English Beer names and their origins - Old thumper
Bottle of Old Thumper
Old Thumper
Old Thumper Extra Special Ale. Bottled 5.9 avb.
From the Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire
Master Brewer Peter Austin, who is regarded by many as the father of the UK micro brewing industry first brewed Old Thumper in 1978. It was originally known as "No name bitter" and a competition was run on a local radio to name the beer. Someone phoned in to say he loved the beer but it gave him a thumping headache in the morning and the rest is history.
It's the sort of beer you could imagine being enjoyed at the end of a long hot summer’s day by a farm worker in the local hostelry in a bygone age.These days it's the perfect accompaniment to a good Curry or Chilie con carne and Ringwood describe it has having a Peppery, spicy aroma with hint of apples and a Luscious balance of grain and hop in the mouth, a bitter sweet finish with delicate fruit notes.
A lovely Amber Copper coloured beer with a generous off white head it's a real Marmite of a beer you'll absolutely love it or hate it; personally I love it.
The nose has been described by one critic as: "creating images of toffee apples doused in vinegar or meths or the uncertainty of trying to enjoy the gone-off flavours of rotten veg, crab apples, musty drawers and dirty rags." Over the top maybe but it certainly is strong and distinctive.
Despite the above description it has won many awards and was voted Champion beer of Britain by CAMRA in 1988 and it’s pretty easy to find nowadays in most supermarkets. If you haven’t done so already you have to give it a try, you’ll either love it or hate it, but you certainly won’t forget it.