Thomas Hardy's Ale (2003 - 2008)
Hanlons Brewery in Exeter, Devon, England 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.93
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Scarce, subtle and complex, Thomas Hardy’s Ale is the beer enthusiast’s equivalent of rare cognac. Bottle-conditioned to mature in the bottle like fine wine, this old ale/barley wine will improve with age for at least 26 years (and we’re still counting!). Not for the faint of palate, especially when young and brash, maturity brings an elegance of flavors unmatched by any other beer—if you have the patience to cellar it for at least a decade.
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7/10
Tried
on 02 Jan 2023
at 13:59
6.4/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Little 25cl bottle, 2005 vintage I've owned since at least 2006. Consumed Thanksgiving day 2022. No pop on the cap, pours a translucent amber, no head. Nose has caramel, malt, port, some booze, a little cardboard, cherry even. Flavors of port, some amaretto, cherry cordial, fruit cake, caramel. Oxidation went away when it had a chance to breathe. Boozy, long, sticky sweet finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Nov 2022
at 01:30
9/10
Leivane ja rosinane, veits vesine. Väga hea.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jul 2022
at 20:52
8/10
Sweet, malty, bready, moldy, alcohol, plums
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jul 2022
at 20:49
9/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 9
Overall 9
Gammel rating (3000-4000) som ikke kom med fra Ratebeer. Smaking på Beer Palace, Oslo med Even og Tone.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Beer Palace
on 25 Sep 2021
at 14:32
9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Overall impression from parallell rating of 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintage contributed by and shared with JMD on board Fridtjofen 18.05.20. Ruby mahogany, Almost no head. Vinous aroma and taste of rasins, prunes, madeira, dry sherry, cigar box and alcohol. Good!
Tried
on 18 May 2020
at 20:28
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Annata 2008. @ Birraio dell'anno 18.1.20
Tried
on 19 Jan 2020
at 00:15
7.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle 2006 - Hazy brown with no head and low carbonation - Malt with a dark fruity aroma - Malt body with a fruity flavour as well - The malt goes into the finish wiht some fruity notes - This was nice
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Dec 2019
at 16:02
8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Bottle. Pours a dark cloudy brown with barely no head. Aromas of malt, sweet licorice, coffee, toffee, rum, raisins, slighty minty and plums. Taste is very rum-like, licorice, roasted malt, coffee, yeast and some bittersweet chocolate, hazelnuts.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2019
at 17:20
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 8
2004 version. Sugary aroma with plums, just a touch of oak and hops. Very sweet, sugary flavor with pepper, grassy hops and burning alcohol, though partly hidden by the sweetness. Hint of oak. Thick and oily mouthfeel. Tasty beer, with a complex aroma. Has potential, but need further cellaring. This sample was too young. 2007 bottle, tasted July 2014. Dark brown color, no head. Malty biscuity sherry aroma. Still hints of hops present. Syrupy flavor, almost without carbon. Alcohol, malt and floral notes. Sherry. oak. Very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2019
at 12:07