O'Hanlon's dropping Thomas Hardy's

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Tue May 26, 2009 11:13 am

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 · Post by **boney** » Tue May 26, 2009 12:36 pm

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 · Post by **Roland + Russell** » Tue May 26, 2009 2:09 pm

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.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Tue May 26, 2009 2:31 pm

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.

The_Jester · Post by **The_Jester** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:41 pm

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.

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:46 pm

Terrible news. I'll buy a few bottles now, so that in 55 years, they'll be drinkable.

Guybrush · Post by **Guybrush** » Tue May 26, 2009 7:32 pm

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 · Post by **dutchcanuck** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:31 pm

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

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:59 pm

SteelbackGuy wrote:Terrible news. I'll buy a few bottles now, so that in 55 years, they'll be drinkable.

I know you quit smoking... but do you really think you'll be around in 55 years?

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:28 pm

Derek wrote:
SteelbackGuy wrote:Terrible news. I'll buy a few bottles now, so that in 55 years, they'll be drinkable.
I know you quit smoking... but do you really think you'll be around in 55 years?

Well, I'd be 84 then, so who knows.

But that shit takes ages to uhhhh..........age.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:34 pm

SteelbackGuy wrote: But that shit takes ages to uhhhh..........age.

Yeah - but think about how good it was the last time you aged it 55 years. Need I say more? Why NOT buy beer that takes longer to age than a great Madiran or Barolo!

matt7215 wrote:it is a shame if this does not get picked up by another brewer.

Not for trading. It's a 'retired' beer that lasts forever, so there should be growing demand for a diminishing supply. Can't hurt to buy 6 or 12 extra.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Tue May 26, 2009 11:02 pm

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 · Post by **Bobsy** » Thu May 28, 2009 4:07 pm

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.

markaberrant · Post by **markaberrant** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:14 pm

Bobsy wrote:I've found that just a year works wonders for Thomas Hardy's.

I had an 07 about 2 months ago, still way too hot. I wouldn't even have ordered it, but I thought the chalkboard special said 04.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:10 am

markaberrant wrote:
Bobsy wrote:I've found that just a year works wonders for Thomas Hardy's.
I had an 07 about 2 months ago, still way too hot. I wouldn't even have ordered it, but I thought the chalkboard special said 04.

Hey, I hear some like it hot! I keep mine at room temperature to speed things up. My old man has a bottle from the early 70s... I'm not sure what he's saving it for, but I want to be there!