Yearning for More British Ales

Doesnt Dogfish use Ringwood? Was it in their Truth Serum IPA?

 

I think the house yeast is a derivative of Ringwood... a proprietary strain. I was also thinking of this brewery with regards to this subtopic.

 

For what it's worth: Hobgoblin shocked me. I figured it was a novelty, too, but I rated it 4.35. Others may say I overrate it, but I'd say it's at least worth trying.

I've only read Page 1 of this thread, so I apologize if somebody answered this already, but here goes:

Did the American craft beer movement push out the English import?

They're certainly gone ... or going. When I was in college in the mid-1990s, I could get close to 15 (or more?) different English imports in the pale ale family. Young's Special London Ale and Ram Rod and Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale were favorites, but there were many others that I liked a lot. Now it's hard to find more than one or two imported English pales at any given bottle shop. I found exactly ZERO last time I looked at a local Spec's — a spot I was finding 6-7 imported English pales just five years ago.

 

Man, I'd LOVE to be able to have some Ram Rod right now.

 

The hyper fresh crowd, and an odd understanding of "maltiness", seems to have driven the modern IPA lovers to dismiss traditional English ales. It is a shame. I miss Ram Rod, London Special, but most of all Young's Oatmeal Stout- an absolute classic!

 

Have you ever attended the Yards Real Ale Festival?

I was speaking to a Yards brewer yesterday at the Philly German beer festival (Bierfest) and he informed me that it will be occurring again this year: May 20th.

Cheers!

 

They are also switching to bottle conditioned Pride once they've worked their way through their stock of old labels, apparently. Be good if they would do that for ESB too

 

Good to know. Personally, I like ESB much better than London Pride. (runs for cover)

 

I'm going to London for the first time this April, and my fear is the first pub I find Ram Rod in won't be within walking distance of my hotel.

 

That's great. I really haven't had the "new" Young's ales since having become Wells and Young's and not brewed at The Ram Brewery in Wandsworth Town, London. They have not reappeared here except for the chocolate stout, which is fine, but nothing along the line of the rich, stark, hoppy London Special and Ram Rod. Do go visit the old brewery and breath in the history. I used to get a kick out of taking Dirty Dick's Ale to my friends parties. I will always have a deep affinity for Young's.

 

Does it even still exist?

 

I remember seeing a video a few years ago about this one guy who is striving to keep the recipes alive. He was working and serving out of a small space at the original site of the Ram Brewery, I believe.

 

Found it. Looks like they turned it into an inn with a pub/restaurant called The Brewers Inn.

I'll definitely check it out. It looks like a pretty cool building.

 

I remember that too. Wondering if it is still active and if so what they are brewing there.

 

Someone at DFH said their yeast is known as “Doggy”, which may have, or not, evolved from Ringwood.

The true Ringwood stain is a blend of a couple of yeasts.

 

From what I can tell it does. It's listed on the Brewers Inn beer menu in bottles. Young's Bitter is on tap.

Nobody's reviewed Ram Rod here on BA.com this year and it drew all of one review in 2017, so it's a legitimate question. The Wells' webpage lists just two beers in its lineup — a dry-hopped lager and a triple IPA.

Wasn't winning the Revolutionary War enough? Did we really have to conquer English beer tradition, too?!?

 

Definitely as good as it was. In fact, it's the only brewpub in NJ that I would even bother visiting.

 

Have you ever been to Trap Rock?

 

No. Kind of sorry to admit that I haven't. Would like to plan a visit later this year however.
I have heard good things about Trap Rock (most notably in these forums).

 

I disagree emphatically. I find the Ringwood strain to be very characterful, and in fact, some of the best Ales I've had were made with this strain. People that dislike it seem to have one thing in common: they dislike flavor..
But seriously, it really does boil down to one's own personal preferences...what is vile to some is actually an elixer to many more.