Thomas Hardy’s Ale
Hepworth & Co. (Brewers) Ltd.
- From:
- Hepworth & Co. (Brewers) Ltd.
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Barleywine
Ranked #159 - ABV:
- 11.3%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #10,234 - Avg:
- 4.17 | pDev: 7.19%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 29, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 04, 2024
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Amber coloured Barley Wine laden with bronze glints. On the nose, straight away the bouquet has impact, intensity and complexity with notes of both candied and alcohol-soaked fruit, dried figs, fresh tobacco and chocolate, while a caramel sensation is perceived but remains in the background. on is of incredible density and softness, a silky warmth accompanying memories of bitter orange marmalade, dried fruit and chestnut honey. The finale provides a refreshing, slightly sharp hint that adds harmony and balance. It can also be stored in the wine cellar to taste its evolution over time.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
4.4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle: Poured a bright amber color ale with a small foamy head with light retention and some minor lacing. Aroma of sweet caramelized malt notes with some toffee notes and candy-like esther. Taste is also a mix of sweet caramelized malt notes with some toffee notes and candy-like notes. Body is about average with good carbonation and no real discernible alcohol notes.Superb English-style barleywine.
May 25, 2026
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
4.27/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
250 ml bottle served slightly chilled into a tulip. LCBO purchase for $5.55 CDN> 2024 Vintage and Bottle 10147.
Appearance - Hazy reddish brown brew with a small wispy head that fizzles out quick.
Smell - Dense aromas of figs, boozy prunes, caramel, treacle, hints of smoke and tobacco and leather. Wonderfully intense.
Taste - Mellow but more dark fruits, bits of chocolate and smoke, tobacco, treacle and leather. Booze is there but subdued. Sweet in the aftertaste but not oppressive.
Mouthfeel - Almost flat carbonation wise, but smooth and sensuous, velvety almost. Very full body. Syrupy.
Overall - Pretty exceptional brew, a great sipper, and glad I could finally cross this one off my list. Will try aging the other and may need to pick up some more.
Apr 24, 2026Appearance - Hazy reddish brown brew with a small wispy head that fizzles out quick.
Smell - Dense aromas of figs, boozy prunes, caramel, treacle, hints of smoke and tobacco and leather. Wonderfully intense.
Taste - Mellow but more dark fruits, bits of chocolate and smoke, tobacco, treacle and leather. Booze is there but subdued. Sweet in the aftertaste but not oppressive.
Mouthfeel - Almost flat carbonation wise, but smooth and sensuous, velvety almost. Very full body. Syrupy.
Overall - Pretty exceptional brew, a great sipper, and glad I could finally cross this one off my list. Will try aging the other and may need to pick up some more.
Reviewed by CAMRAhardliner from Canada (ON)
4.56/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a lightly hazed ruby red with a wispy, small head. Lots of lace trails cling to the glass. Loads of Christmas cake, bran muffin and orange peel in the nose. The taste is a malt bomb with almost maraschino cherry levels of sweetness without being cloying, Lemony hops way in the back. The mouthfeel is full bodied with almost a syrupy consistency and very light carbonation. Very malty and fruity finish with surprisingly light ABV heat.
A classic Barleywine for a reason. A must try.
Apr 11, 2026A classic Barleywine for a reason. A must try.
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
4.37/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
From Bine and Vine, bottle #26709.
Pours a clear amber with a tiny head of foam that shrinks quickly to a small island in the middle and ring around the glass.
It smells of caramel malt, dark fruits, brown sugar, bits of vanilla and maple syrup.
The taste is includes all that I listed in the smell. Alcohol is noticeable. No sense of any bitterness or tartness. Wonderfully sweet and complex.
Not quite full bodied with good carbonation despite the lack of foam, I would drink this again.
Dec 25, 2025Pours a clear amber with a tiny head of foam that shrinks quickly to a small island in the middle and ring around the glass.
It smells of caramel malt, dark fruits, brown sugar, bits of vanilla and maple syrup.
The taste is includes all that I listed in the smell. Alcohol is noticeable. No sense of any bitterness or tartness. Wonderfully sweet and complex.
