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.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by lenusik from Toronto, Canada who has tried this beer once. (6/15/2008 5:10:02 PM)
"I recently tried the 2007 vintage. The beer pours a dark murky brown with a beige coloured head. The aroma was sweet malt, very alcoholly, and no hops. The flavour is very strong with a powerful malt punch, a sweet alcohol flavour (rum-like), and nice smooth finish."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
9/10
Mouthfeel:
9/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.2)
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure Compared to this brewer's other beers: Not Sure
[2] Review by changeup45 from Orlando, Florida, USA who has tried this beer once. (5/12/2008 8:43:19 PM)
"2005, bottle # 24246. Pours very syrupy hazy brown color with absolutely no head at all. Aroma is alcoholic with malts, some dark fruit, and winey. The flavor is dark brown sugars, molasses, dark fruits (grapes, plums, prunes and a lot of figs), and some toasty malt. The beer is a little hot but at 11.7% I kind of expected that (especially after the aroma) and all things considering it is hidden well and very smooth. The beer is rich and complex with gentle flavors if that makes sense. In the end it's an expensive but fun experience, at least once, but I didn't think it was amazing party because I thought it was maybe a touch too sweet. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
9/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.7)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 8.5oz @ $4.99 Unit Cost: $9.39 per Pint
[3] Review by Chopz from Cantley, Canada who has tried this beer once. (3/1/2008 2:31:24 AM)
"Was surprise to find this one at the LCBO. Expensive at $4.65 CAN a small bottle, but probably worth it for an English Barleywine. 2007 edition, written No. Q 11134 on the front label. Pours a very cloudy orange-brown colour with red-purple highlights, and hardly no head. Just a little surface of bubbles, that disappear fairly slow and no lace is seen. The nose is quite nutty, with notes of caramel, raisin and plum. Smooth oily texture for the mouthfeel with a little fine coffee grain touch to it in the end. Wow... the taste goes everywhere. Starts on sweet syrupy flavour of the fruits mentioned in the aroma. The middle has the caramel and chocolat which is a good passage from the sweetness of the fruits. The end is where the hop appears, a little bitter, with the coffee and burnt malt finish. Really, really nice barleywine experience... that is worth the price."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 250ml @ $3.94 Unit Cost: $7.46 per Pint
[4] Review by Cybercat from Atlanta, GA, USA who has tried this beer once. (2/12/2008 7:57:57 PM)
"Aroma is rich, strong, malty with smoky and toffee hints and a touch of saltiness. Color is a pretty mahogany brown, semi-transparent, not much head. Flavor has a strong alcohol bite, but once you get past that it is surprisingly sweet, with hints of molasses and also caramel. It is very smooth, but the sharp edge reminds you that it is a high-gravity beer. This is a good dessert beer, and each sip is to savor."
Aroma:
10/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
9/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.3)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by cyrenaica from Milton, Ontario, Canada who has tried this beer once. (1/31/2008 6:23:47 PM)
"2006 Vintage
250ml
13.3%
I tried this beer on January 31, 2008 at "Smokeless Joe's" in Toronto. The bottle was a 2006 vintage, and 13.3% ABV. The beer poured a dark reddish brown with am offwhite bubble head. The aroma was very yeasty, with some malt and candy tones. The mouthfeel was full-bodied, creamy with mild carbonation. The flavour was overpowering from an alcohol perspective with some detectable dark fruity tones and a stomach warming presence. Like the Samichlaus, not a beer I'd try again!"
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
4/10
Overall:
5/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 250ml @ $12.08 Unit Cost: $22.86 per Pint
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(4.2)
