It was pretty much expected, but still a pleasant surprise: local beverage importer East of Avalon Wines, which recently brought in the Iron Maiden Trooper golden ale from Stockport, England-based Robinsons Brewery, has just extended its portfolio with its first shipment of Robinsons’ Old Tom series of award-winning English old ales from the same brewery.
The original Robinsons Old Tom is an English strong ale (8.5% ABV) featuring dark, rich flavours with a cherry brandy-like colour and character. It is a highly-lauded ale too, winning some of the beer industry’s most prestigious awards such as the World Beer Awards (2007, 2008, 2009) and named by CAMRA as Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain no less than three times at the National Winter Ales Festival.
Still brewed using the original recipe, Robinsons Old Tom is named after the brewery’s cat – the head brewer had sketched him while the cheshire stretched itself as it basked in the sun back in 1899.
But its lower ABV siblings – both at 6% ABV – are no slouches either: the Old Tom with Ginger, affectionately known as Ginger Tom, uses the Old Tom as a base, but infuses Chinese bruised ginger root and botanical extracts in its brewing to create a speciality ale with a pronounced ginger and spiced herb palate complemented by a sweet roasted malt dryness and wonderful ginger afterburn. The Old Tom with Chocolate, on the other hand, combines the original Old Tom and the finest cocoa to create a full-bodied strong ale filled with the flavour of ripe malt and velvety smooth chocolate teased together with an inspired touch of Madagascan bourbon vanilla.
Despite its massive size – Robinsons owns over 300 public houses mostly across northwestern England that carries its beers – the family-owned brewery had its roots in a humble little inn in Stockport. William Robinson first bought the Unicorn Inn on 29 September 1838, and today the business has grown into one of Britain’s largest regional brewers run by the family’s fifth and sixth generations.
Robinsons Old Tom and its siblings can be found in all good bars and specialty beer retail stores from this week.
Robinsons Old Tom
Maker: Unicorn Brewery (Frederic Robinsons Ltd)
Style: English Strong Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Volume: 330ml
Robinsons Old Tom Ginger
Maker: Unicorn Brewery (Frederic Robinsons Ltd)
Style: English Strong Ale
ABV: 6%
Volume: 330ml
Robinsons Old Tom Chocolate
Maker: Unicorn Brewery (Frederic Robinsons Ltd)
Style: English Strong Ale
ABV: 6%
Volume: 330ml
