The renovation of the “Trumpet Major” pub in Dorchester, in 1968, for the 40th anniversary of Thomas Hardy’s death was the spark that led Eldridge Pope Brewery to commemorate him through the realization of the beer that the author had imagined, an ale matured in oak casks, very strong, capable of improving better taste with age.
The label quotes the novel “The Trumpet Major”, in which Thomas Hardy described a Dorchester beer:
“It was of the most beautiful colour that the eye of an artist in beer could desire; full in body, yet brisk as a volcano; piquant, yet without a twang; luminous as an autumn sunset; free from streakiness of taste, but, finally, rather heady”.
The first Thomas Hardy’s Ales were numbered and carried a suffix letter:
1968 – “A” for the pints
1968 – “B” for the half-pints
1968 – “C” for the nips (180 ml or about 6 oz)
Thereafter, each year was marked with a suffix as well:
1974 – “D” (nip)
1975 – “E” (nip)
1977 – “F” (nip)
1978 – “G” (nip)
1979 – “H” (nip) for the january production
1979 – “J” (nip) for the september production
1980 – “K” (half-pint)
1981 – “K” (half-pint)
1981 – “K” (nip)
1982 – “L” (half-pint)
1983 – no suffix (33 cl) for the Royal Thomas Hardy’s Ale
1984 – “M” (half-pint)
1984 – “M” (nip)
1985 – “M” (half-pint)
1985 – “M” (nip)
1986 – “N” (half-pint)
1986 –“N” (nip)
1986 – “A” (nip)
1987 – “P” (half-pint)
1987 – “P” (nip)
1987 – “B” (nip)
1987 – “A” (33 cl) for the 150th anniversary of Dorchester Brewery
1988 – “Q” (half-pint)
1988 – “C” (nip)
1989 – “R” (half-pint)
1989 – “D” (nip)
1989 – no suffix (33 cl)
1990 – “R” (half-pint)
1990 – “R” (nip)
1990 – “E” (nip)
1990 – no suffix (33 cl)
1991 – “S” (half-pint)
1991 – “S” (nip)
1991 – “F” (nip)
1991 – no suffix (33 cl)
1992 – no suffix (half-pint)
1992 – “G” (nip)
1993 – “T” (half-pint)
1993 – “H” (nip)
1993 – “U” (nip) for the Silver anniversary
1993 – “U” (33 cl) for the Silver anniversary
1994 – no suffix (33 cl)
1994 – no suffix (nip)
1995 – no suffix (33 cl)
1995 – no suffix (nip)
1996 – no suffix (33 cl)
1997 – no suffix (33 cl)
1998 – no suffix (33 cl)
1999 – no suffix (33 cl)
In 2003 O’Hanlon Brewery started its production:
2003 – “O” (half-pint)
2004 – “P” (half-pint)
2005 – “P” (half-pint)
2006 – “P” (half-pint)
2007 – “P” (half-pint) for American market
2007 – “Q” (half-pint) for European market
2008 – “T” (half-pint) for American market
2008 – “Q” (half-pint) for European market
In 2014 Thomas Hardy’s Ale has returned:
2014 – no suffix (33 cl) for the Preview Edition – not for sale
2014 – no suffix (75 cl) for the Preview Edition- not for sale
2015 – no suffix (33 cl)
2016 – no suffix (33 cl)
2016 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged in Hine Cognac barrels
2017 – no suffix (33 cl)
2017 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged in Tennesse Whiskey barrels
2018 – no suffix (33 cl) for the Golden Edition
2018 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” Golden Edition aged in Scotch Whisky barrels
2019 – no suffix (33 cl)
2019 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged in Scotch oak barrels
2020 – no suffix (33 cl)
2021 – no suffix (33 cl)
2021 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged in Scotch Whisky barrels
2022 – no suffix (33 cl)
2022 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged with French oak
2024 – no suffix (25 cl)
2024 – no suffix (25 cl) for “The Historical” aged with French oak
1968 Thomas Hardy’s Ale brewed by Eldridge Pope
2005 Thomas Hardy’s Ale brewed by O’Hanlon’s
2018 Thomas Hardy’s Ale Golden Edition for the 50th anniversary
Gallery
“It was of the most beautiful colour that the eye of an artist in beer could desire; full in body, yet brisk as a volcano; piquant, yet without a twang; luminous as an autumn sunset; free from streakiness of taste, but, finally, rather heady.”
Thomas Hardy, The Trumpet Major
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