Thomas Hardy's Ale
The ultimate cellar-worthy English barleywine
Thomas Hardy's Ale is a legendary, vintage-dated barleywine of immense complexity and historical prestige. On the palate, this rich, full-bodied ale offers deep layers of dark stone fruit, warming alcohol, and a complex sherry-like oxidation that evolves beautifully with age.
Best enjoyed
Food pairings
The story behind it
Thomas Hardy's Ale pays homage to the famous English novelist who immortalized strong Dorset ale in his 1880 classic, 'The Trumpet-Major'. The brand's survival across different ownerships represents a triumph of brewing heritage, maintaining the strict traditional recipes that make it one of the most collectible beers in the world.
Originally brewed in 1968 by the Eldridge Pope brewery to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of novelist Thomas Hardy, this historic barleywine has been saved and revived by devoted traditionalists. It is produced using ancient brewing techniques, undergoing an extensive maturation process that enables it to cellar gracefully for decades.
From Dorset, England
