (non ratebeer)! BB date 31/12/2016.Hazy reddish brown color, very small bubble tanhead. Harsh, resin, alcohol, wood scent. Salty, alcohol, vinous, red wine, wood taste. Full msooth mouthfeel, medium high bitterness. Salty aftertaste. Warming alcohol.6/3/6/4/13=3.3 Rerate2006 vintage thanks to thomat, bottle No 11807 250 ml bottle sampled on January 13, 2012Clear reddish brown color, very small head. Sweet, malty, alcohol, raissin scent. sweet, harsh, resin, bitter taste. Warming alcohol. Smooth mouthfeel, harsh high bitterness. A bit salty taste, minerals.Had 2006 vintage quite a few times, this year was one of worst for my taste, as 2004 and especially 2005 were great.7/4/7/5/13=3.7 Rerate2005 vintage, bottle no 04548.250 ml bottle marked 11.7% vol. Sampled on May 6, 2012.Clear deep dark red color, small tan head, looks amazing. Sweet, malty, raisins, vinous, sugary, sirup, some alcohol scent. Sweet,malty, fudge, raisins, grainy, superb taste. Grainy, fudge, sweet aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel, sort of salty, medium high bitterness. Very close to perfect to me! Warming glowing feeling from the alcohol. Thick yeast cake in the bottom. Got some cream, dark fruits, fruit cake, lingering molasses. It keeps very well for the age. Drinks very well, so complex and nice. Puts me in a poetic romantic mood, this if for sure a beer to share with the one you love. I’m sort of biased this year for the tasting I feel. A little bit too salty in the taste, some burnt notes too.Deducted one from taste in the end, 9 instead of 10.9/5/9/5/19=4.7 Rerate - 8th annual tasting of my 25 year quest2005 vintage, bottle no 04549.250 ml bottle marked 11.7% vol. Black cap and medal around the bottle neck.Sampled on May 11, 2013.Pours clear dark reddish brown color, displays a tan bubbly head.Scent comes out lovely and intense, leads out with raisins, dried prunes, malty, sweet, sugar, molasses, fruit cake, alcohol, dark chocolate, port wine, madeira, then after a while also comes a note of wet tobacco as well. Lovely lovely stuff, can smell this forever.Taste then is powerful and intense as well, it is sweet, smooth, tobacco, sugary, muscovado, raisins in cognac, port wine, fresh raisins, it just won’t stop, beautiful, intense and lovely, also very complex.Tobacco and raisin aftertaste.Warming alcohol, but in a glowing good way.Big, smooth, velvet like mouthfeel.Medium low bitterness.My first comment on the beer to my mate after some sighs was "why don’t they make this beer any more?".2005 is one of the best vintages I’ve had from this beer, and I feel lucky this is the vintage I chose for my 25 years of "try one per year" journey.This rerate is my second 5.0 beer so far after mroe than 7 years on ratebeer to this date.Lovely and awesome, I am in awe as to how this beer has developed until now. I can’t see how the beer will improve even more to my taste, and the coming yearly event for the next 17 years will be interesting indeed.10/5/10/5/20=5.0Rerate - 9th annual tasting of my 25 year quest2005 vintage, bottle no 04550.250 ml bottle marked 11.7% vol. Black cap and medal around the bottle neck.Sampled on May 03, 2014.10/5/10/5/20=5.0

2003 bottle (#10140) drank in 2005 and courtesy of Presario: Poured a dark murky brown color ale with a small head without much retention. Aroma of plums, dry raisins and strong malt is easily enjoyable and represent a moment of pure bliss. Taste is more sweeter then expected with a strong malt presence with plums and dry raisins. Body is pretty much as full as possible and alcohol is well hidden but you can still feel its effect. Very different from the experience I had with the 1985 version I had last year – this seems more sweet and carbonated with less of the port notes and obviously no oxidation.