English Barleywine
O'Hanlon's Brewing Co. Ltd.
11.7 % ABV
2005 vintage poured from a 8.5 oz bottle into a snifter. Note that this is not the original Thomas Hardy's ale that was brewed until 1999 by Eldridge Pope & Co.
Poured the darkest copper color, like turpentine oil with brilliant clarity. Most vigorous of pours couldn't force much bubbles but whatever formed stuck around.
The aroma was dried fruit and toasted coconut, caramel, toffee, and some sweet alcohol at the back. Very delicious, rounded and complex. I am giving it a 4.5/5 but I might bump it to 5/5 once I test it against J.W.Lees in a side by side comparison.
This ale tastes of decadence and I am thinking that no one makes a beer that suits my tastes better than the British. Sweet and flavorfuly so, with a lot of dried fruit character of dates and figs, and a nice bitterness towards the end. Very very very delicious.
Just some CO2 "oomph" on the perfect body... a perfect sipper!
Scores: Appearance 4.5/5; Aroma 4.5/5; Taste 5/5; Mouthfeel 5/5; Drinkability 5/5
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