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| Founded | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Website | www |
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, and was brewed under contract at Meantime Brewery for a period.
History
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
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
References
- HUBBELL, COLIN. "Thomas Hardy's Ale comes out of retirement". Uticaod.
- "The Rebirth of Thomas Hardy Ale". Craft Beer & Brewing.
- "O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale « Beer Culture with Des de Moor". desdemoor.co.uk.
- "Buy Beer Online | Visit The Shop at Hanlons Brewery".
- Dept, Editorial (November 21, 2016). "The Historical Ale: Thomas Hardy's Ale Encounters Hine Cognac Barrels". The Beer Connoisseur.
- "Vintages". August 30, 2016.