A bit of bad news...
The following is from a recent post on JudgeNet, the BJCP news group. Apparently, Thomas Hardy's Ale is in danger of being lost. There is a chance that it can be saved if another brewery can be found to produce it. If it disappears, it would be a terrible loss to the beer world; this is truly a unique beer. So please write to the George Saxon, the importer, and let him know how you feel about this (email address at the end of the post).
-------------------------------------------------------- From: OudBruin@aol.com Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 23:52:09 EDT Subject: thomas hardys ale I just recieved this message over the net- If all you dedicated Beer judges get on the stick and write to these people maybe we can save this significent brand... :: The Death of Another Legend? First Kulmbacher Reichelbrau's Eisbock Bayrisch G'frorns bit the dust when EKU took over the brewery. Then Samichlaus was cast aside when Feldschlosschen acquired Hurlimann. And now another classic beer is at risk from a brewery change-over. Early this month, news came from Maryland-based Phoenix Imports that none other than Thomas Hardy's Ale is facing the abyss. According to the press release, the Thomas Hardy Brewery, which had been spun off by Eldridge Pope in 1996 and sold to ex-Courage production manager, Peter Ward, in 1997, has ceased brewing the famous ale as of this year. The brewery has no plans to restart production. The reason given for the end of Hardy's Ale is a familiar one -- the ale is a small-run brand, and as such, was not deemed to be important enough to be worthy of continuation. Forget the fabulous legacy of one of the world's great aging beers; ignore the extraordinary character of a ten- or fifteen-year-old Hardy's; and to hell with the thousands of loyal and avid Hardy's fans. Profits are in volumes and Hardy's doesn't sell enough, so it must die. Fortunately, there may be a silver lining to this particular cloud. George Saxon, owner of Phoenix Imports and the agent for Hardy's for the past fourteen years, is committed to preserving the brand, the rights to which are still owned by Eldridge Pope. At present, he is looking for a new English brewer for the ale. "We think it's very important to keep that brand alive," Saxon said in a recent interview with World of Beer, "And we are making every effort to save it." To show your support for a classic British ale and Saxon's efforts to preserve it, email him at mythbird@aol.com. reprinted with permission Copyright, 2000 - Stephen Beaumont http://worldofbeer.com