O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale 2007/2008

I tried and compared the 2007 and 2008 editions of Thomas Hardy's Ale with MG, and put the tasting notes in the original posting.

Not sure the 2007 edition handled the 1-year storage too well. The beer had basically no head and was a bit too vinous and flat.

O'Hanlon's Goldblade / Wheat Beer

This beer was called O'Hanlon's Wheat Beer in the 500-book, but has since changed name to Goldblade.

• Name: O'Hanlon's Goldblade / Wheat Beer, 4.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Cloudy greyish orange. Lots of white head, longlived.
  
• Aroma: Citrus and hops, some spices and wheat.
  
• Taste: Lots of hops and wheat. Lemony. Quite bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 14/8-2008, 197/500

O'Hanlon's Goodwill Bitter

Christmas beer bought for me by MG in Sainsbury's.

• Name: O'Hanlon's Goodwill Bitter, 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Chestnut brown. Small head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. Spices. Cinnamon?
  
• Taste: Quite hoppy, and malt. Sweet, though bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Sainsury's, 500 ml, £?.??
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 8/1-2008

O'Hanlon's Royal Oak

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

• Name: O'Hanlon's Royal Oak, 5.0%, England
  
• Appearance: Orangy brown. Cloudy. Little bit of head.
  
• Aroma: Malt and hops. Some berries.
  
• Taste: Quite hopsy, then malt. Bitter aftertaste.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.89
  
• Overall score: 3/6
  
• Info: 28/1-2007, 137/500

O'Hanlon's Original Port Stout

• Name: O'Hanlon's Original Port Stout, 4.8%, England
  
• Appearance: Dark brown. Bit of nice head.
  
• Aroma: Fruity, vinous. Burnt grain.
  
• Taste: Vinous. Fruity. Burnt grain. Pretty bitter.
  
• Bought: Beers of Europe, 500 ml, £1.85
  
• Overall score: 4/6
  
• Info: 14/6-2006, 124/300
  

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