Douglas Adams once wrote that “Time is an illusion; lunchtime doubly so”. I always found that amusing, and have to admit that it came to mind while sipping a glass of Shipyard Double Old Thumper Ale.  Complex beers often put me in a philosophical frame of mind, and I pondered that if the above were true about time, it could also be equally said about beer. Thus, Shipyard Old Thumper Extra Special Ale, one of my very favorite beers, could well be twice as much a treat as the original.

Was I right? We’ll soon see. One of the reasons I love Old Thumper so much is because it’s brewed with Ringwood yeast. Ringwood is much beloved by those in the know because of the unique buttery character it imparts. Lots of American beer geeks just don’t get Ringwoood, and I think too many of them never make the effort to try. More’s the pity, since this strain produces a very unique English character.

At any rate, loving Old Thumper as much as I do, you can imagine my excitement when I saw a Shipyard press release back in early 2011 announcing Double Old Thumper would hit store shelves in February. My wait was a little longer, as I didn’t see the beer in stores here in the Atlanta area until almost July. And as I often stash beers away for a time, it wasn’t until December that I finally popped my 22-ounce bottle open. Beers of this strength are perfect for aging, and I expect that Double Old Thumper could have easily gone years longer had I that kind of patience.

Here’s what Shipyard says of the beer:

Double Old Thumper is the big brother of the British Grand Champion beer Old Thumper. Available in the United States under a unique agreement between England’s Ringwood Brewery and Shipyard Brewing Company, Double Old Thumper is a real beast of a beer! Created by Shipyard’s master brewer Alan Pugsley, Double Old Thumper delivers a spicy hop aroma and a brilliant deep copper hue. This beer has a complex malty finish with a dry Simcoe Hop bite.

Malt: 2-row British Pale Ale, Crystal, Chocolate

Hops: Challenger, Progress, Goldings, Simcoe

Yeast: Top-Fermenting English

Color: Deep Copper Hue

OG: 1.108

ABV: 11.2%

Food Pairings: Short Ribs, Lamb, Hearty Stews, Casseroles

Available: 22oz Bottles, Draft

 

OK, I’m back. When you take a malty, yeasty beer like Old Thumper and kick it up this many notches, you end up with a barleywine, which is how Double Old Thumper is best classed. You don’t always get one as amazingly complex as this one, though. Let’s see why I say this.

Shipyard Double Old Thumper pours to a hazy orange amber color with a very thick creamy head formation and an absolutely enticing buttery vanilla nose. An extremely thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the side of the glass as the liquid descends, following it all the way to the bottom. The palate is rich and very creamy up front, the beer has a full and luxurious mouthfeel.

The flavors hit quickly and are amazingly intense:  rum raisin ice cream, spice cake, figs, vanilla, and buttery diacetyl from the Ringwood yeast. The beer is permeated with a perfumey, floral hop aroma and finishes with slightly grassy herbal hop bitterness. The alcohol is very much present at the last as well, and the beer departs after leaving a gift of warmth.

I just love the very complex notes going on here. Obviously a sipping beer, well suited for cold weather imbibing. Enjoy it in the late winter when its first released, but be sure to stash dome away for late winter, too. I paid $8.99 for a 22-ounce bottle, and Double Old Thumper is worth every penny. One of the best beers I’ve ever tasted.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 



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