Thomas Hardy's Ale (1968-1999)
Hanlons Brewery

Thomas Hardy's Ale (1968-1999)Thomas Hardy's Ale (1968-1999)
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From:
Hanlons Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Old Ale
ABV:
11.7%
Score:
98
Avg:
4.43 | pDev: 11.06%
Reviews:
130
Ratings:
232
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 23, 2022
Added:
Nov 27, 2001
Wants:
  169
Gots:
  54
This entry is for vintages brewed by Eldridge Pope & Co. PLC. / Thomas Hardy Brewery from 1968 to 1999. O'Hanlon's took over the brand and revived it in 2003: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1533/16858
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Ratings by BeardedBoffin:
Photo of BeardedBoffin
Reviewed by BeardedBoffin from New Mexico

4.74/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
The time has finally come for me to drink this bottle. I procured this a few years back with the anticipation of drinking it when the time came. Three weeks back, that time indeed arrived, and tonight the reward: a bottle of Thomas Hardy's Ale, vintage 1992.

The bottle emitted a slight hiss as I pried the cap from the glass. The beer poured into the chalice a beautiful chestnut brown color with no head, but a vestige of carbonation was present from the dissolved bubbles stuck to the side of the glass.

The aroma is quite amazing, taking a different form every time I place my nose over the glass. Plums, prunes, powdery chocolate, an old pile of chopped wood, refined oak barrels, fermented grain, and a slightly boozy backbone all contribute to this bouquet.

On the palate the beer is malty and bitter at once. It's smooth and full on the palate. A malty sweetness is contrasted by a bitterness up front. This rolls into juicy center which gives way to a mild rummy fruit, peaty, but still bitter, character toward the rear. The beer exits strong and slow and bitter and a little boozy.

This aged brew is the epitome of a sipper--like brandy by the fire place. A complex and amazing beer. Something to be savored. If you ever have the chance, don't hesitate, get the bottle. You will not be sorry.
Mar 13, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
what a treat to get to share this bottle with new work friends at our holiday share. a generously shared bottle from the 1994 vintage, my first ever from this age range, i believe my first actually from eldridge pope, closer perhaps to the original than some of the later ones, i think this recipe has changed hands and been tweaked as its moved from brewery to brewery. this is also one of the oldest beers ive ever had at this point, if not the oldest. so special. it is packed still i believe, so no surprise when it pours an incredibly thick reddish brown color without a prickle of carbonation, this thing is entombed in the bottle, sedimented and heavy looking, leggy in the glass, even looks ancient. it smells awesome though, less tart than expected, past oxidized to an almost sherry level, raisin, cherry, old beat up leather, but still some neat malt layers to it, burning caramel, praline, high end cocoa, port wine, and wet tobacco, massively complex, english yeast in play, and some appreciable booziness. i didnt know what to expect with this, but its highly appealing believe it or not at close to 30 years old. the flavor is striking too, i get cocoa in front of anyting else, powdered baking chocolate, organic dark cacao, and even a sort of melty sweeter chocolate, just amazing. its also got a sort of chocolate covered raisin and cherry vibe, cherry cordial, more leather, musty basement oldness, and corrugated cardboard. warming alcohol, black tea bitterness, palate coating body and an almost sandy texture with the sediment. lightly medicinal, fruitcake, roasted nuts, dark bread, molasses, honey, and cognac. smooth and slick and sweet and tangy, all the feels. astonishing how good this still is, frankly even better maybe than some more recent vintages ive had, certainly different, although its been a long time for me. a really special beer to share this time of year, hope to eventually get into other old ones, but this may be a once in a lifetime treat. not all in our group loved it, some thought soy sauce, others downright poison, but for me it was magic, especially at temperature. a small doses thing, but about as cozy as it gets. thanks to my friend for sharing this relic, what a treat!
Dec 23, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.28/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Aug. 2005: Bottle, vintage 1990, RBESG 2005 Grand Tasting. Intensely vinous oak and sherry aroma. Flavour is also intensely oaky and old sherry-like, incredible alcoholic punch, very sweet. Mature flavour, but no sign of it being oxidised. Will probably be good for another 15 years (at least).
Aug 28, 2022
Photo of vinicole
Reviewed by vinicole from England

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle conditioned. Unknown vintage (but possibly 1978) - slugs have attacked the label during cellaring. Slight phsst upon opening but pours flat. Deep, dark amber in colour.
Rich aroma of soy, stewed prunes and rumtopf. There some indistinct liquorice, old leather armchair and treacle present.
Tastes better then the bouquet. Similar to a very old oloroso sherry. Bitter finish.
Viscous feel. Very slight carbonation belying it's flat appearance.
Savoured to the full with the whole being greater than it's parts.
Feb 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.32 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 09, 2021
Photo of edthehead
Rated by edthehead from Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
1998
Sep 28, 2021
Photo of laquebrada
Reviewed by laquebrada from California