Not quite full bodied with good carbonation despite the lack of foam, I would drink this again.
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio
4.04/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
8.45 FL OZ bottle
Served in a snifter
Vintage 2024
This beer pours a brilliant amber hue with golden highlights. It is topped with a fleeting head that leaves no trace.
Caramel, oak, dates, vanilla aromas. Alcohol smell. Cinnamon
Caramel and vanilla flavor. Figs. Oaky cinnamon
Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel
Tasty barelywine
Nov 29, 2025Served in a snifter
Vintage 2024
This beer pours a brilliant amber hue with golden highlights. It is topped with a fleeting head that leaves no trace.
Caramel, oak, dates, vanilla aromas. Alcohol smell. Cinnamon
Caramel and vanilla flavor. Figs. Oaky cinnamon
Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel
Tasty barelywine
Reviewed by beeragent from Texas
4.02/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - Pours a medium copper, with very little cabonation, and no lacing.
Smell - Caramel and dark fruit aromas dominate the nose.
Taste - Like the aroma, strong sweet caramel malts, dark fruits, and a hint of candy sweetness in the finish (reminds me of a Belgian Abby flavor profile).
Feel - Very smooth with no cabonation to clear the palate. The sweetness stays long after the finish.
O - A good example of the English Barleywine style, but nothing I would seek out again (especially considering the price point).
Oct 31, 2025Smell - Caramel and dark fruit aromas dominate the nose.
Taste - Like the aroma, strong sweet caramel malts, dark fruits, and a hint of candy sweetness in the finish (reminds me of a Belgian Abby flavor profile).
Feel - Very smooth with no cabonation to clear the palate. The sweetness stays long after the finish.
O - A good example of the English Barleywine style, but nothing I would seek out again (especially considering the price point).
Reviewed by champ103 from Texas
3.52/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.52/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Hey, I guess I found the right listing for the new Thomas Hardy...this is just my most recent impressions...
A: Pours a copper/burnt orange color, with brilliant clarity. A small white head tries to form, but recedes after I first pour.
S: aroma of toffee, plums, baked bread. A little bit of a mineral almost sulfur like aroma, but that is faint.
T: Taste wise is all plums and sweet dark fruit. Caramelized sugars that are on the cloying side. There is certainly a mineral/sulfur component here that I have gotten from some English beers before.
M/O: A full on viscous body with little carbonation. This is chewy and resin like. The alcohol is well hidden, but still a slower sipper than I would like.
Oh, this is interesting. I really don't know how I would rate this, so I'll just give it a go? Like I said, this is just some notes and impressions from a beer I haven't had in a very long time. Outside of being really sweet, I can't remember fully what my first impression of this was? For me, not nearly as good as JW Lees, but that is OK.
Aug 04, 2025A: Pours a copper/burnt orange color, with brilliant clarity. A small white head tries to form, but recedes after I first pour.
S: aroma of toffee, plums, baked bread. A little bit of a mineral almost sulfur like aroma, but that is faint.
T: Taste wise is all plums and sweet dark fruit. Caramelized sugars that are on the cloying side. There is certainly a mineral/sulfur component here that I have gotten from some English beers before.
M/O: A full on viscous body with little carbonation. This is chewy and resin like. The alcohol is well hidden, but still a slower sipper than I would like.
Oh, this is interesting. I really don't know how I would rate this, so I'll just give it a go? Like I said, this is just some notes and impressions from a beer I haven't had in a very long time. Outside of being really sweet, I can't remember fully what my first impression of this was? For me, not nearly as good as JW Lees, but that is OK.
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4.75/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
06/10/25 bottle @ home; shared with Drew
Jun 11, 2025
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
3.76/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
3.76/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled, purchased from Manchester City centre craft beer stalwarts Beermoth on city centre
Poured as if it is bottle conditioned to pour a mid brown body with decent off white head
Aroma is sugary sugary sherry
Flavour is plummy boozy
Dec 04, 2024Poured as if it is bottle conditioned to pour a mid brown body with decent off white head
Aroma is sugary sugary sherry
Flavour is plummy boozy
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