Ringwood Old Thumper (USA)

Brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Portland, Maine USA

Clear coppery amber. Ecru head fades fast and leaves no lacing. Aroma is sugary and candylike, acetone and spicy/floral, with elements of cigar ash and wax. Grapey, butterscotch, and honey-herbal flavors (chamomille? Ricola cough drops?) Prickly carbonation cuts through the thick, almost greasy, mouthfeel. Many ratings here describe a thin body, but my bottle was sweet and syrupy. Weird finish- tart and fruity, smoky earthy bitterness, and a nasty rancid butter quality that pretty much ruined it for me.

Poured a light amber color with a large off white head. Aromas and tastes of malts (caramel) and light hops. Not bitter at all - no real hops in the taste. Watery body. An OK beer but but nothing special.

Not a bad little ESB, by no means is it the best. But for what I paid, I was very happy. Nice mix of malt and that ESB bite, fairly dusty mouthfeel.

This beer is much overrated. I had it on draft at the Orlando Airport (actually twice to confirm my initial impression.) It is a rather poor Micro. There is a bitterness that is not quite balanced and a sweetness that is just funny. I wouldn’t recommend this beer. Even in the MCO airport I would try their Export Ale first, which is not very good either, but better than the Macros at the other places. Re:rate - 4 years later, this beer has grown on me a bit. Had a bomber here in CA and it was much better. Still a run of the mill craft beer, but better than I initially thought. I was underwhelmed!

On tap at Paradise Alley in Jax Beach - The flavor is difficult to pin down. It's sort of a brown ale with too much hoppiness. Confusing and not quite good enough to spend a lot of time figuring out.

Thanks to obeygiant for this one. Pours dark straw/orangish. Aroma of malt, hops, citrus, slight honey. Tastes malty, with a nice caramel, honeyish finish, along with some finishing hops. Solid, firm mouthfeel.

Amber Coloring. Little Citrus.. Bitter But Not What I Expected. Pretty Smooth and Drinkable Overall, but Not Overly Distinctive.

a musty smell lifts from the bottle, reminscent of beer caps found on the ground in a park...a bit leafy at times...flavors were coppery like a penny and sour alcohol injected citrusy hops, crabapple, and caramel grass.
Earlier Rating: 8/6/2003 Total Score: 3.2
amber & thin but with a full head..some deep caramel in the aroma..malty/grainy flavors with some graininess..semi-thin palate..little grain husk bitterness with some grainy tanginess too..spiced fruit flavors also just so you know.