4.89/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured from 33 cl Vintage 1995 bottle on Christmas Day 2020, as 25 years is alleged to be the optimal aging.
No head or carbonation whatsoever.
Color is almost opaque, but a clear brown, left considerable sediment in the bottom of the bottle.
Massive malt and molasses aroma, not a hint of sherry or oxidation.
Very viscous body, flavor is rich, complex, warming, woody, sweet, brown sugar, with a very long malt finish.
Overall, still a bit sweet, but better attenuated than the younger versions I have tasted. Can it be aged a few more years to reach perfection? Don't know, but it's pretty awesome as it is.
Dec 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jul 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by heysuz from Indiana

Jul 03, 2020
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

5/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
1982 Vintage Bottled and shared with the head brewer and owner of Beer Nouveau at their brew tap on the Friday night
Murk free dark brown boday
smells of booze and Christmas pudding
balance of molasses and yeast supplement
Ale supreme
Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.56 by Thorfinn960 from Ohio

Aug 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by hopley from Massachusetts

Jun 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.73 by nullbort from Canada (ON)

Mar 02, 2019
Photo of Walnut
Reviewed by Walnut from Missouri

4.52/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I had the 1986 vintage; I had bought if for my oldest son's first birthday (yeah, that's the kind of dad I am). It had no carbonation at all. It was dark and thick...sort of like prune juice or soy sauce. It had a port-like taste, deep, fruity and complex. In short, it was outstanding. I had some Taiwanese Kavalan Soloist sherry barrel-aged whiskey last night, and they are really similar in a lot of ways. I have 2 more bottles of Hardy's, a 1990 vintage for my second son's birthday, and a 2005 vintage that I didn't even remember I had. Really a beer experience to remember!
Nov 24, 2018
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.65/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
1987 vintage bottle from Douglas88. Brown, clear, pours flat (understandable). Smoky, peaty aroma, leather , tobacco. Taste too is the old ale sweetness, mellowed by age, more peat. Mellow sweetness. Aged perfectly.
Oct 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.3 by animal69 from Louisiana

Jul 13, 2018
 
Rated: 1.44 by Rifugium from North Dakota

May 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.21 by Resuin from Massachusetts

Jan 24, 2018
Photo of igl
Rated by igl from Russian Federation

5/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Vintage 2016
Sep 15, 2017
Photo of 4DAloveofSTOUT
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
rating #: 2,750.

6oz "nip" bottle that is so old that the label is no longer readable. The bottle is sealed with Golden foil with black lettering that reads: "Huntsmen" and a pressure cap. A red string comes out from the bottom of the golden foil and a medallion hangs from this red string which shows a man's head silhouetted on the front of the medallion. On the back of the medallion it says: "Thomas Hardy's Ale Brewed and bottled by ELDRIDGE POPE Dorchester Dorset"

Vintage 1986.

poured into unbranded snifter.

Appearance: A dark black bodied beer. The head pours out to almost a thin uneven cap, but is mostly a bunch of uniform medium to large sized bubbles. Booze legs on the side of the glass after each sip.

Smell: Rich dried tobacco. Dark Fruits. Caramel. Soy sauce. Bakers cocoa. Flour-less chocolate cake. Black truffles. Hint of black licorice. Truly unique nose, I have never smelled an old ale like this before.

Taste: This beer is rich and sweet. Dark fruits are the first thing that you taste. Lots of plums and also black currants. Raisins & plums too, but they are more subtle. The unmistakable flavors of leather and tobacco with lots of it to be had. Port wine. Molasses. Light meaty smoke flavor. Dark chocolates. Finishing with a hint of caramel and vanilla sweetness and balanced by a hint of bittersweet tobacco / leather...then more prunes to round out the finish. This beer is very flavorful and complex. Very "English" if that makes any sense to anyone...

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low carbonation level. Not a hint of booze in this beer; its a very smooth drink. Still a sipper, but because it has such big flavors.

Overall: At 31 years old...this is the oldest beer that I have ever drank. Prior to this beer, it was a 10 year old Gueuze. I have always been a huge fan of old ales, so this is without a doubt a true treat to get to try since Thomas Hardy's is the holy grail of Old Ales. Word on the streets is Thomas Hardy Ales have done well with proper cellar conditions for a long time. I can confirm this fact now. Flavors are so big here that 6oz is all that I wanted to drink. The brewer knew what he was doing putting this beer into a 6oz nip bottle. I am pretty impressed with this Old Ale. It is about as authentic as it gets for an Old Ale!
Aug 09, 2017
Thomas Hardy's Ale (1968-1999) from Hanlons Brewery
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 232 ratings