There’s a new beast in town: Shipyard Brewing Company Releases Double Old Thumper

(Portland, ME) – (January 10, 2011) – Shipyard Brewing Company announces the release of Double Old Thumper. This new beer is available year-round in 22 oz. bottles and on draft.

Double Old Thumper is the big brother of the British Grand Champion beer Old Thumper Extra Special Ale, which was created in 1979 by veteran British brewer, Peter Austin, founder of the Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England, and brewed in the United States solely by Shipyard. Shipyard’s Master Brewer Alan Pugsley trained at the Ringwood Brewery before moving to the United States 25 years ago.

Double Old Thumper was created by Pugsley and has 11.2% alcohol by volume. “Despite its strength, this beer is a great example of balance between malt and hops lending to a surprising drinkability,” noted Pugsley.

Double Old Thumper has a brilliant deep copper hue and spicy hop aroma with a complex malty finish featuring a dry Simcoe Hop bite. This beer pairs well with short ribs, lamb, hearty stews, and casseroles.

When Pugsley was brewing Old Thumper at Ringwood Brewery in the 1980s it was considered a very strong ale and, by English standards, it still is.

“When we started brewing Old Thumper under license at Shipyard in 1994 it was considered strong in the United States too,” Pugsley continued. “Double Old Thumper is literally twice the strength, twice the grist, and twice the hops of Old Thumper and, today, is considered strong and Old Thumper is just of average drinking strength. It’s a funny old world!”

In homage to Old Thumper, the package features an illustration of two of the famous Ringwood boars heads.

More about the beer:

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%

More about Shipyard:
Shipyard Brewing Company is located on the historic waterfront in Portland, Maine and produces 17 varieties of award-winning English style and seasonal beers. Its products are distributed in over 35 states. A full list of Shipyard Brewing Company’s distributors can be found at this link: http://www.shipyard.com/pdf/distrolist.pdf.