Roger Protz of CAMRA has a nice description of Thomas Hardy's Ale
in his "European Beer Almanac":
 
alcohol by volume:  12%
degrees plato:  31
original gravity:  1125
 
Ingredients:  Maris Otter pale ale malt and crystal malt.  Fuggles,
Goldings, and Styrian hops.  60-70 units of bitterness.  Top
fermenting yeast.
 
Tasting Notes.
 
Nose:  'Brisk as a volcano.' (quote from Hardy's "The Mayor of
Casterbridge.")
 
Palate:  'Full in body; piquant, yet without a twang; free from
streakiness.'
 
Comments:  Thomas Hardy wrote with evident enthusiasm about the
beer of 'Casterbridge' (Dorchester) in his Wessex novels.  Eldridge
Pope have repaid the compliment with their classic bottle-
conditioned beer named in his honor.  It was brewed first in 1968
to mark the 40th anniversary of the writer's death but interest and
demand has meant that it is now brewed on a regular basis.  It is
dry-hopped and warm-conditioned for 3 months and is pitched 3 times
with yeast, twice during fermentation and then during conditioning.
It continues to condition in the small nip bottle and the brewery
recommends that it is laid down for 5 years.  A new vintage is
brewed annually and each bottle is individually numbered.  When
opened there is a rich sherry or Madeira note beneath the intense
peppery hop aroma.  It is a remarkable example of British craft
brewing.
 
Michael Jackson states that some vintages have been aged in sherry
wood.  He gives the beer 4 stars.