Thomas Hardy Ale?

[jsmurphy]

I heard that Thomas Hardy Ale will once again be available but brewed under different company, supposedly using the same recipe and packaging as before.

Anyone else heard of this?

[hopjack13]

i had a 96' a couple months ago, but i had no idea they weren't brewing anymore....shows how much i know about imports :rolleyes:

[brewmonkey]

From what I have been reading Thomas Hardy is going to be produced under contract at another brewery and if it has not already hit our shores it should be soon. I am looking forward as my supply is pretty much gone, all I have left is a few 88's.

[hopjack13]

damn... can you drink them that old? is it even beer anymore at that age? the 96 i had was good but only slighly resembled beer, well it was a barly wine. the knumbskull i had the other day was a 2000 and it was excellent, was also a barlywine. i thought 3-4 years was ripe for a barly wine? how much further can you go with them?

[steveh]

Originally posted by hopjack13
i thought 3-4 years was ripe for a barly wine? how much further can you go with them?

Always the question in cellaring beer. I have 2 bottles of '92 Thomas Hardy as my Mortgage Bottles -- only 13 more years to go! ;)

S.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by hopjack13
damn... can you drink them that old? is it even beer anymore at that age? the 96 i had was good but only slighly resembled beer, well it was a barly wine. the knumbskull i had the other day was a 2000 and it was excellent, was also a barlywine. i thought 3-4 years was ripe for a barly wine? how much further can you go with them?


I believe 1999 was the last vintage. As far as the 2003 vintage, I've read conflicting reports on BA.com - some said late November, others said January 2004. Who knows? It's coming and it'll be pricey.

I know some people who still have bottles of the '85 Vintage in the cellar. I have some '95 that I have yet to touch - stumbled upon some "cheap" four-packs in a liquor store. Some barleys can survive 10-20 years. Many will slowly evolve into a more sherry-like brew after a while though.

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

I have some older than 85. And 2004 I will be opening the 86 that was given to me when my son was born to celebrate with him on his 18th birthday. That will be a year and 1 day away.

[fretlessman71]

I know that Thomas Hardy barleywines were supposed to keep for 25 years... is there any particular reason that something like SN Bigfoot wouldn't hold up that long?

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
I know that Thomas Hardy barleywines were supposed to keep for 25 years... is there any particular reason that something like SN Bigfoot wouldn't hold up that long?

I also have a few vintages of those cellaring next to my Hardys! (Hardies?)

S.

[hopjack13]

wow... thats impressive 25 years? i didn't know they'd keep that long..

[fretlessman71]

That's what the bottle says, anyway... personally, I'd like to see someone that had THAT kind of self-control to wait 25 years!

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
That's what the bottle says, anyway... personally, I'd like to see someone that had THAT kind of self-control to wait 25 years!


That's why I became a brewer, 2-3 weeks, depnding on beer style and you're ready to go. You gotta admire those wine makers and distillers for their patience, though.

[fretlessman71]

So here's what you do.... pack one really well, send it to yourself via USPS, and MOVE in the next month. Move again sometime in the next year, and that bottle won't find you for at LEAST 20 years..... :D