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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7/10
Tried
on 04 Jun 2019
at 21:31
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle, 13%. Hazy dark amber with small off-white head. Aroma is malt, caramel, toasted, wood, biscuit and dark fruit. Flavour is malt, caramel, toasted, sweet, wood, dark fruit, biscuit, warming and medium bitter.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Jun 2019
at 21:15
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 2
Overall 6.5
Near total lack of carbonation creates a cask vibe, which, while intriguing, also leads to a very sweet, thick, stagnant pint, missing the needed effervescence to fight off the clinging brown sugar and toffee dominating the beer. Slight hints of bubbles on the fade add false hope of perkiness, and, while the nut-n-honey meets dried fruit back end does present a modicum of depth, overall this brew seems rather simple: boozy sweetness, through and through. Kinda surprised upon reading the label how young a bottle this is; seems old as dirt.
Tried
from Cask
on 02 Jun 2019
at 01:29
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Appearance: Bottle #09811, vintage 2018. Dark reddish brown, seems clear. Almost no head. Aroma: Malt, some caramel sweetness, lots of raisins and prunes. Taste: Malt, raisins, prunes, sweetness. Some alcohol. Pretty good. Bought: Drinks of the World (Zurich), 330 ml, CHF 8.80 Info: 12/4-2019, BB: 18/9-2027
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Apr 2019
at 11:55
4.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4
Bottle (didn't write down #), drunk 2/1/19.
Clear gold with brass and copper hues. Smattering of off-white head immediately fizzles out.
Smells oxidized (intentionally) yet it's still heavily bready and papery as a result. Fig, prune, golden raisin and plum are all here, with vanilla and light honey but it's got a massive amount of dull alcohol and monotonous caramel character, as well. Almost smells like DMS, though I have no idea why that would be here.
In the mouth it's sweet, overly sugary and rather simple with a fiery orange-apricot flavor mixing with caramel and honey notes as alcohol and heavy paper arrive on the finish. Bready and with more beany, corny DMS notes. Low, loose carbonation. Not much (if anything) of enjoyment here. Crude/forceful and overly oxidized with a thin texture/body. Dumped it out. Can't see how this is going to age well as it already feels bad/past its prime.
Clear gold with brass and copper hues. Smattering of off-white head immediately fizzles out.
Smells oxidized (intentionally) yet it's still heavily bready and papery as a result. Fig, prune, golden raisin and plum are all here, with vanilla and light honey but it's got a massive amount of dull alcohol and monotonous caramel character, as well. Almost smells like DMS, though I have no idea why that would be here.
In the mouth it's sweet, overly sugary and rather simple with a fiery orange-apricot flavor mixing with caramel and honey notes as alcohol and heavy paper arrive on the finish. Bready and with more beany, corny DMS notes. Low, loose carbonation. Not much (if anything) of enjoyment here. Crude/forceful and overly oxidized with a thin texture/body. Dumped it out. Can't see how this is going to age well as it already feels bad/past its prime.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Mar 2019
at 16:56
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
23rd March 2019
Very light haze on this amber beer, residual pale tan head. Smooth palate, light and semi dry, reasonable fine carbonation. The malts reflect the lightness of the palate but bring a decent caramel - toffee, not that sweet. A little woody sherry turning mildly bitter. Ripe rich fruits. Smooth light creamy finish. Nice. Nothing spectacular but rich and tasty.
Very light haze on this amber beer, residual pale tan head. Smooth palate, light and semi dry, reasonable fine carbonation. The malts reflect the lightness of the palate but bring a decent caramel - toffee, not that sweet. A little woody sherry turning mildly bitter. Ripe rich fruits. Smooth light creamy finish. Nice. Nothing spectacular but rich and tasty.
Tried
on 23 Mar 2019
at 17:39
8.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Apricot, raisin, candi sugar, caramel malt, and hay aroma. Amber with minimal head. Very sweet apricot, raisin, candi sugar, malt, and moderately bitter dry hay,lemon peel, and alcohol flavor. Great body and balance. Excellent.
Tried
from Can
on 09 Mar 2019
at 01:03
8.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ Mr Orla Going Barley, Ratebeer Odense. Hazy amber with a small white head. Malty aroma with toffee, biscuit, milk chocolate and dried fruit. Sweet malty flavour with a good, hoppy bitter finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Mar 2019
at 19:48
7.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Bottle @ Mr Orla Going Barley, Ratebeer Odense. Pours amber copper with a ruby hew and a bubbly head. Sweet port, dried fruit en masse. Full bodied. Very soft..
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Mar 2019
at 19:48
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
bottle ambrata velata quasi piatta note alcoliche leggera frutta secca zucchero lieve cioccolato ossidazione
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Feb 2019
at 23:07