Thomas Hardy's Ale (2019)

Retried this one, the 2019 vintage - added to the rating of the 2016 vintage.

Thomas Hardy's Ale 50th Anniversary

• Name: Thomas Hardy's Ale 50th Anniversary, 13%, Italy
• Appearance: Bottle #09811, vintage 2018. Dark reddish brown, seems clear. Almost no head.
• Aroma: Malt, some caramel sweetness, lots of raisins and prunes.
• Taste: Malt, raisins, prunes, sweetness. Some alcohol. Pretty good.
• Bought: Drinks of the World (Zurich), 330 ml, CHF 8.80
• Score: 3.7 (Aroma 7/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 14/20)
• Info: 12/4-2019, BB: 18/9-2027

Thomas Hardy's Ale (2016)

New brewery:

• Name: Thomas Hardy's Ale (2016), 11.7%, Italy(!)
• Appearance: 2016 vintage, bottle 02788. Orange brown, quite clear. Not much head to speak of.
• Aroma: Dark fruits, prunes, some malt and sweetness.
• Taste: Lots of dark fruit, caramel sweetness, slight alcohol. Warming. Very nice.
• Bought: Bier Arena Murten, 330 ml, CHF 9.90
• Score: 4.1 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 17/20)
• Info: 9/2-2018, BB: 15/11-2026

Rate of the 2019 version:

• Name: Thomas Hardy's Ale (2019), 12.8%, Italy
• Appearance: 2019 vintage, bottle 2942. Medium to dark brown, slight haze. Ok light tan head.
• Aroma: Dark fruits, prunes, caramel, toasted malt.
• Taste: Dark fruit, prunes, medium malt, caramel sweetness. Lingering fruitiness.
• Bought: amstein.ch, 330 ml, CHF 7.32
• Score: 4.0 (Aroma 8/10, Appearance 4/5, Taste 8/10, Palate 4/5, Overall 16/20)
• Info: 25/12-2020, BB: 13/2-2029