O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale

I was unsure how they could justify the price before I tried it, and it is actually really nice. The bottle was at 11.7%, not 12% as listed in the 300-book (where it even says 11.7% on the pictured bottle) and the 500-book.

• Name: O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale 2006, 11.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Red-brown. Seems cloudy. Little head.
  
• Aroma: Very, very fruity. Malty.
  
• Taste: Very fruity, vinous. Raisins. Doesn't taste that strong.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 250 ml, £3.49
  
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 13/5-2006, 112/300, 71/500

This beer is called "Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy's Ale" in the 500-book, but the Eldridge Pope brewery was closed in 2003. Thomas Hardy's Ale is now luckily brewed under license by O'Hanlon's.

Update: I then tried both 2007 and 2008 editions on 30 December 2008:

• Name: O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale 2007, 11.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark chestnut brown. Very little head. Bottle No. Q 00065.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit, very vinous. Prunes.
  
• Taste: Very vinous, a bit too flat. Not handled the storage well?
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 250 ml, £3.49
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 30/12-2008

• Name: O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale 2008, 11.7%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark chestnut brown. Cloudy. Nice amount of tan head. Bottle No. T 12353.
  
• Aroma: Dark fruit, little bit vinous.
  
• Taste: Complex. Dark fruit and malt. Warming. Longlasting aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Waitrose, 250 ml, £3.49
  
• Overall score: 5/6
  
• Info: 30/12-2008