Hepworth + Co: Thomas Hardy Ale: Vintage 2024 (England: Barley Wine: 11.3% ABV)
Visual: Dark chestnut to red. Thin dash of a head. Clear and still body.
Nose: Dry alcohol. Cherries. Dates. Sultanas. Dry honey. Touch of golden syrup. Brown sugar. Liquorice touch.
Body: Chewy and sweet. Golden syrup. Plums. Fig rolls. Sultanas. Fruitcake. Fortified red wine. Nut oils. Tobacco.
Finish: White pepper. Oily feel. Golden syrup. Slightly dry alcohol. Port. Sherry cream. Mince pies. Fruitcake. Nut oils. Tobacco. Liquorice.
Conclusion: Ok, this is it, it is back. This is not a test, Thomas fucking Hardy ale is finally back. Do not let me down please, I don’t think I could take it.
It is drier than I remember, with the abv mainly shown through a chewy body and a dry alcohol feel. Not a bad thing for the most part, I do like a beer that reminds you of what you are drinking, but in the finish, over time, it can get a tad too present.
The main character is real dark fruit though, cherries, plums, figs, and more, at different moments showing different facets, but always really working those dark fruit in a luxurious way. As well as that, as you may expect, there is some spirity influence. Port, sherry cream, but always kind of dry, drier than you would expect. Heck, even the sweet golden syrup and honey notes feel somehow attenuated and dry.
Over time a tobacco element comes out, nicely chewy and aromatic. This is one element that was more evident when I tried it on tap, which made a big difference and I think is why I preferred that expression of it.
It is still a great beer, not quite up to my memory of it back in the mid 2000s, but that was over a decade ago, and through rose tinted spectacles. There are little bits not for me, the liquorice touch, the slightly dry alcohol but it is still a super rewarding beer, and super complex with it. It is a tad rough edged, which is not always a bad thing. I generally prefer it to the super smooth take.
While a great beer it seems nothing can live up to my rose tinted memories, but I am still so glad it is back, and it is a darn great beer.
Background: So Thomas Hardy Ale. Had several brewers over the years as everyone who brews it seems to go bust. Which is odd as it was FANTASTIC. It was available in supermarkets back in my mid 20s and was one of the formative beers that made me realize how good they could be, up there with Aventinus. So of course it had been unavailable in the UK for over a decade now, with the prior brewer going out of business. And it is back. So you may say I was excited. Grabbed from independent spirit, I also tried this on tap at the newly opened “The Sickle”. Wonderful wee pub, and I did enjoy it that touch more on tap. Went with Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables as backing music, which definitely had nothing to do with the landlord continuing to be rubbish. Honest.
