I Should Have Got Old Thumper

So there I was, buying a handful of specialty items at Whole Foods, and I say hey let me get a six pack. It was down to a well-known APA and Shipyard's domestic version of Ringwood Old Thumper. I got the APA. Why? I know I like English ale and bitters (and domestic equivalents), but I keep trying to like these viciously hoppy beers as well. So as reward I'm drinking pine resin and grapefruit juice now. Wouldn't even matter if they called this an IPA - there's no difference in subtlety.

Those aggressive West Coast hops can add good character to traditional styles though. I'm thinking of Geary's Pale Ale. It's got kick, but the right kind. My kind.

I don't even know what Old Thumper tastes like, but I already know I want it.

 

BTW... I like this post:

http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...a-ba-review-prior-to-drinking-any-beer.77868/

I can't say I'll never read a review beforehand, but that was my problem in what I wrote above. To be fair the beer I got instead is fine, but, you know, when you follow the crowd sometimes you get hit by the Hop Hammer on days when you don't want that kind of thing.

 

I got a chuckle at "I am very confused." I confuse myself sometimes.

The beer I got instead was Dale's Pale Ale, and it's a good APA by an excellent company. When I review good hoppy beer I always give generous ratings. I'm actually not picky - just last night I was overtired. Glad the lupulin didn't give me a headache.

Now Honker's Ale is pretty good stuff. One local I like that's in the English style is Brooklyn Pennant, for similar reasons that I like Geary's. I'm wondering what other craft equivalents there are that have similar flavor to ales like Fuller's ESB, 1845, Black Sheep Ale, Wells Bombardier etc.

 

I haven't tried Yards yet. Lots of beer isn't available in NY. I'd like to try Shepherd Neame, Adnams, Old Pedigree, and a few others from Britain.

 

Yes, Dale's is like an IPA to me as well. I'm not going to have any problem drinking the rest of it though.

I am still ruminating beerinmaine's comment. I think anything that pisses me off must have a certain validity to it. (And I should be ashamed for liking Shiner Bock! - hold on, off topic again. Sorry about that.) But enough with psychology. Hops are one part of the story - some other key parts are malt and yeast. When the three combine in a certain way, it gives me chills.

I actually like the Brothers ratings, as they are more true to what I think in many cases. Sometimes a B- from the crowd is a real winner for me. One example - Lakefront's Eastside Dark... love it.

I remember getting St. Peter's Blonde - was good. Speaking of sweetness, I like the Belhaven St. Andrew's a lot.

 

I dream about Fuller's. Almost every time I go to Canterbury Ales in Huntington NY, I get the ESB on tap, then look at what else is on the list. They also have London Pride on tap, which is excellent as well. 1845 is another gem, but we can only get that in bottles around here.

 

Funny, now that I've had the Old Thumper, it tastes more like Belhaven St. Andrews to me than an ESB - not stellar, but certainly AOK in its own way.