Thomas Hardy's Ale is a Barley wine named after famous English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. The brand has gone under numerous owners over the years, but now is currently brewed under contract at Meantime Brewery.

Thomas Hardy's Ale
Founded1968
Headquarters,
Websitewww.thomashardysale.com

History

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In 1968, Eldridge Pope Brewery created a barley wine recipe to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Thomas Hardy. A pint bottle sold for an English pound, a large sum of money at the time.[1] It was meant to be a one-off brew, but in 1974 a second vintage was created.[2] In 1999 the brewery stopped making the beer and the following year the brewery shut its doors.[3] In 2003 beverage exporter George Saxon bought the recipe and licensed it to be produced by O'Hanlon’s Brewery, but that arrangement ended in 2008.[4] In 2013 Interbrau purchased the recipe and after three years began brewing the beer at Meantime Brewing.[5]

Products

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Each label has the date and batch number.[6] The original label suggested "This beer will improve if kept lying down at 55°F [13°C] and will last at least 25 years. DO NOT OPEN BEFORE JULY 1969.”[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ HUBBELL, COLIN. "Thomas Hardy's Ale comes out of retirement". Uticaod.
  2. ^ a b "The Rebirth of Thomas Hardy Ale". Craft Beer & Brewing.
  3. ^ "O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale « Beer Culture with Des de Moor". desdemoor.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Buy Beer Online | Visit The Shop at Hanlons Brewery".
  5. ^ Dept, Editorial (November 21, 2016). "The Historical Ale: Thomas Hardy's Ale Encounters Hine Cognac Barrels". The Beer Connoisseur.
  6. ^ "Vintages". August 30, 2016.
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