What’s in a name?

One of the great things about ales is their names and here are six quirky brand names from some well known regional brewers.

1. Sneck Lifter Strong Ale
Sneck Lifter is a strangely named beer. Sneck means door and a Sneck Lifter was a man’s last sixpence with which he would lift the latch of the pub door and buy himself a pint - hoping he’d meet a few friends there to treat him to one or two more.
• Further details, www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk

2. Hobgoblin
The term ‘hobgoblin’ refers to friendly but troublesome creatures or fairies, typical examples being Puck from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream or, indeed, Dobby from the Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets.
• Further details, www.wychwood.co.uk

3. Cornish Knocker
Another fairy reference, this time Tin Mine Fairies. The Cornish Knockers used to guide the miners to the rich vein of ore by knocking. Today, it is claimed they have ‘gone to grass’ and help with the brewing of ales instead. Hmmm...
• Further details, www.skinnersbrewery.com

4. Heligan Honey
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are claimed to be the only fully working productive gardens in Britain and Heligan Honey is made from pure Cornish honey. Trurobased Skinners is a master of quirky beer brands.
• Further details, www.skinnersbrewery.com

5. Fursty Ferret
A tawny, amber ale, the name of which is based on the legend that when the country home of a Miss Rose Gribble became an inn, local ferrets visited the back door to sample the beer. ‘Fursty’, of course, is supposed to mean ‘thirsty’.
• Further details, www.badgerales.com

6. Old Thumper
The New Forest was once the hunting ground of kings who would track down fierce wild boar roaming free in the area. Ringwood likes to think of Old Thumper as a ‘beast of a beer’ – and at 5.6 per abv, they’re probably right.
•Further details, www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk