Gales

Commercial Brewery in Horndean, Hampshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Established in 1847

Closed in 2006

Contact
The Hampshire Brewery, Horndean, PO8 0DA, England
Description
Founded in 1847 the brewery was bought by Fullers in 2006 and closed down. Some beers continue to be brewed by Fullers.

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6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle at Columbus. It pours hazy orange with minimal head. The aroma is old leather armchair, dusty museum, musty, wood, tobacco, earthy and dull solvent. The taste is dry, bitter, earthy, toasty, earthy, old leather, musty, fortified wine, must and tannin with a drying finish. Medium body and low carbonation. Has aged into something rather interesting. Fun.

Tried from Bottle on 22 May 2018 at 18:00


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

1996 vintage from Toby. Dark brown pour, minimal head. Aroma is a bit of varnish, but go beneath for some solid peaty, malty, leathery traditional old ale flavors. Hard on the nose, easy on the palate.

Tried on 22 Apr 2018 at 03:31


6.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Bottle split at L42, thanks to Soapey, 05/01/18. Lightly hazed amber with a decent off white covering. Nose is spice, oxidised bark, toffee, fruit cake. Taste comprises raisins, fruit loaf, light sugar load, caramel, raisins, biscuit crumbs, malty tones. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi dying close. So so.

Tried from Bottle on 13 Apr 2018 at 14:18


6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle split at L42, thanks to Scoopey, 05/01/18. Golden orange with a decent light beige covering. Nose is earthy fruits, caramel, sugars, light oxidisation, brown bread. Taste comprises rich malts, light spice, biscuit, fruit cake, dates, prunes, brown sugar, toffee. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Not bad ... has aged pretty gracefully.

Tried from Bottle on 13 Apr 2018 at 14:15


8

Tried on 02 Mar 2018 at 19:20


6.8
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

I had reviewed this here before but that review disappeared. Anyway this is a 2005 bottle. Aroma is musty also has lots of malt leather and isn't all that Pleasant. Flavor is where it really picks up lots of Sherry dark ripe fruits cocoa and dark malts. Body isn't too bad for almost no carbonation. Finish isn't too bad either. EDIT: 1997 Bottle. Aroma is very volatile. Lots of Sherry and old wood as soon as the bottle was poured. Flavor is earthy some of that Sherry maybe even slightly tanic. The bottle wasn't kept chilled and maybe if it had been it might be better but I think this bottle is past its prime. Body is okay finishes so so. 1996 Bottle. This is similar to the 97 just less of it. Again suffered due to not being properly stored.

Tried from Bottle on 14 Feb 2018 at 04:33


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle shared at L42. It pours clear deep mahogany brown with a medium beige head. The aroma is earthy, woody, varnish, leather, toasted nut and dried fruits. The taste is dry, brown bread, toasted nut, leather, dried fruits, fruit cake, toffee, touch of oxidisation, tannin and a hint of marmalade. Medium body and fine carbonation. Nice carbonation for the age. Fun stuff.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Jan 2018 at 06:43


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle shared at L42. It pours clear deep brown with a medium white head (impressive given the vintage). The aroma is rich, malt – driven, cereal, toasted nut, mellow oxidation, brown bread marmalade. The taste is dry, bitter, oily, resinous, toasted nut, wood, varnish, tangy marmalade, tannin, caramel and toffee. Medium body and fine, but spritely carbonation. Great condition for the age. Drinks rather well.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Jan 2018 at 06:42


6.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

14th November 2017
Level 42 Bottleshare. Thanks to Paul. Hazy amber beer, bubbly cream colour head. Palate is light and semi dry, decent fine carbonation. Thin malts with nice tangy fruits. Some aged must and a little wet wood. Some mild floralness in the light finish. Clearly aged but still enjoyable.

Tried from Bottle on 08 Jan 2018 at 02:56


6.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

26th September 2017
Level 42 Bottleshare. Thanks to Paul. Clear amber beer, tidy cream colour head. Smooth palate, reasonable fine carbonation. To have any is a bonus really! Smooth malts, some caramel but overall it's not that oxidized. Tangy orange and tangerine, a little orange peel. Light finish. Pretty drinkable and in remarkable shape after 34 years.

Tried from Bottle on 07 Jan 2018 at 10:54