The Bar Towel

GregClow · Joined: 10 Aug 2001 Posts: 2930 Location: Parkdale

Just posted to Twitter by Josh Rubin:

"O'Hanlon's has decided to no longer brew Thomas Hardy's. No word yet on whether someone else will pick up the rights..."

boney · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 380 Location: Calgary

Thomas Hardy is practically beer royalty. Picking each new vintage, drinking a few and tucking many away in boxes is one of my yearly highlights. Very sad indeed.

I can't possibly imagine it being a poor seller for O'Hanlon's, so I wonder why the decision was made. Based on the pedigree and reputation, I also can't imagine another brewer not scooping it up pretty quickly.

Roland + Russell · Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 283 Location: Burlington, ON.

After a long and painful debate, O'Hannlon's has decided to stop brewing Thomas Hardy's Ale. While its popularity and value is without question, the process is quite expensive and complex for a small craft brewery. At the end, this venture was no longer sustainable for Liz and John O'Hanlon.

We are in touch with the company which owns the rights and the recipe for Thomas Hardy's Ale and will keep you posted of any new developments. At this point, they are looking into potential breweries, but we are running out of time to see the 2009 batch of THA. You may want to buy a few bottles at the LCBO, at $4.85 it looks even like a better deal than it was last month.

We will do our best to bring you future incarnations of this unique and wonderful beer.
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Bobsy · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1824 Location: Toronto

This is terrible news. THA is a world classic and can't be allowed to disappear. I hope to god that someone somewhere will be able to produce it.
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The_Jester · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Peterborough

This is bad news indeed. Hopefully we only lose the 2009; you gotta believe that someone will pick it up. Hopefully it's someone with an import deal in Ontario. R&R's explanation makes a lot of sense, though. It must be an expensive beer to brew, and an expensive beer to age/store.
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SteelbackGuy · Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 3032 Location: London, ON

Terrible news. I'll buy a few bottles now, so that in 55 years, they'll be drinkable.
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Guybrush · Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 51 Location: London, Ontario.

There could be a few quality control issues at first, and most likely a constant failing to meet volume production expectations, but i'll take one for the team, and tell them I'll brew it out of my basement.

dutchcanuck · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

I guess i better stock up so I have a few bottles to indulge in next winter.

Derek · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1678 Location: Kelowna, BC

SteelbackGuy · Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 3032 Location: London, ON

Belgian · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 4563 Location: Yonge and Beach

matt7215 · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 1024 Location: Cambridge

i love this beer and ive only ever had it "fresh". please feel free to send me all your fresh samples so you can be free of them.

it is a shame if this does not get picked up by another brewer.

Bobsy · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1824 Location: Toronto

I've found that just a year works wonders for Thomas Hardy's. Anyways, if anyone in Toronto is still interested in getting some while its here (and lets face it - even if its brewed again it may not be through someone who imports to Ontario) there's a large stock at Davisville LCBO. I'd say they had around 100 bottles out when I got there.
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markaberrant · Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 418 Location: Regina, SK

Bobsy · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1824 Location: Toronto