Ringwood Fortyniner BCA ABV 4.9% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • UK • Mid-price • Flavour 7 • Bottle Conditioned Other beers from Ringwood Other beers from UK

It appears that the recipe for this brew may have changed since our original review of it in 1998, as we originally recorded the strength at 4.8%. For this reason, we are including our original notes before the latest ones. Tasting notes June 1998: The beer has a frothy head, fairly long lasting, and a malty, syrupy, figgy pudding aroma with a hint of hops. Flavour is richly malty with rounded fruit and oak notes. Not too sweet, but bitterness is fairly subdued - its main characteristic is the malt. Finish is also predominantly malty, fading into a bitter, faintly hoppy aftertaste. This is not an amazingly complex beer, but it definitely has character, is very drinkable and could work as a session beer. Tasting notes January 2002: This bottle-conditioned premium ale was picked up in September 2001 from the Ringwood Brewery shop, and could probably be considered Ringwood's flagship beer. It pours a deep amber colour, with a light, bubbly head. Aroma is a mixture of malt and hops, with orange and yeast notes. In the mouth it is gently bitter and fruity - orange marmalade flavours are apparent, mingling with vegetal, slightly citrusy hops. This is balanced by a light-to-medium maltiness, with a touch of caramel, leading into a bitter, malty finish with hints of dark fruit. Aftertaste is of lingering orangey hops with light malt. Although the label on the bottle recommends that the yeast should not be added, there is in fact only a very thin, firm-packed yeast layer at the bottom of the bottle - adding it to the beer only serves to produce a slight chalkiness in the texture. Although not overly complex, this is an enjoyable beer, perhaps more so because it is straightforward. OBBD reviewer: Sparks ADD A COMMENT TO THIS BEER

If you've tried this beer and liked it, you may also like to try

• Warcop Saint Fagan's Strong Ale
• Wickwar Old Arnold
• Hampshire Brewery Pendragon Strong Ale

Why have we suggested these?

Review updated 14 January 2002

Comments

It is not the most outstanding beer in the word, however it is a very pleasant drink for passing away an afternoon in a pub and is none too pricey either. A fine drink for the damp and miserable November weather.
Patrick Gray

Ringwood was started as a microbrewery way back in 1978 by the legendary Peter Austin (consultant on many micros across the world) - it has now grown into a small regional brewery with a reputation for decent quality cask ales, especially Old Thumper. The brewery also bottle conditions three of its beers including this delicious, well rounded Fortyniner. The name refers both to its abv, and, by reference to the Californian goldrush of 1849, to its golden colour. The conditioning is spot on, resulting in a fresh, fragrant brew full of fruit and mild spice. The hops are light, delicately citric. All in all a very satisfying and very moreish ale.
Silk Tork

If you ever go to Weymouth,try a pint of fortyniner in the kings arms.I bet you try another one or three just to be on the safe side.
Rob

Their best beer and one of the best in the UK is Old Thumper.
david orr

This beer pours a beautiful orange gold colour with a decent head that fades rather quickly, wonderful aromas of citrus and hops. There is some sweetness but light fresh orange/citrus notes and hops take over making this a easy drinking moreish beer which would make a great session pint if not for it's deceptive strength. 7.5/10
Andy

Cask at The Hogshead, Ipswich. My first Ringwood beer. Deep golden colour, light bodied, fruity flavour with a faint hint of barnyard. OKish, but not a favourite of mine. 6.5/10
Sigmund

Equally good in bottles or draught. Sadly only seems to be available around the New Forest area.
Lester

You can get it from the Tuckers Maltings Beer Shop in Newton Abbot Devon.
Andy

I am lucky enough to live very close to Ringwood, so picked up a piggin of this to take to a mates bbq in the summer of 2005, it made for a VERY entertaining afternoon/evening (not too much hangover either)
Pete

Just got back from Ringwood and sent a lot of time in The Ferlong the Ringwood brew pub and enjoyed all there beers but my fav, was there Best Bitter. My Brother working for budweiser here in the states thaught it was one of the best beers he has ever tasted. Cheers
Kevin

Add comment to this beer

Due to an overwhelmingly large number of spam comments we have disabled this feature for the time being. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

We run a free subscriber list with a weekly email; beer of the week and site news. To join, enter your email address here:

Site design and content © 1992-2008 Sparks
Comments/errors should be addressed to: feedback@bottledbeer.co.uk.
Please read our disclaimer.