Thomas Hardy's Ale (2018) - Golden Edition 50th Anniversary
(Batch of Thomas Hardy's Ale (2018-2022))
Interbrau in Villafranca Padovana (PD), Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹
Brewed at/by: MeantimeBarley Wine - Barley Special Out of Production
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Score
7.51
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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.
The vintage 2018 Golden Edition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Thomas Hardy’s Ale, first produced in 1968.
Ingredients: Warminster Marris Otter and Light Crystal malts. Fuggle and Golding hops. Top fermenting yeasts.
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.
The vintage 2018 Golden Edition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Thomas Hardy’s Ale, first produced in 1968.
Ingredients: Warminster Marris Otter and Light Crystal malts. Fuggle and Golding hops. Top fermenting yeasts.
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7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
From Bine and Vine bottle #41091.
Pours murky rust brown with ever so few foam islands. It still managed a wee bit of lacing.
The smell is oxidation with lots of non sweet caramel, toffee, leather, wood.
The taste is caramel malt, sweeter than what the smell suggested, toffee, leather, dark pitted fruit that didn't bring any vinous notes. Even the oxidation that I mentioned in the smell is muted. Yay.
The mouthfeel is full, no carbonation but I reckon that I don't miss or need it here.
Overall, I am very pleased.
Pours murky rust brown with ever so few foam islands. It still managed a wee bit of lacing.
The smell is oxidation with lots of non sweet caramel, toffee, leather, wood.
The taste is caramel malt, sweeter than what the smell suggested, toffee, leather, dark pitted fruit that didn't bring any vinous notes. Even the oxidation that I mentioned in the smell is muted. Yay.
The mouthfeel is full, no carbonation but I reckon that I don't miss or need it here.
Overall, I am very pleased.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Dec 2025
at 14:39
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ Beer Temple, Chicago, IL. #43655, dated 2018. Pours murky reddish brown with a very small frothy beige ring for a head, woodsy caramel aroma, low carbonation, bitterish caramel malt taste, woodsy flavor, alcohol undertones, smooth body, long finish with alcohol aftertaste. Not as boozy as expected.
Tried
from Bottle
from
The Beer Temple
on 13 Dec 2025
at 01:09
7.6/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 9
Texture 7
Overall 8
Bottled from planet wine, - maroon amber pour no head becsause old obviously. Sticky sweet toffee, caramel, yeast, wood
Tried
from Bottle
from
Planet Wine
on 07 Jun 2025
at 02:20
3.8/10
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Appearance 3
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 4
Overall 16
Bottiglia. Un arco olfattivo dominato da impressioni di cioccolato e di tabacco. L'olfatto viene stimolato in maniera elevata e l'esistenza olfattiva è apprezzabile. Il cappello di schiuma è inesistente. La parte liquida si presenta opalescente. Il colore è ambrato carico tendente rossiccio. Il corpo è strutturato pesante. L'amaro è contenuto. La forza gustativa è molto elevata. La continuità gustativa è lunga e persistente. Il gusto è piacevolissimo. Le sensazioni boccali finali inducono a bevuta compulsiva e sono di birra impegnativa per la complessità convergente dei sentori. Il retrogusto è intenso. Al gusto vengono donati toni di caramello, miele, frutta secca, agrumi, affumicato, uvetta bagnata nel rum, mandorla fresca, alcol presente, vino Porto e burro.
Tried
on 18 Feb 2025
at 11:56
8.2/10
Smooth, lightly tasty toffee caramel nose, juicy and soft. Remarkably easy drinking and balanced. LCI
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jun 2024
at 16:30
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle 36407 from Corti Bros. Pours dark amber with a tranisent smear. Aroma of kandi, dark fruit and caramel. Full bodied. Flavor is the aroma, but fig and leather too. Not dry, but just avoiding sticky. Heat is perceptible. Excellent flavor.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Sep 2023
at 01:26
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
(Bottle, 0.33 l - #1634, from Alko, 20230826) The beer poured amber and hazy. Its head was small and white. Aroma had toasted malts, raisins, prunes, dark fruits, molasses and toffee. Palate was full bodied and dry with medium carbonation. Flavours were toasted malts, dark fruits, raisins, prunes, toffee, earth and bitterness. Aftertaste had malts, molasses and bitterness. A delicious and balanced malty brew.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2023
at 19:33
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Bottled (Alko Web, drank with Mats). Deep amber colour, minor head. Aroma is sugary sweet, mild glue and some spiciness along with some kettukarkki. Flavour is sugary, plummy, some spices and creamy tones with some fudge and toffee too. Very sweet, but actually alcohol can be felt, but is very well hidden into everything in this one. Nice one!
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 May 2023
at 17:33
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
(Bottle, #15886), Hazy reddish amber colour with brief, foamy head. Malty, vinous nose with treacle-toffee, oak wood, dried apricots, brown sugar, orange, chocolate, hazelnuts, dried fruit and herbs. Malty, vinous, sweet taste with notes of dried apricots, oak wood, brown sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, hazelnuts, orange peel, dried fruit, herbs and a generous spicy/resiny bitterness in the finish. Full body, sweet. Warming and vinous. Solid and well made barley wine.Very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 07 May 2023
at 18:35
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
0,33l bottle from the Alko webshop, shared @ Rantakylä. Pours cloudy deep brown with a low head. Aroma is sweet malts, dark fruits, caramel, alcohol. Flavor is sweet malts, dark fruits, oak, caramel, alcohol, hops. Tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Dec 2022
at 21:57