JW Lees and Thomas Hardy Ale

Discussion in 'British Isles' started by luisfrancisco, Feb 14, 2013.

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  1. luisfrancisco

    luisfrancisco Zealot (606) Dec 1, 2009 Mexico

    Hi,

    I will be going to London and probably will visit to or three pubs. I think I might try and do the Fuller's brewery tour. I am thinking of Craft Beer, Brewdog pub, Euston Tap, and probably hit a youngs and fuller pub and try anything carrying real ales on my way. I will be staying near Paddington Station.

    However, I really like barleywines, and would like to look for a place where I could get to try JW Lees Vintage and if possible a Thomas Hardy Ale. I don't know how rare or hard it is to find any of them. I could also consider looking for those at a bottle shop if they are too pricey for a pub.

    Appreciate any comments.
     
  2. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 England

    Might be worth visiting Paddington station itself, for the Fullers pub (usually 3 or 4 Fullers beers on tap plus some cask guests and all the Fullers bottles, including the vintage ales, past masters and brewers reserve). Also you have the Beer House on the far side of the station, for Meantime (pale ale + 1 guest) but I wouldn't bother with anything else they do.
     
  3. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I checked some online stores in the UK. I had no luck. Sorry.:slight_frown:
     
  4. ImperialStoat

    ImperialStoat Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Ireland

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  5. luisfrancisco

    luisfrancisco Zealot (606) Dec 1, 2009 Mexico

    Thanks, that looks interesting. Would it be very hard to find bottles like those at any store lying around in London? If I can find them, then I would rather just go to the stores, but if I am going to have a very tough time looking for it, I might as well ask a friend if he can receive the beers for me.

    I imagined the Thomas Hardy Ale would be hard, but thought it couldn't hurt to ask...
     
  6. ImperialStoat

    ImperialStoat Initiate (0) May 20, 2009 Ireland

    You might be able to find the most recent vintage in a couple places, like Utobeer, but that's it. I'm fairly sure most of the Harvest Ale is exported.
     
  7. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,281) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    And when you do find some Thomas Hardys Ale luis be aware that anything from the late 80s and before is almost certainly much better than what was produced in the 90s and 00s. Good luck.
     
  8. luisfrancisco

    luisfrancisco Zealot (606) Dec 1, 2009 Mexico

    I'm certainly glad you are assuming I will find it. :slight_smile: I recently read about the Thomas Hardy Ale in Garret Oliver's book and had not explored about it before.

    Looks like I will try and order some of the older vintages of the JW Lees from the site referenced above and the look for recent vintages when I am in London.

    Thanks for the pointers. Certainly helpful info.
     
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  9. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Yeah, that site sounds good. I checked the JW Lees website and they only sell,ship the Harvest Ale by the case and they'd all be the same year's.
     
  10. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    On another note, I've got a Thomas Hardy Ale 1991 headed my way.:slight_smile:
     
  11. luisfrancisco

    luisfrancisco Zealot (606) Dec 1, 2009 Mexico

    Great! If you can't quite muster up the courage to crack it open, you could always send it my way!
     
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  12. Aye

    Aye Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 England
    Deactivated

    When are you in Blighty?
     
  13. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    LOL! Me not able to crack open a Thomas Hardy is like saying Doctor Who is a passing fad.:wink:
     
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